Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Bexar County Deputy Accused of Sexual Assault Resigns

A deputy accused of sexually assaulting a Southwest Side woman resigned last week after serving 23 years with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

“I can confirm that he has turned in his resignation,” said Deputy Ino Badillo, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The victim told San Antonio police that the deputy, a civil warrants officer, raped her inside her home on Aug. 11. According to police, the deputy insists that he was in a consensual sexual relationship with the woman.

Her family says that is not the case. They said on Tuesday that the woman was physically injured during a sexual assault and that she remained hospitalized in a psychiatric ward to cope with post-traumatic stress.

“My family is afraid he's going to get away with it,” said Monica Cerda, the victim's sister.

The woman told police that she was walking near South Presa Street and West Hermitage Court when the deputy drove up to her and said she had a warrant for her arrest. Fearing she was under arrest, the woman got into his car and they drove to her home, where she said he raped her.

Personnel records for the accused deputy show that he has received multiple commendations from supervisors and community members over the years. But he also had been disciplined for sleeping on the job, failing to report an accidental discharge of his service weapon and failing to secure an arrestee who kicked out the window of a patrol car.

The San Antonio Police Department is investigating the most recent allegations because the victim said she was sexually assaulted within San Antonio city limits.

SAPD detectives familiar with the case said they have been unable to confirm the victim's side of the story, in part, because she has been hospitalized.

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