Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Sheriff's Deputy Accused Of Raping Female Inmates
Lynwood Correctional Facility (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
()
The same L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy who was arrested last month on suspicion of sexually assaulting two women inside a Lynwood jail is now facing a civil rights lawsuit stemming from what appear to be two additional sexual assault allegations.
The federal civil rights lawsuit filed on Tuesday alleges that in August, Giancarlo Scotti approached a pregnant woman inmate inside her jail cell at the Century Regional Detention Facility, exposed his genitals to her, and forced her to perform oral sex on him, the L.A. Times reports. A second woman included in the lawsuit alleges that Scotti sexually assaulted her in a shower stall on September 12, just a day before his arrest. Both women have since been released from custody and allege that they were penalized by jail staff after they spoke to investigators about Scotti, according to the Times.
In a statement on Wednesday to LAist, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said detectives with its Criminal Investigations Bureau have interviewed 150 witnesses and gathered additional evidence during its ongoing criminal investigation related to the allegations. “Any allegation of predatory behavior within our custody environment is taken very seriously,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “Sheriff Jim McDonnell continues to emphasize that, ‘Criminal misconduct, especially criminal misconduct that preys upon a vulnerable population, will not be tolerated and will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.'"
The department says it’s aware of a case involving three victims that was submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration on October 4, but it’s unclear whether this is the same case that was filed on Tuesday. The department declined to comment, citing its ongoing investigation, “However, we can state that the arrest of Deputy Giancarlo Scotti, a 31-year-old, ten-year veteran of the Department on September 13, 2017, was made within hours of the initial complaint.”
Support for LAist comes from
At a press conference held last month, Sheriff McDonnell called Scotti’s alleged crimes “horrific” and said the department had a public obligation to pursue the evidence in the case, according to Southern California News Group. Scotti was released on $100,000 bail and placed on paid administrative leave at the time.
The lawsuit against Scotti was filed amid protests by anti-incarceration activists against the county’s proposed expansion of several jails, including the construction of a new women’s facility in Lancaster that would replace the current one in Lynwood. o
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist