LOS ANGELES – A 10-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a pair of female inmates, Sheriff Jim McDonnell announced Thursday.
Deputy Giancarlo Scotti, 31, was arrested around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, hours after the alleged early morning assaults at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, McDonnell said.
Scotti was arrested while on duty and booked in Norwalk on suspicion of two counts each of rape under color of authority and oral copulation under color of authority, then released on $100,000 bond, the sheriff said.
The deputy has been placed on administrative leave, McDonnell said.
The sheriff said the alleged crimes took place over about an hour or so in the “early morning hours” Wednesday, involving two women in the same cell in a jail dormitory. He said at least one of the women reported the alleged crime at about 9 a.m. to a teaching instructor who works inside the jail.
McDonnell said an investigation began immediately, with the scene being locked down to preserve evidence and the deputy being notified and remaining in the watch commander’s office until 2 p.m. that day.
“At this time, there’s no indication that any other personnel were involved and the focus of this investigation remains on one individual,” the sheriff said. “The evidence was compelling enough for us to make the arrest.”
The Sheriff’s Department has a policy that a male deputy or custody assistant should have a female deputy or custody assistant present if they’re going to go into a cell in a female custody environment, but “that did not happen in this case,” McDonnell said.
“He had access at this point to these two victims by himself at that time. There are other people working in the general area, but they’ve all got duties and responsibilities and doing recurring checks on inmates throughout the facility. So, I would say that at a particular point in time he was by himself,” the sheriff said. “The investigation has yet to determine who else was in the area and the ability for them to have been able to see a concern over his behavior or what they were able to see, what they did see. And, again, we’ll be putting all of the evidence together — video and everything else we have — to paint the bigger picture.”
McDonnell told reporters Scotti is “being treated as any other person who faces criminal charges with the rights that our justice system affords a defendant in a criminal case.”
“Having said that, let me be clear that (a) crime of this nature is horrific. Criminal misconduct, especially criminal misconduct that preys on a vulnerable population, will not be tolerated and will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the sheriff said. “We have a public obligation to follow the evidence and the facts. We have a moral duty to assure our public and the inmates in our care that we take these allegations very seriously.”
He said he wanted to “assure the public that the care and custody of our inmates is of paramount importance to us and that, you know, the investigation is moving forward.”
McDonnell refused to discuss details about the evidence or whether Scotti had any prior disciplinary issues.
Scotti — whose case has not yet been presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office — is due in court Oct. 6.
The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union that represents deputies, called on residents to avoid rushing to judgment.
“We urge the public to withhold judgment until the facts of the case are proven,” according to the union. “We too believe there should be zero tolerance for any law enforcement officer who is proven to have taken advantage of anyone who is in custody.”
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Charles says
… here in Mexifornia, having sex has not yet been decreed illegal. No laws broken, two consenting adults, regardless of circumstance, social status or occupation, there is nothing more inherently wrong about a prison guard doing an inmate, than Governor Schwarzenegger knocking up the hired help. In a free society, there is nothing inherently illegal about any of this. Only in the sanctuary state of Mexifornia could something like this be deemed a terminable offense –
Laughing says
The reason the rule is simple. The inmate can claim rape. Then sue. Costing us all money.
mark says
No, I think most states (maybe even all 50) have laws / rules against someone in corrections having sex with an inmate. I’ve heard you can’t buy alcohol in jail / prison. I thought of away a correctional officer can make extra money. They can sell alcohol to the inmates that are over 21. Consuming alcohol is not illegal for a person over 21.
Sonny says
… America, a free country, having sex is not illegal. But, here in the sanctuary state of Mexifornia, it’s about to be. Alt-left policymakers run amok, endeavoring headlong trying to make it so, they will eventually have their way, as they slowly Mexifornicate our once beautiful state, into a kleptocracy they mindlessly plunder –
Tim Scott says
This is perhaps the most daft, unfounded, paranoid connection I’ve seen made yet.
Yes, prison guards raping the prisoners is a crime…has been since the middle ages. How you can even try to exapnd that into some sort of assault on your free-dumbs is too hilarious for words.
Seek professional help before that paranoia drives you to some desperate act that we’ll all regret.
mark says
I’m only guessing your commit is in reference to the above article. Consensual sex by two consenting adults is not illegal, but rape, sex with a minor. A correctional officer / deputy is not allowed to have sex with an inmate. Yes you are correct with you commit, but there are laws against having sex in certain situations.
Alby says
So the massage parlors weren’t enough?
Good for you LASD says
They must of had some REALLY obvious evidence on this guy. Like some you can’t deny/cover up. Because you know if they could… they would. It is nice to see that it is being handled the way it should and recognizing the victims for what they are.
alex says
Great comment! I’ve been there and know this has been going on for a long time. You’re right, they must have had some really obvious evidence on this guy. A courageous act by the inmate, and follow up by the teaching instructor. Century Regional needs a lot of changes. They’re not all corrupted. Alex is short for Alexis.
Sonny says
… inmates, having sex, is not illegal. Policemen, having sex, is not illegal –
Common sense says
Illegal … no. It most certainly is against the “rules” and although inmate on inmate sexual contact can get you punished.. they don’t “arrest” you for it, and charges aren’t filed. deputy on inmate sex on the other hand is illegal and you will get arrested, charges will be filed and you will get fired.
Alby says
No it ain’t illegal, but jails keep both genders separated. So it ain’t possible to have sex in there unless… ???… nevermind!
Tim Scott says
Just one bad apple…or is it just ANOTHER one bad apple? And another and another and another.
The really funny thing about the “one bad apple” defense is that the actual saying; “one bad apple SPOILS THE WHOLE BUNCH” is pretty accurate. How many times does a “good” deputy help cover for a “brother of the badge” before he says “heck, I may as well get mine”?
Mike White says
In Tim’s world, all criminals are presumed to be innocent (convicted or not) and all law enforcement personnel are guilty. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Tim is a giant hypocrite.
Tim Scott says
Hey Mike…have I told you how glad I am to have you back? It’s such a boost knowing that people like you, who pay no attention to anything else but my comments, are out there.