Man gets 16 years for keeping teen captive

A 24-year-old Daly City man who kept a teenage girl captive in his parent’s basement for 18 months during which she was physically and sexually abused was sentenced yesterday to 16 years in prison.

John Paule France Gonzales faced up to 20 years in prison after pleading no contest July 9 to 14 felony counts of child molestation, sodomy, unlawful sexual intercourse, domestic violence and criminal threats.

Defense attorney Paul DeMeester sought three years or probation although Judge Cliff Cretan ultimately opted for the higher end of the maximum.

"In the probation report, he expressed remorse and I think he understands the seriousness of the situation,” DeMeester said. "This guy is not a predator but the girl could not legally consent.”

Gonzales receives credit for 817 days against his sentence and must serve at least 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole. He must also register as a sex offender.

Gonzales and the girl met in 2000, when she was 10 and he dated her aunt with whom she lived in San Bruno. In 2003, she moved to Healdsburg with her grandmother but allegedly kept in contact with Gonzales and began a sexual relationship. When she did not return home one day, her grandmother reported her missing. The family believed she was a runaway but she was actually in Gonzales’ home, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

At the time, Gonzales was 22 and the girl 12.

Gonzales kept the girl in his basement bedroom for 18 months during which she was repeatedly beaten and forced to have sex, prosecutor Melissa McKowan said after his arrest.

His brother reportedly snuck food to the girl but his parents were cleared of any knowledge she was in their home. In October 2006, the parents’ Daly City home met foreclosure and Gonzales reportedly returned the girl to her family. After telling her father what had happened to her, prosecutors said, Daly City police arrested Gonzales.

Gonzales maintained the victim was not held against her will and the relationship was consensual.

DeMeester said the victim wrote Gonzales love letters "over the years” and there is videotape footage of the couple celebrating her 15th birthday at the Cheesecake Factory.

"This is an oddball situation with unique facts. The statutes used in this case weren’t written with this kind of offender in mind,” DeMeester said.

Prosecutors initially charged Gonzales with 146 counts, including 21 other reportedly stemming from incidents in Alameda, Marin, Sonoma and San Francisco counties. The balance was dropped as part of the negotiated plea.

Gonzales has been in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.