The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has charged Erdem Gorgulu (Age 46 of Redlands) with multiple charges related to an incident during looting in the city of San Bernardino.
CASE SYNOPSIS:
On Monday, June 1, 2020, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation into possible criminal activity by a deputy sheriff, Erdem Gorgulu.
Once completed, the investigation was forwarded to our office for the consideration of the filing of criminal charges. After reviewing the case, our office has charged Mr. Gorgulu with violating the following sections of the California Penal Code:
Penal Code Section 118.1 – Filing A False Police Report (Misdemeanor)
Every peace officer who files any report with the agency which employs him or her regarding the commission of any crime or any investigation of any crime, if he or she knowingly and intentionally makes any statement regarding any material matter in the report which the officer knows to be false, whether or not the statement is certified or otherwise expressly reported as true, is guilty of filing a false report punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or in the state prison for one, two, or three years. This section shall not apply to the contents of any statement which the peace officer attributes in the report to any other person.
Penal Code Section 149 – Assault Under Color Of Authority (Felony)
Every public officer who, under color of authority, without lawful necessity, assaults or beats any person, is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
Penal Code Section 245(a)(1) – Assault With A Deadly Weapon (Felony)
Any person who commits an assault upon the person of another with a deadly weapon or instrument other than a firearm shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, or in a county jail for not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.
Penal Code Section 463(a) – Looting (Misdemeanor)
Every person who violates Section 459, punishable as a second-degree burglary pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 461, during and within an affected county in a “state of emergency” or a “local emergency,” or under an “evacuation order,” resulting from an earthquake, fire, flood, riot, or other natural or manmade disaster shall be guilty of the crime of looting, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for one year or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. Any person convicted under this subdivision who is eligible for probation and who is granted probation shall, as a condition thereof, be confined in a county jail for at least 180 days, except that the court may, in the case where the interest of justice would best be served, reduce or eliminate that mandatory jail sentence, if the court specifies on the record and enters into the minutes the circumstances indicating that the interest of justice would best be served by that disposition. In addition to whatever custody is ordered, the court, in its discretion, may require any person granted probation following conviction under this subdivision to serve up to 240 hours of community service in any program deemed appropriate by the court, including any program created to rebuild the community.
For purposes of this subdivision, the fact that the structure entered has been damaged by the earthquake, fire, flood, or other natural or manmade disaster shall not, in and of itself, preclude conviction.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
District Attorney Jason Anderson has made a commitment to the people of San Bernardino County to provide equal justice to all. When it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, we will prosecute those responsible for committing criminal acts, regardless of who they are.
San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon shares the same values as our office. Mr. Gorgulu is no longer employed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. He no longer holds the title of “deputy sheriff.”
Mr. Gorgulu’s conduct does not represent the vast majority of law enforcement officers throughout this country who serve with integrity, honor, and uphold the rule of law every day.
It was a member of the sheriff’s department who reported Mr. Gorgulu’s conduct, leading to a thorough and objective investigation. We are thankful for this member’s professionalism and commitment to their professional ethics.
CASE INFORMATION
DA Case Number: 2020-00-0030280
Court Case Number: PENDING
View Superior Court Case Information
View Charging Document
INVESTIGATING AGENCY NEWS RELEASE
View San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s News Release