PALO ALTO — A former janitorial supervisor has been convicted of sexually assaulting a subordinate employee during a night shift at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital nearly four years ago, according to court records and federal authorities.

A federal jury found Onofre Salas-Lozano, 42, guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse by fear, and lying to a federal agent following a three-week trial that ended Friday.

Salas-Lozano was indicted in April 2023 in connection with the July 2, 2021 encounter at the hospital, where he and the victim, a woman, were contracted to perform janitorial services. According to investigators with the VA Office of the Inspector General, Salas-Lozano trapped the woman in a patient room and forced her into sexual acts.

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An investigative report and testimony at trial showed that Salas-Lozano initially denied ever having sex with the victim, only for him to testify that he had sex with her “at some other time.”

Part of the evidence introduced at trial was forensic analysis showing the presence of Salas-Lozano’s sperm in the victim’s underwear and information about her suffering injuries from the assault.

“Salas-Lozano used his position as a supervisor to sexually assault a fellow employee,” Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, said in a statement. “This jury verdict ensures that the Salas-Lozano will now face severe consequences for his despicable acts.”