An Orange County inmate released early due to an ongoing American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawsuit escaped mandatory electronic monitoring by removing her device, police said Jan. 19. The 28-year-old woman was released following a Dec. 11, 2020, court order from Judge Peter Wilson—who is overseeing a lawsuit from the ACLU—to release half of Orange County’s inmates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He ordered the immediate release of Sandy Gonzalez, and one other individual “to provide the necessary physical distancing and other measures to protect against COVID-19,” said the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). P0lice said that given the inmate’s extensive criminal history, she would not otherwise have qualified for electronic monitoring. Gonzalez was booked into custody last March by the Fullerton Police Department for felony armed robbery, shoplifting, possession of a controlled substance, child endangerment and resisting arrest. She was released to the sheriff’s department’s electronic monitoring last Dec. …