Hugo Godinez, Sex Offender Appealing County Pervs-in-Parks Ban, Jailed for Violating Parole


Hugo Godinez, the registered sex offender at the center of an appellate case that, depending on who tells it, freed only him from the restraints of a controversial county ordinance banning perverts from public parks or made that law null and void for all, has been sentenced to 197 days in jail for violating his probation. The Santa Ana 30-year-old admitted to various probation violations Thursday, according to a statement from the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA), the same agency appealing a three-judge panel's favorable ruling for the plaintiff in the county Child Safety Zone ordinance case.
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That ordinance, approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors in April 2011 and mirrored by several OC city councils since, was actually written by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Supervisor Shawn Nelson. It requires registered sex offenders to obtain permission from the Orange County Sheriff's Department before entering county parks and recreational areas. Several Orange County cities, at the urging of the OCDA, have adopted their own local ordinances, most of which apply to all sex offenders just like the county's law, although some only target known perverts who have preyed on children.

Godinez, who has been forced to register as a sex offender for life since a
2010 misdemeanor sexual battery
conviction out of Costa Mesa, having signed
paperwork indicating he knew he
had to re-register in other jurisdictions if he changed his address, according to the OCDA. Prosecutors say Godinez also talked with his
probation officer about the county ban on registered sex offenders in
recreational areas where children gather.

Three days after that chat, and a month after supervisors enacted the county ordinance, he was arrested at Mile
Square Park, an OC regional facility in Fountain Valley covered by the ban. Godinez would go on to be convicted in November 2011 on one misdemeanor count of failing
to register and
show proof of residency upon release from incarceration and sentenced to 100 days in jail and five years probation 

Godinez's Orange County
Public Defender, Scott M. Van Camp, appealed on grounds that his client was attending a “mandatory”
company party celebrating Cinco de Mayo and that the different residency requirements in different cities were unfair and trumped by state law. A three-judge Superior Court panel agreed with that last point last November, finding the county ordinance violates the California Constitution because
it preempts state law that prohibits some, but not all, sex offender
registrants from entering public parks.

The case is now pending before the state Court of Appeals. In the meantime, Rackauckas has said the earlier three-judge ruling only applies to Godinez having been at Mile Square Park that one day. Janice Bellucci, an attorney and California organizer with Reform Sex Offender Laws, countered the decision was a “major victory” for all registered sex offenders in the state. After Susan Schroeder, the district attorney's chief of staff, characterized the appellate decision was just the normal process of shaping law in this state, county Public Defender Frank Ospino shot back to the Weekly that the DA's stand on Godinez was wrong and that various court rulings have rendered
Child Safety Zones enacted by Irvine, Tustin and the County of Orange
“unconstitutional and void.” (To drill down farther on each side's legal arguments, click on “Orange County Pervs-in-Parks Ban Violates State Constitution: Judicial Panel.”)

A statement the OCDA sent to the Weekly today reveals the Orange County Probation Department (OCPD) filed a “Petition for Arraignment on a Probation Violation” March 19 and that Godinez
admitted to the following violations two days later:
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1) Godinez was required to report to his assigned probation officer
twice weekly. The defendant failed to report on Feb. 7, Feb. 20, March
7, and March 14, 2013.
2) Godinez was directed on Jan. 28, 2013, to participate in
counseling or treatment. The defendant initially complied, as directed,
but then stopped participating against the direction of his therapist
and probation officer.
3) The defendant is prohibited from frequenting places where minors
congregate, including playgrounds and arcades. On Feb. 4, 2013, GPS
tracking showed Godinez at a Carl's Jr. restaurant in Santa Ana, which
has a large children's play area.
4) The defendant is prohibited from associating with minors. On
Feb. 11, 2013, while in lobby of the probation office, Godinez
approached a minor boy and attempted to shake the child's hand. The
child was uncomfortable with the attempted contact and reported the
incident. Godinez admitted to initiating the contact, but stated that he
just wanted to say, “Hello” because the boy “seemed nice.”
5) Godinez is required to charge his GPS twice a day, every 12
hours, for 60 minutes each time. On Feb. 9, 2013, Godinez failed to
maintain the battery charge on his device.
6) Godinez is required to cooperate with his probation officer
regarding any plan for counseling or treatment. On Feb. 14, 2013,
Godinez admitted that he was not taking his psychotropic medications, as
prescribed by the doctor.

