Kern County has agreed to a $1 million settlement over a sex assault by a deputy. The deal involves former Deputy Gabriel Lopez who sexually assaulted two women in 2013. Attorney Neil Gehlawat said the county offered his client $10,000 to settle after the assault but she refused. The other woman took $5,000 without consulting an attorney. Lopez was sentenced to two years in prison last September. County Counsel said Monday that revealing details of the settlement violates terms of the agreement and jeopardizes the victim getting her money, however, Gehlawat disputes that said it’s policy that settlements with public entities cannot be suppressed for the sake of transparency.

Sean Michael Lisle