People v. Velasquez-Gomez CA1/5

BACKGROUND

A.

Gomez came to the attention of the police after Jane Doe, his minor stepdaughter, told school staff that he was abusing her. One day in March 2019, Doe came to the school office distraught. When the assistant principal, R.C., spoke with Doe in his office, she was initially unwilling to reveal the source of her distress. According to R.C.’s testimony at trial, she eventually said that there was something going on at home involving her stepfather that had been happening for a long time. Doe said that “she was very worried about her two-year-old brother, and that she didn't want to be responsible for anything that could happen to the family.” She was worried that her mother was going to be upset with her and that she would be blamed for what was happening.

R.C. had also asked the school’s community liaison, M.B., to meet with Doe. M.B. testified at trial that Doe was upset the entire time she was meeting with her. Doe shared that there was “something happening at home,” her “stepdad was abusing her,” and “the abuse started when she was very young.” The abuse was “happening in the house.” Doe stated that Gomez threatened to take her little brother away if she…