In his relentless pursuit to overturn his murder conviction, a convicted killer sentenced to death in 1981 for the murder of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has found an unlikely ally.
L.A. District Attorney George Gascón expressed his determination to ensure that Jesse Gonzalez remains incarcerated for the remainder of his life. However, he acknowledged the ethical responsibility of his office to disclose evidence that raises doubts about a jailhouse confession made in 1979. Critics of Gascón, including the daughters of murdered Deputy Jack Williams, are concerned that the conviction may be overturned, potentially leading to Gonzalez’s release.
On May 29, 1979, LASD deputies, along with officers from Baldwin Park and El Monte, carried out a search warrant at a residence in La Puente as part of a drug investigation.
Retired LASD Homicide Detective Rey Verdugo, who investigated the case, vividly remembers the intense moment when the demand for entry was made. In a swift motion, Bobby Esquivel forcefully kicked the door, propelling himself into the room. As his eyes scanned the scene, they landed on Jesse Gonzalez, who held a shotgun in his hands. Filled with urgency, Bobby cried out, “Gun!”
Deputy Williams bravely entered the room after the door had been forcefully breached during the drug raid. According to Verdugo, Jesse Gonzalez used his shotgun to fatally shoot Jack Williams.
“He made it clear that he had every intention of targeting a police officer,” he stated. “Upon learning that law enforcement would be conducting a raid at his residence, he happened to be watering the lawn when he spotted the patrol cars approaching from the nearby corner. Reacting swiftly, he hurried inside, fully aware of their imminent arrival, with the intention of preparing himself. He explicitly mentioned his plan to eliminate at least one officer.”
Gonzalez has been convicted of 1st degree murder, with the additional charge of killing a peace officer. Furthermore, he has been found guilty of felony assault on Williams’ partner, Esquivel. In 1981, a separate penalty phase jury sentenced Gonzalez to death, following a hung jury in the initial penalty phase.
According to former L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley, the incident can be described as an execution, an assassination, or an ambush. Cooley believes that the suspect was motivated by the need to protect his narcotics and trade. Additionally, the suspect had prior knowledge of the officers’ arrival and had a strong animosity towards law enforcement due to his gang affiliation.
Gonzalez has always admitted to the murder of Williams, but he maintains that he believed the officers, who were in plain clothes but had badges, were actually part of a rival gang who intended to harm him.
The jury’s decision on the death penalty depended on whether Gonzalez had intended to kill a police officer. The Los Angeles DA’s office focused on Gonzalez’s statement to Detective Verdugo shortly after the incident, where he mentioned seeing the police approaching. However, Gonzalez soon contradicted himself and denied making such a remark.
Months later, LASD detectives received a call from William Acker, a jailhouse informant. According to Acker, Gonzalez had confessed to him shortly after they were placed in adjacent jail cells. Acker informed the detectives that Gonzalez acknowledged knowing their true identity as police officers and expressed his desire to “bag a cop.”
According to Kathy Cady, a victims’ rights attorney and retired L.A. County Deputy District Attorney, the defense in this case is not arguing that the defendant is innocent or that he wasn’t responsible for shooting and killing Jack Williams. The central question at hand is whether or not the defendant knew that Williams was a law enforcement officer.
“They want justice”
Cady and Cooley are the legal representatives for Williams’ two daughters.
Cady empathetically shared that the children are seeking justice for their beloved father. Their hearts ache every day as they ponder how their lives would have unfolded had he not been taken away from them at such a tender age of 11 or 12. These innocent souls were merely children back then, trying to make sense of a world shattered by a tragic loss.
Williams’ daughters are concerned that Gonzalez may be released if a judge determines that the DA’s office did not disclose crucial evidence regarding the jailhouse informant during the 1980s. The jury during the trial was aware that Acker was in custody and had a criminal record as a murderer. Additionally, they knew that he had the expectation of being transferred to an out-of-state prison in exchange for providing testimony.
However, the defense argues that the additional evidence, which was not disclosed by the DA’s office, further undermines Acker’s credibility.
Gascón acknowledges that evidence was not intentionally withheld from the defense, but he believes it still qualifies as a Brady violation.
According to Gascón, six different psychological reports revealed that he had a tendency to lie pathologically, manipulate others, and fabricate situations to achieve his desired outcomes.
According to Gascón, the original prosecutors were ethically obligated to disclose that information. Due to their failure to do so, his office believes that Gonzalez should never have been given the death penalty.
According to Gascón, his office is not advocating for Gonzalez’s release.
According to the speaker, Mr. Gonzalez is responsible for the murder of Deputy Williams. The speaker firmly believes that Mr. Gonzalez should be sentenced to life in prison. However, they also recognize the importance of upholding principles and abiding by the rules within the government, law enforcement, and the prosecution. The speaker clarifies that they are not advocating for Mr. Gonzalez’s release, but rather emphasizing the commitment to ensuring that he remains incarcerated. They assert that they will fight to keep him in prison, but will do so within the boundaries of the established rules.
Mark Overland, the defense attorney for Gonzalez, asserts that his client should be released from custody and argues that the confession made in jail was a fabrication. Overland further contends that Acker, in order to protect himself, would have been willing to say anything.
Overland described Gonzalez as a psychopath who was willing to commit any act of brutality to attain his goals. He mentioned that Gonzalez, who is now 76 years old and wheelchair-bound, no longer poses a threat to society.
According to Overland, the person in question has spent the prime years of their life behind bars, including approximately 40 years on Death Row. Overland asserts that this individual had their life unjustly taken away from them.
Eyewitness News has obtained evidence confirming that Gonzalez is a confirmed member of the Mexican mafia. In a 2020 murder trial, a handwritten note was presented as proof, revealing that Gonzalez was listed as one of the Mexican Mafia members receiving funds from a mafia “secretary” under the instruction of another prominent member of the Mexican Mafia, who is also on Death Row.
During two trials, an individual well-versed in the Mexican Mafia’s operations provided testimony stating that the funds in question originated from both extortion activities and drug sales.
LASD Deputy Devon Self testified in 2020 and again in 2022, stating that “Bird,” a member of the Mexican Mafia from La Puente, is currently on Death Row.
In a jailhouse phone call from February 2023, two La Puente gang members inside Men’s Central Jail in downtown L.A. refer to Gonzalez. The audio, obtained by ABC7, captures the conversation between the two individuals as they discuss dividing the profits from the smuggling of drugs into the facility.
Heroin is often referred to as “candy bars” in coded language.
“You’re familiar with those three candy bars, aren’t you? One of them is divided among all the elders gathered right here, in this very place… for the house… you catch my drift? Yeah, you got it.”
During the call, the suggestion is made to “look out for ‘Pops’ and ‘Bird'” and if one wants to do something for their friend, they could give him half of the extra one.
Cooley stated that the individual in question is not only a cop killer, but also a confirmed member of the Mexican Mafia who holds a significant position within the organization. He emphasized the seriousness of this combination, stating that having someone who has taken the life of a police officer and holds influence within the Mexican Mafia back in society is highly concerning.
According to Gascón, Cooley is politicizing this case and spreading disinformation in an attempt to conceal his own misconduct.
Gascón made a promise that his office will stand up for the conviction and pursue a retrial for Gonzalez if needed, but they will not seek the death penalty. However, he acknowledges that it is impossible to anticipate the judge’s decision accurately.
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