LA County Sheriff's Deputy Arrested for Rape
31-year-0ld Giancarlo Scotti, a 10-year employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of rape under the color of authority, of two female inmates. He was arrested on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 while on duty at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. He was later booked at the Norwalk station and released on bail of $100,000.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell remarked, “Criminal misconduct, especially criminal misconduct that preys upon a vulnerable population, will not be tolerated.” McDonnell went on to say that this case will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
One of the victims reported the sexual abuse to a teaching instructor who works in the jail. Within five hours of the initial complaint, authorities had locked down the scene, held Scotti in custody and arrested him, and began an investigation that revealed a second victim. Sexual abuse is learned behavior, and by the time a sexual predator is caught, it is usually the case that the perpetrator has made a “career” of sexually abusing those under his/her authority. Based on the way similar cases unfold, we expect there to be additional victims of Mr. Scotti beyond the two that are known; these additional victims could have been ten days, ten months or ten years ago.
If you have been raped or sexually abused by Deputy Scotti, or if you suspect your friend or relative, an inmate at Century Regional, has been, please contact Estey & Bomberger, sex abuse lawyers, as well as contacting authorities. We, Estey & Bomberger, are a law firm specializing in survivors of sexual molestation. Our LA office is at 445 Figueroa, and our number is 213.596.4855. Initial consultations at no charge, and are confidential. There is no fee or payment up front if you choose to hire us — we pay medical and psychological and all other costs, and you only pay if we recover money for you.
Our trial attorneys have a 20+ year history of working with sexual abuse and assault victims as they become survivors. This long history has been quite successful in helping survivors and their families, both financially and emotionally. Our experience and compassion sets us apart, and helps benefit our clients.
Additional Details of the Case at Century Regional Detention Facility
Scotti’s work responsibilities involved overseeing care and custody of Lynwood inmates. He was able to put himself in a place where he was alone with the two women, despite the policy that a female deputy or custody assistant must be present every time a male deputy or custody assistant goes into a cell with a female inmate.
There are nearly 2100 inmates at the Lynwood facility, and the staff-to-inmate ratio is “very thin” according to McDonnell. Despite that, McDonnell praised the employees, noting that employees are very busy, moving from one location to another, accommodating the safety and security of so many inmates and “it is amazing what they get done”. That said, McDonnell added, “for something like this to happen is certainly something we take exceptionally seriously.”