Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN JOSE – A federal jury convicted a Palo Alto man for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse by fear, and making false statements to a federal agent during an investigation. The jury reached its verdict late in the evening on Jan. 31, 2025, following a three-week trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila.
Onofre Salas-Lozano, 42, worked as a night supervisor for the janitorial services contractor that cleaned the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Salas-Lozano isolated and trapped the victim in a patient exam room at the hospital late at night on July 2, 2021, and forced her to engage in sexual activity. The victim suffered traumatic tissue injury during the assault, and DNA analysis confirmed the presence of Salas-Lozano’s sperm in the victim’s underwear. At the time of the incident, Salas-Lozano was the victim’s direct supervisor.
The jury also found that Salas-Lozano lied to a VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) special agent during a subsequent investigative interview when he denied having sexual intercourse with the victim on July 2, 2021, or at any other time. At trial, the defendant testified and claimed to have had consensual sex with the victim at some other time and denied making a false statement.
“Salas-Lozano used his position as a supervisor to sexually assault a fellow employee. Federal law enforcement will do all it can to secure justice for any victim of sexual assault,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “This jury verdict ensures that the Salas-Lozano will now face severe consequences for his despicable acts.”
“The verdict sends a clear message that the VA OIG remains dedicated to holding those who commit an act of violence at a VA facility accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG is grateful for the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek justice for the victim.”
Salas-Lozano is scheduled to appear in court today to set a date for sentencing. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison on each count of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse by fear, and a maximum penalty of eight years in prison on the count of materially false statement in a federal investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Harris and Christoffer Lee are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery, Susan Kreider, Sahib Kaur, Mimi Lam, and Fernanda Gonzalez. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by VA OIG, with significant assistance from the VA Police Service.