The Petition for Arraignment on a Probation Violation also states, “The
probationer has admitted in his therapy groups that he is sexually
attracted to young girls. The probationer has been participating in
inappropriate sexual behavior on numerous occasions, which only heighten
the risk he poses to the community.” The Petition outlines several
instances of “inappropriate sexual behavior,” including:

1) On Jan. 3, 2013, Godinez admitted to meeting a woman in a
nightclub and returning with her to her apartment. The defendant claimed
that he gave the woman “a massage” and touched her vagina. Godinez
stated that he stopped touching the woman's vagina because she protested
to the touching. The woman was contacted by OCPD and confirmed
Godinez's statement, but declined to speak with police for possible
prosecution as a new law violation.
2) On Feb. 11, 2013, Godinez admitted to his probation officer to
meeting a woman in Santa Ana. He took her to a motel, which is a known
location for probationers, parolees, drug users, and drug dealers to
frequent. Godinez rented a motel room, had sex with the woman, and then
left and allowed the woman to stay in the room for the remainder of the
day. This exchange of a motel room for sex may be considered engaging in
prostitution.
3) On Feb. 27, 2013, Godinez admitted to contacting two women, who
worked together at a business in Costa Mesa. Godinez repeatedly spoke to
the women, asked for their phone numbers, asked them on dates, and
watched them through the window of their work. The women called CMPD.
Godinez told his probation officer that he “just wanted a girlfriend,
like everyone else.”
4) On March 18, 2013, Godinez admitted that he met a woman in the
middle of the night on Feb. 8, 2013, and took her to a motel room. He
stated that he did not have sexual intercourse with the woman, but
“kissed and licked her body all over.” During this same meeting with his
probation officer, Godinez admitted to meeting a man at approximately
3 a.m. on Feb. 16, 2013, and going with the man to the man's
apartment. Godinez stated that he did not have sexual contact with the
man, but confirmed that the man was gay and attempted to have sex with
Godinez.
5) Two weeks prior to Godinez's arrest on March 18, 2013, OCSD
received reports that a man was masturbating in the public restroom of
the court/probation office. At the time of his arrest, OCSD recognized
Godinez as having been in the area on the date of the complaint and as
the man suspected of masturbating in the restroom. No police report was
filed due to a lack of information, but the defendant has previously
admitted to his probation officer to masturbating in the public restroom
at that location.

The petition states, “Due to multiple probation violations, the lack of
compliance with treatment expectations established by [Godinez's
therapist], and the probationer's lack of follow through with referrals
to a myriad of community resources, his progress on probation can only
be characterized as poor.”

Now, I'm no lawyer and no one asked for my take, but while the hand shake with the kid and hand job with himself in a public restroom are creepy, and the unwillingness to take his meds and get therapy are troubling, I did not read anything above that jumps out as evidence of a crime being committed beyond a reasonable doubt. Then again, the bar for violating probation is obviously lower and, according to the OCDA, Godinez did admit to violations.

More Godinez/Child Safety Zone ordinance coverage:
Hugo Godinez, Sex Offender Busted in County Park, is Ammo for Two More Cities Considering Bans
Both Sides Ready to Debate Orange County's Pervs-in-Parks Ban Before Appeals Court

The full OCDA statement on Godinez's probation violation sentence follows on the next page . . .
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March 26, 2013

Case # 09CM11069
       11CM12772

REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER CONVICTED OF SEXUAL BATTERY AND FAILING TO
REGISTER SENTENCED TO 197 DAYS IN JAIL FOR PROBATION VIOLATIONS
*Defendant has a pending case in the Courts of Appeal for a conviction for being a sex offender in a County park

SANTA ANA – A registered sex offender convicted of sexual battery and
failing to register, and who has a pending case in the Courts of Appeal
for violating the County ordinance barring registered sex offenders from
entering County parks, was sentenced for violating his probation. Hugo
Godinez, 30, Santa Ana, was sentenced March 21, 2013, at an arraignment
on probation violations. The defendant admitted to the violations and
was sentenced to 197 days in jail by the Honorable Peter Wilson.

