Child Molester Genise Schu Suing Ex-Husband for Spousal Support

A Santa Barbara woman sentenced to prison for engaging in a long-term sexual relationship with her son’s 13-year-old friend is now suing her ex-husband for spousal support.

Genise Schu, who has reverted to her maiden name, Genise Gomez, was sentenced to six years in prison in April 2010. She was released in April 2013 and currently lives in Goleta. As part of her plea agreement, she must register as a sex offender until April 2016.

Gomez is seeking $7,900 a month in spousal support, according to court documents. Her average monthly expenses, the filings claim, include $3,000 for rent, $550 for eating out, $600 for clothes, and $1,000 for “miscellaneous” items.

Gomez’s ex-husband filed for divorce immediately after her sentencing, and she received nearly $1 million in assets as part of their settlement. Her ex-husband has since moved out of the area and is now challenging her alimony demands. The trial is scheduled to begin today.

As Gomez’s criminal case worked its way through court five years ago, the details of her offenses shocked and disturbed the Santa Barbara community. She admitted to sleeping with the 13-year-old victim for seven years and said that their relationship began when the victim would spend the night at their home. The victim and her son were classmates and close friends and played water polo together.

Gomez, who was 48 at the time and has three children, would show the victim pornography and buy him and his friends alcohol, prosecutors said. She would threaten to expose the relationship when the victim would attempt to end it, and, often controlling and manipulative, she gained access to his email, Facebook, and phone.

Bakersfield attorney Ralph Wegis is representing Gomez’s ex-husband in their alimony case. In rebuttals to her demands, Wegis claimed Gomez was abusive toward her husband and their children during their marriage. When her daughter discovered the illicit affair before authorities did, she developed severe emotional distress and resorted to self-harming, Wegis stated; since Gomez’s crimes became public, all of the family members have endured significant pain and humiliation.

Based on Gomez’s behavior during her marriage, her admitted felonies of child abuse and molestation, and the significant amount of money she received during her divorce settlement, Gomez should be denied any additional money, Wegis argued.

Of Gomez’s criminal case, Wegis said he is surprised she will remain on the state’s sex offender registry for just six more months. “She’s hardwired to be a pedophile,” he asserted. “She is going to be restored to the complete freedom to pursue what was so important to her before.”

Multiple attempts to reach Gomez were not successful.