4 charged in alleged rape of lesbian RICHMOND Hate crime prosecution possible - assailants made comments about victim being a lesbian

Richmond police are looking for 21-year-old Josue Gonzalez as a suspect in the alleged gang rape in December of a 28-year-old lesbian woman. Richmond police are looking for 21-year-old Josue Gonzalez as a suspect in the alleged gang rape in December of a 28-year-old lesbian woman. Photo: Richmond Police Department, Courtesy To The Chronicle Photo: Richmond Police Department, Courtesy To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 4 charged in alleged rape of lesbian 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

In a case being investigated as a hate crime, two men and two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape in December of a 28-year-old lesbian, Richmond police said Thursday.

Three suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday, and the fourth suspect, 21-year-old Josue Gonzalez, known by the nickname "Pato," turned himself in Thursday after authorities issued a $1 million arrest warrant, describing him as armed and dangerous, police said. Gonzalez walked into the Richmond police headquarters with his mother, stepfather and girlfriend just 10 minutes after police finished a midday news conference about their pursuit of Gonzalez, authorities said.

Apparently, the widespread publicity about the case was a factor in Gonzalez's surrender. The family "saw all the coverage on the news and got so many calls from the family, they came down to the station," said Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan.

Gonzalez, who immediately told police he wanted a lawyer, was being held on a $1 million arrest warrant on suspicion of his involvement in the alleged rape and kidnapping.

On Wednesday, Richmond police arrested a 15-year-old boy and 31-year-old Humberto Hernandez Salvador at their Richmond homes. The 15-year-old was booked on suspicion of felony counts of sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery, Gagan said. Salvador, who authorities described as the ringleader in the incident, was arrested on suspicion of felony kidnapping to commit a sex crime, carjacking, rape, gang rape, as well as on suspicion of violating probation and committing felonies while on probation.

The teenager is being held with no bail at a juvenile facility in Martinez; Salvador is being held in Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez with no bail.

A 16-year-old from Hercules turned himself in around midnight Wednesday. He is also suspected of felonies related to the alleged rape and kidnapping and was also being held in a juvenile detention center. The teenager, nicknamed "Blue," was accompanied by his family, Gagan said.

Salvador "had the most involvement and gave orders and directions to the other individuals," Gagan said. "But they're all responsible for the crimes that were committed against the victim."

Police allege that on Dec. 13, the 45-minute assault began at 9:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Visalia Avenue in Richmond's Belding-Wood neighborhood. After the woman was struck with a blunt object and robbed, the suspects then told her to disrobe, police said. She was sexually assaulted in that location and then forced back into her car after the suspects saw someone approaching. She was driven seven blocks away to the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue, where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted in her car, police said. She was left naked near a burned-out apartment complex, police said.

After the attack, the men drove off in her car. She sought help from a nearby resident, who called authorities.

Investigators are pursuing the case as a hate crime because of comments the suspects made about the victim's sexual orientation. The woman is openly lesbian and had a rainbow sticker on her car, a symbol of gay pride. The case has already drawn national attention.

Authorities offered $10,000 for tips leading to the attackers' arrest. So far the police have not distributed any money, Gagan said, but the community did provide helpful information in the case.

In the wake of the incident, the community held vigils, distributed leaflets and made announcements at local churches, he added.

"The crime had an immediate effect on our community," Gagan said. "Locally people were very afraid to know that these people were out there."

Gagan said the woman is recovering. Community Violence Solutions, a nonprofit rape crisis center, has opened a fund in the name of Richmond Jane Doe to help the woman pay for relocation expenses, police said.

"We know that being the victim of this crime has changed her for life. I can only imagine that knowing these people are in custody is a relief."