DailyBulletin: ACLU alleges abuse of gay inmates at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga
The West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. (Jennifer Cappuccio Maher — Staff photographer)
By Ryan Hagen, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 10/22/14, 10:36 AM PDT | Updated: 9 hrs ago
LOS ANGELES >> The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department doesn’t allow gay, bisexual and transgender inmates at West Valley Detention Center the same access to rehabilitation opportunities, religious services, time outside their cells and other services that other inmates receive, alleges a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the ACLU of Southern California.
The class-action lawsuit lists 15 current or former inmates who allegedly were put in a segregated “Alternative Lifestyle Tank” that houses up to 32 of the 3,347 inmates at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga once they self-identified as gay, bisexual and/or transgender (GBT).
“GBT inmates are not given equal access to opportunities to reduce their sentences, services, programs and facilities, and are often treated in an abusive and neglectful manner,” the lawsuit claims. “In short, GBT inmates at WVDC serve longer sentences and endure substantially worse conditions of confinement simply because they are gay, bisexual or transgender.”
And that, the lawsuit says, violates the equal protection guarantees of the California and U.S. constitutions.
The department hasn’t yet been served with a lawsuit, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Bachman, and would have no comment. A sheriff’s official familiar with the jail’s procedures wasn’t available to comment Wednesday.
Inmates say they understand the need to serve the time they’re sentenced to — but not more than other inmates.
“I understand the need to serve my time. On top of that, to be punished because of what I identify as is not right,” said Peter Guzman, 34, a San Bernardino native who spent seven months in West Valley Detention Center beginning in January. “They’re supposed to protect and serve, not harass and abuse.”
Guzman said he was ultimately allowed to participate in a work program, helping in the law library, which makes inmates eligible for increased visits and a reduced sentence. But that came only after repeated requests and eventually a threatened lawsuit by his family.
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“Even then, they made me change (from an orange jumpsuit to a blue one for working) in a closet, and I had to deny who I was,” Guzman said.
According to the lawsuit, filed through the ACLU and the law firm of Kaye, McLane, Bednarski & Litt, Guzman also should have been released two months earlier than he was because he was denied work credits.
To read entire story, click here.
This is just the beginning with the ACLU and McMahon. We thought the law suits were out of hand during his first year as appointed sheriff. Just wait. McMahon is not that smart and will cost the county more in litigation in one year than any other sheriff. Stupid is as stupid does. The ACLU came out to SBC because of McMahon. Welcome to 2014 Johnny Boy.
#1, “Stupid is as stupid does.” IS YOU!:
Desert Heat on June 5th, 2014 7:00 am
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With these malcontents, it is wise to not underestimate the predictability to stupidy.
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>>>>>>>>> ACLU, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND IN ALL YOU INVESTIGATE AND
*CONCLUDE* THAT SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY HAS A *NEW* SHERIFF IN TOWN:
Anonymous on May 15th, 2012 2:14 pm
As you stated, “The new President (NEW COUNTY SHERIFF) has been in office about a year.”
Please consider busying yourself with other issues away from SEBA (COUNTY SHERIFF MCMAHON) FOR NOW, and allow this “new President” (“NEW SHERIFF”) to keep working quietly.
You are correct ACU, “the issues with SEBA (SHERIFF’S DEPT.) are recent events that have come to light along with old events to shown a pattern and practice.”
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BUT AGAIN, to quote you, “The new President (NEW SHERIFF) has been in office about a year.” Please allow him the courtesy and TIME to work through the mess he has inherited.
We do NOT have to re-expose the ugly past, as those in charge are OBVIOUSLY aware of it and are dealing with those issues.
Changes are in the works … and ACU, is that not what your ultimate goal HAS BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS?
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I understand all the wrongdoings SEBA (SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT) was involved in, and got away with in the past … no one is arguing that way too many individuals were deeply wronged by the injustices, but take a breath- it’s a new day- can we give this “new president” (“NEW SHERIFF”) an opportunity to continue his courageous
efforts without the hoopla? It could scare many on the fence, especially with that wacko on the other blog stating names and exaggerating and lying.
>>> In the end your desire to “expose” the past to tie it with the “present” will only be counter productive and even hurt certain individual’s current heroic efforts going on behind closed doors.
And no, these quiet going on’s should NOT be played out publicly.
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#2, how do you know any of what you say, are you at the SBCSD Brass meetings? A “new day”? Why don’t you back up what you say with facts for a change?
#2, by the way, SEBA is the Sheriff’s employee benefits administration, in other words the rank and file’s union, not that they act like one, but you should have your facts strait before you comment.
My god Jim please block Lil Denny Jr. His rants ruin the whole thread.
The ACLU suck, but they are needed to deal with McMahon who has been sheriff long enough to know right from wrong.
SEBA will also get spanked, I would think.
Denny forgets the Sheriff has been on the job for about 28 years. The last 10 years in command. MCMAHON created his own mess as Assistant Sheriff with Bauer and a couple others. So he had plenty of practice getting things right or wrong before being appointed.
Long before being appointed, then elected he should have had a plan to put in place that addresses many of the current issues. This Sheriff should not be making the same mistakes his peers did at this point.
Denny forgets most officials around here are reactive to problems, not proactive.
Denny being a former commissioned officer in the military knows these types of problems would get you relieved of command, worse case court martialed. Competence is the usual issue. The military generally doesn’t give you months or years to correct simple problems.
If the leader isn’t messed up then it must be his staff. Either way the buck is suppose to stop with the boss.
This article does confirm what was said months ago about the ACLU setting up shop in this county. It seems
they hit the ground running.
I hear four more Deputies have been placed on admin leave relating to the current FBI abuse case in the jails. What is the total up to now? Eight?
Ken it seems no one paid attention to why Hoops resigned.
Good point #7. That’s why McMahon should be shining as a leader, not catching more heat.
# 7 & 8 tell me it’s not so! Josie “The Scare Crow” and Ovitt “The Idiot” hand picked him.
Sgt. Milstar of course they did. They did exactly as they were told, OR did so to protect their own interest.
SBPEA former President Bob Blough is a prime example. He led his band of sheep, (board members) to spread all kinds of donations at CERTAIN folks, as a cover for his own agenda.
But we NOW know his misdeeds were so bad everyone has to throw him under the bus to try and keep the stench of their ineptness off their shoes.
The next test is to see if Mikey Ramos will act as vigorously with a prosecution as he has others. OR will it be another quiet prosecution with a plea deal to keep the real story from coming out, or fingers being pointed at other crooks.
#9 bingo