Personal Injury Blog

Martial Arts Coach Sentenced to 30 Years for Assault

July 31st, 2009

A martial arts coach, who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Lakewood earlier this year, has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison.

On January 23rd, Jonathan Allen Gamond stopped the victim as she walked with another girl in Lakewood. According to the victim, he identified himself as a police officer and drove the girl to Seal Beach where he assaulted her. Gamond was arrested in Lakewood by sheriff deputies 13 days after the attack.  On June 24th, Gamond pleaded no contest to four counts. Gamond’s attorneys have denied that he impersonated a police officer during the assault, but deputy district attorney Diana Martinez and a detective from the Los Angeles Sheriff Department have confirmed that Gamond identified himself to the two girls as a police officer.

The victim’s family, including her sister and parents confronted Gamond in the court during sentencing. They have expressed how the assault has changed all their lives. According to her mother, the incident has completely devastated the young victim, whose school grades have been slipping.

Victims of assault can find that returning to their lives as they were before the act, can be a long and traumatic process. In many ways, a sexual assault leaves behind deep emotional and mental scars that may never heal. Victims may require intensive psychological counceling and therapy to come into terms with the depth of their pain.

Assault, when teenagers are involved, often occurs in an environment where there substantial trust. For instance, teachers at school, gym teachers, coaches and private tutors enjoy a position of trust with a student. It’s not just the student who might trust the adult in such a situation.  Even parents may find no reason to suspect any kind of abuse because of the teacher’s position of authority. This allows abuse to go on unchecked for years.

Victims of assault may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator of the assault. Filing a lawsuit against a person involved in the most horrific experience of your life can be hard. It takes a great deal of courage to able to face the perpetrator, and hold them accountable for their actions. However, California sexual assault lawyers often see that the process of holding a perpetrator responsible may actually help the victim get closure, and make the journey towards recovery.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of sexual assault. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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