Sexual Battery (Case #09CM11069)
On Nov. 11, 2009, Godinez approached Jane Doe #1, an adult female, while
she was walking down the street alone during daylight hours. The
defendant slapped the victim just below her buttocks, on her upper leg,
and asked, “Do you like that?” The victim attempted to walk away but
began to run when she observed Godinez following and chasing her. Jane
Doe #1 ran up to another pedestrian for help, and Godinez then fled the
scene.

On Nov. 17, 2009, Godinez approached Jane Doe #2, an adult female, while
she was walking her dog during. Godinez leaned over and pretended he
was going to pet the dog, but instead slapped the victim on the buttocks
and said, “You're cute.” Jane Doe #2 screamed at the defendant to get
away from her and she walked away. Godinez followed the victim,
approached her again, and slapped her again on the buttocks. Jane Doe #2
ran to a nearby store and Godinez fled the scene.

In a subsequent taped interview with the Santa Ana Police Department,
Godinez admitted to slapping both victims on the leg and/or buttocks
because he claimed to believe that they would like it.

Godinez was convicted by a jury June 17, 2010, of one misdemeanor count
of sexual battery and one misdemeanor count of attempted sexual battery.
The attempted sexual battery count was dismissed and Godinez was
sentenced June 23, 2010, to 30 days of Caltrans service in lieu of jail,
five years of formal probation, and lifetime sex offender registration.

As required by law, and as a term of his sex offender registration
sentence, Godinez signed on Aug. 16, 2010, a Department of Justice (DOJ)
8047 form, “A Notice of Sex Offender Registration Requirement,” at the
Orange County Probation Department in Santa Ana. The form explained his
requirements to register as a sex offender.

On May 2, 2011, Godinez signed and initialed DOJ form 8102,
“Registration Change of Address/Annual Update,” acknowledging he
understood the terms and conditions of his registration. Form 8102 was
signed by the defendant at the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD).

That same day, Godinez met with a deputy probation officer to discuss
Ordinance 3-18-1 pertaining to restricting registered sex offenders'
access to locations where children regularly gather, such as Orange
County parks.  The defendant signed a copy of the Ordinance.

Circumstances of Sex Offender Ordinance Case (#11WM11018) and Failure to Register (Case #11CM12772)
At approximately 10:50 a.m. on May 5, 2011, three days after signing
form 8102 and a copy of the Sex Offender Ordinance, Godinez entered Mile
Square Regional Park in the City of Fountain Valley.  This park is
known to be a gathering place for families on holidays and includes two
lakes, three 18-hole golf courses, archery range, baseball and softball
fields, picnic shelters, a recreation center with tennis, basketball and
racquetball courts, a gymnasium, the Kingston Boys & Girls Club,
and a community center. On this particular day, there were many people
in the park, including children, celebrating Cinco de Mayo. The
defendant did not leave the park until 2:00 p.m. VeriTracks Global
Positioning Satellite System (GPS) print-outs showed the defendant's
movements.

On June 7, 2011, Godinez admitted to an Orange County Sheriff's deputy
on the Sex Offender Notification and Registration (SONAR) detail that he
went to Mile Square Regional Park and stayed at the park for several
hours, knowing he was not supposed to be there.  He stated that he knew
it was wrong and that he was going to admit this violation to his deputy
probation officer.

On June 30, 2011, Godinez was incarcerated for a probation violation
related to his prior sexual battery conviction and was later released on
Aug. 27, 2011. He failed to re-register as a sex offender within five
days of his release, as required by law. On Sept. 12, 2011, Godinez met
with his probation officer and admitted to failing to re-register. He
was promptly taken in to custody.

On Nov. 14, 2011, Godinez was found guilty in a court trial of one
misdemeanor count of prohibited sex offender entering a County park
without the written permission from the Orange County Sheriff's
Department (OCSD). He was also convicted of one misdemeanor count of
failing to register and show proof of residency upon release from
incarceration (Case #11CM12772). Godinez was sentenced Nov. 17, 2011, to
100 days in the Orange County Jail and five years of formal probation
with search and seizure conditions.

Godinez appealed from his conviction for being a prohibited sex offender
entering a County park and his appeal is currently pending in the
Courts of Appeal.

To read the prior press releases on the County's Sex Offender Ordinance
and the 14 other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone
Ordinance, visit www.orangecountyda.com.

