No-contest plea from jailer accused of misconduct with female inmate


 

COP OUT—Leonard Lopez of Fillmore has been fired from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. In September 2019, Lopez engaged in sexual misconduct with a female inmate. Courtesy VCSO

COP OUT—Leonard Lopez of Fillmore has been fired from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. In September 2019, Lopez engaged in sexual misconduct with a female inmate. Courtesy VCSO

A former Ventura County sheriff’s deputy accused of sexual misconduct with an inmate while she was in custody has entered a plea in the case.

Leonard Herrera Lopez, 49, of Fillmore pleaded no contest last week to two misdemeanors stemming from a September 2019 incident at the pretrial detention facility in Ventura, the district attorney’s office said. Because the crimes are not felonies, Lopez will be entitled to his full pension from the department.

A 20-year veteran of the department at the time, Lopez entered the female inmate’s cell in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, 2019, and “kissed and touched” her, according to the DA.

The act of going into her cell without another staff member present constituted a crime in and of itself, the DA said, as did the kissing and touching.

“Under state law, inmates are incapable of providing legal consent to engage in any sexual activity with custodial staff,” the DA’s office said.

Lopez, who was arrested after the inmate came forward the next day and accused him of touching her inappropriately, is likely looking at probation when he is sentenced June 24. He faces a maximum penalty of 180 days behind bars and one year of probation.

Originally placed on paid administrative leave, Lopez was let go from the department last year.

A sheriff ’s department spokesperson told The Acorn in 2019 that Lopez was caught on video surveillance entering the cell of the woman, who was being housed away from other inmates at the time.

He was originally arrested on suspicion of sexual battery, a more serious crime that has a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Acorn staff report

This story was updated at 8:44 a.m. June 3, 2021.