L.A. Sheriff's Jail Assistant Convicted Of Inmate Sex Assault

Originally published by The Associated Press, July 20, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Jurors convicted a sheriff's custody assistant of sexually assaulting a woman inmate at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility downtown in 1999.

The jury deliberated two hours Friday before convicting Meko Goodley on one count of oral copulation, said Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Munisoglu. Goodley, 28, faces a maximum sentence of three years.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 12.

Goodley was convicted of sexually assaulting the inmate Feb. 23, 1999. He had faced similar charges involving two alleged 1999 attacks against another woman who refused to testify, the prosecutor said.

The defendant also faces trial Aug. 14 in connection with an alleged theft ring, dubbed "Easy Money," involving sheriff's personnel at Twin Towers.

The sexual assault case was filed against Goodley in March. He was arrested in the theft case in March 2001.