New Probation Violation Case
At the time of these violations, Godinez was on probation in the sexual
battery case and failing to register as a sex offender case. A Petition
for Arraignment on a Probation Violation was filed March 19, 2013, by
the Orange County Probation Department (OCPD), and Godinez admitted the
following violations at his arraignment March 21, 2013.

1)      Godinez was required to report to his assigned probation officer
twice weekly. The defendant failed to report on Feb. 7, Feb. 20, March
7, and March 14, 2013.
2)      Godinez was directed on Jan. 28, 2013, to participate in
counseling or treatment. The defendant initially complied, as directed,
but then stopped participating against the direction of his therapist
and probation officer.
3)      The defendant is prohibited from frequenting places where minors
congregate, including playgrounds and arcades. On Feb. 4, 2013, GPS
tracking showed Godinez at a Carl's Jr. restaurant in Santa Ana, which
has a large children's play area.
4)      The defendant is prohibited from associating with minors. On
Feb. 11, 2013, while in lobby of the probation office, Godinez
approached a minor boy and attempted to shake the child's hand. The
child was uncomfortable with the attempted contact and reported the
incident. Godinez admitted to initiating the contact, but stated that he
just wanted to say, “Hello” because the boy “seemed nice.”
5)      Godinez is required to charge his GPS twice a day, every 12
hours, for 60 minutes each time. On Feb. 9, 2013, Godinez failed to
maintain the battery charge on his device.
6)      Godinez is required to cooperate with his probation officer
regarding any plan for counseling or treatment. On Feb. 14, 2013,
Godinez admitted that he was not taking his psychotropic medications, as
prescribed by the doctor.

The Petition for Arraignment on a Probation Violation also states, “The
probationer has admitted in his therapy groups that he is sexually
attracted to young girls. The probationer has been participating in
inappropriate sexual behavior on numerous occasions, which only heighten
the risk he poses to the community.”  The Petition outlines several
instances of “inappropriate sexual behavior,” including:

1)      On Jan. 3, 2013, Godinez admitted to meeting a woman in a
nightclub and returning with her to her apartment. The defendant claimed
that he gave the woman “a massage” and touched her vagina. Godinez
stated that he stopped touching the woman's vagina because she protested
to the touching. The woman was contacted by OCPD and confirmed
Godinez's statement, but declined to speak with police for possible
prosecution as a new law violation.
2)      On Feb. 11, 2013, Godinez admitted to his probation officer to
meeting a woman in Santa Ana. He took her to a motel, which is a known
location for probationers, parolees, drug users, and drug dealers to
frequent. Godinez rented a motel room, had sex with the woman, and then
left and allowed the woman to stay in the room for the remainder of the
day. This exchange of a motel room for sex may be considered engaging in
prostitution.
3)      On Feb. 27, 2013, Godinez admitted to contacting two women, who
worked together at a business in Costa Mesa. Godinez repeatedly spoke to
the women, asked for their phone numbers, asked them on dates, and
watched them through the window of their work. The women called CMPD.
Godinez told his probation officer that he “just wanted a girlfriend,
like everyone else.”
4)      On March 18, 2013, Godinez admitted that he met a woman in the
middle of the night on Feb. 8, 2013, and took her to a motel room. He
stated that he did not have sexual intercourse with the woman, but
“kissed and licked her body all over.” During this same meeting with his
probation officer, Godinez admitted to meeting a man at approximately
3:00 a.m. on Feb. 16, 2013, and going with the man to the man's
apartment. Godinez stated that he did not have sexual contact with the
man, but confirmed that the man was gay and attempted to have sex with
Godinez.
5)      Two weeks prior to Godinez's arrest on March 18, 2013, OCSD
received reports that a man was masturbating in the public restroom of
the court/probation office. At the time of his arrest, OCSD recognized
Godinez as having been in the area on the date of the complaint and as
the man suspected of masturbating in the restroom. No police report was
filed due to a lack of information, but the defendant has previously
admitted to his probation officer to masturbating in the public restroom
at that location.

The petition states, “Due to multiple probation violations, the lack of
compliance with treatment expectations established by [Godinez's
therapist], and the probationer's lack of follow through with referrals
to a myriad of community resources, his progress on probation can only
be characterized as poor.”

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Alex appeared at this hearing on behalf of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

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