Detectives looking for more alleged victims in Gonzales case

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- New details are emerging about the allegations against Olympic boxer Paul Gonzales, who was arrested for allegedly committing lewd acts against a child.

Investigators say there is only one alleged underage victim involved in the eight felony counts filed against Gonzales. But they are concerned that because Gonzalez has interacted with children for the last 10 years as a coach at an East Los Angeles boxing club, there may be more victims who have not come forward.

"Based on the facts we've gained from this investigation, and the fact that Mr. Gonzales has worked at the gym for a long period of time and had access to lots of children, specifically females during that time, we're very concerned that we have more victims out there that were never disclosed to law enforcement," said Lt. Todd Deeds with the Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau.

Officials urged anyone with information about other possible victims to contact the LASD's Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273 or (877) 710-LASD.

Investigators say the alleged victim, a female under the age of 14, met Gonzales at the boxing club and they developed a relationship over time, during which he committed multiple lewd acts on her.

"We believe he befriended her and he groomed her and we believe that lewd conduct was committed against her over a period of time," Deeds said.

The acts allegedly took place in 2017 until a family member contacted authorities.

The eight counts Gonzales is facing include four counts of a lewd act against a child. The other four counts are attempted lewd act on a child; possession or control of child pornography; distributing or showing pornography to a minor and contact with a minor for sexual offense.

Gonzales won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in boxing and, after retiring from the sport in 1991, become an active figure in his native East Los Angeles community. For the last 10 years, he has worked for the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, working as head boxing coach at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club in East LA.

The club serves kids ages 8-19, with an average of about 40 boys and 15 girls.

The county issued a statement saying it is cooperating with the investigation and there is "zero tolerance for employee misconduct."