| NEW ORLEANS, LA — District Attorney Jason Williams and members of his Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Unit (SAKI) are pleased to announce that a conviction was secured in the case of State v. Ericson Gonzalez. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to Second Degree Rape, Aggravated Burglary, three counts of Second Degree Kidnapping, three counts of Armed Robbery, Aggravated Battery, Home Invasion, and Possession of Stolen Property.
In early 2022, Gonzalez terrorized the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East, including two incidents charged in this case, in a series of home burglaries, during which the defendant was armed with a gun. The home invasion case included the sexual assault of a victim in her 70s and the beating of an additional victim in his 70s. DNA evidence collected in that case was linked to Gonzalez.
“This is an important day for the survivors in this case,” said District Attorney Williams. “Holding Mr. Gonzalez accountable for what he did is not only due to the great work of the SAKI team, but also a testament to the strength of the community in New Orleans East.”
During sentencing, SAKI Chief Mary stated, “This man tried to destroy the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East – their spirit. The physical and emotional turmoil each of the victims and their family members endured is horrific. I am grateful to them for exhibiting such bravery in telling the Judge how these crimes have affected them.”
ADA Penny Kissinger spoke about the particular bravery that the elderly sexual assault victim displayed during the home invasion: “This victim tried everything she could to resist Gonzalez.” She was overpowered by the younger, stronger Gonzalez.
Several victims gave emotional impact statements. One victim tearfully told the judge that she still suffers from depression after being held at gunpoint. Another talked about fearing for the lives of his sister and mother that night. A third victim said she felt some relief in believing she would be Gonzalez’s last victim.
“I hope you understand the harm you inflicted on these victims and the devastation you caused to this community,” Judge Leon Roche said. “It was truly gut-wrenching to hear from the victims in this case. No one should have to go through this.”
The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office issued a special thanks to NOPD Det. Jessica Williams-Walton for an outstanding investigation, and to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab DNA Unit, who worked the evidence from April of 2022, when these crimes were committed, until June of 2023, giving the State the ability to secure an indictment in July 2023.
This resolution would not have been possible without the tireless work of Victim/Witness Advocate Vickie Landry and the rest of the SAKI trial team: Trial Assistant Katherine Muller and Investigator David Benelli.
Judge Roche sentenced Gonzalez to 35 years at hard labor.
The SAKI Division is a team within the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office that works on sexual assault cases where there is DNA evidence collected in conjunction with a sexual assault kit. |