A former Northern California police officer was convicted of sexually assaulting five women while authorities said he was on patrol.
A Yolo County jury found Sergio Alvarez guilty on Thursday of 18 counts of kidnapping, rape and forced oral copulation, the Sacramento Bee reported. The jury could not reach a decision on 10 other counts, including charges related to Alvarez's alleged attack on a sixth woman.
Prosecutors said Alvarez, while serving as a West Sacramento police officer in 2011 and 2012, targeted drug addicts and prostitutes. He allegedly forced them to perform sex acts in his cruiser, back alleys and wooded lots.
Alvarez showed no reaction as the verdicts were read, the Bee reported. His attorney, J. Toney, had accused the women of lying to authorities and said one of them had a months-long sexual relationship with the officer.
"I hope that our verdict reaffirms the dignity and worth of these women who spoke," juror Linda Bond told the Bee after the verdict.
Alvarez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4 and is facing the possibility of multiple life sentences.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig called the case a "horrific betrayal of trust" and said that his office wanted Alvarez to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Showing posts with label attempted oral copulation under color of authority. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attempted oral copulation under color of authority. Show all posts
Friday, February 28, 2014
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Former Officer Robert Forman Convicted of Forcing Woman to Perform Sex Act
A former Riverside police officer was convicted today of forcing a woman to perform a sex act on him so she could avoid being arrested.
A seven-man, five-woman jury, however, acquitted 39-year-old Robert A. Forman of sexually assaulting another woman and deadlocked on whether he had assaulted a third. The panel announced its findings after two and a half days of deliberations.
Forman, who was also convicted of a misdemeanor petty theft charge, faces up to eight years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 11 by Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Molloy.
The defendant asked Molloy to permit him to remain out of custody, on $50,000 bail, until the sentencing hearing, but the judge was not inclined.
“The last thing on the planet that I want to do is take Mr. Forman into custody,” Molloy told the defendant’s attorney, Mark Johnson. “But these are very serious charges. Mr. Forman was in a position of trust.
“If it was anyone besides a police officer, I wouldn’t be taking him into custody today. I wouldn’t.”
Forman broke down in tears and asked again if he could remain free until sentencing.
“Sir, the jury has spoken,” Molloy replied.
Forman was handcuffed and allowed a few minutes to speak privately with his family before being led away.
“Our office wants people to know that we will speak for anyone, no matter who they are,” said Deputy District Attorney Elan Zekster outside the courtroom, following the verdicts.
Johnson said he was “disappointed” by the jury’s findings, but did not believe his client would face the maximum sentence.
“There are a lot of factors in mitigation,” the attorney said, adding that because Forman has no prior criminal history, he could be eligible for probation.
The ex-cop was charged with two counts of forced oral copulation and one count each of felony sexual battery and petty theft for three alleged assaults between February and April 2008.
The 11-year law enforcement veteran, who was fired from the police force shortly after his arrest in October 2008, testified in his own defense, denying all the allegations against him.
He testified last week that he had consensual sex with a woman while he was in uniform but not on duty. However, the woman, identified as Kathryn, testified she performed oral sex on Forman because she felt that was the only way to avoid arrest.
Kathryn said the April 18, 2008, encounter occurred a few hours after Forman and other officers searched her residence in response to a domestic disturbance complaint. According to trial testimony, the officers discovered drug paraphernalia, including bags of methamphetamine and used syringes, as well as evidence of check fraud.
Kathryn testified that she feared being booked for violating her probation, but Forman assured her she would not be taken into custody “as long as you cooperate.” She alleged that the defendant returned to her apartment after his shift and demanded sex.
The jury found him guilty of the offense.
A sometime-prostitute and drug user identified as Tessa testified that in February 2008 Forman gave her a ride to a bus station near Chicago and University avenues and, at the end of the encounter, told her he liked her, then thrust his hand down her pants and kissed her. The woman said she quickly got out of the car.
Forman testified that Tessa had wanted to report a rape but repeatedly drifted “off track” during their 30-minute conversation, failing to provide details about her alleged assailant. He said he gave her a ride to the bus station as a courtesy.
The jury hung 8-4 in favor of guilt, prompting Molloy to declare a mistrial. Zekster would not say whether the D.A.’s office intended to retry Forman on the sexual battery count. He was found guilty of petty theft for taking the victim’s money.
Nadia, a prostitute and admitted cocaine addict, testified that in March 2008, Forman drove her to a secluded location and ordered her to “give me some head.” She said she complied, believing she had no alternative.
According to Forman, his interaction with Nadia was limited to gathering information on drug suppliers, which the jury believed.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2008/10/officer-robert-forman-arrested-for.html
A seven-man, five-woman jury, however, acquitted 39-year-old Robert A. Forman of sexually assaulting another woman and deadlocked on whether he had assaulted a third. The panel announced its findings after two and a half days of deliberations.
Forman, who was also convicted of a misdemeanor petty theft charge, faces up to eight years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 11 by Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Molloy.
The defendant asked Molloy to permit him to remain out of custody, on $50,000 bail, until the sentencing hearing, but the judge was not inclined.
“The last thing on the planet that I want to do is take Mr. Forman into custody,” Molloy told the defendant’s attorney, Mark Johnson. “But these are very serious charges. Mr. Forman was in a position of trust.
“If it was anyone besides a police officer, I wouldn’t be taking him into custody today. I wouldn’t.”
Forman broke down in tears and asked again if he could remain free until sentencing.
“Sir, the jury has spoken,” Molloy replied.
Forman was handcuffed and allowed a few minutes to speak privately with his family before being led away.
“Our office wants people to know that we will speak for anyone, no matter who they are,” said Deputy District Attorney Elan Zekster outside the courtroom, following the verdicts.
Johnson said he was “disappointed” by the jury’s findings, but did not believe his client would face the maximum sentence.
“There are a lot of factors in mitigation,” the attorney said, adding that because Forman has no prior criminal history, he could be eligible for probation.
The ex-cop was charged with two counts of forced oral copulation and one count each of felony sexual battery and petty theft for three alleged assaults between February and April 2008.
The 11-year law enforcement veteran, who was fired from the police force shortly after his arrest in October 2008, testified in his own defense, denying all the allegations against him.
He testified last week that he had consensual sex with a woman while he was in uniform but not on duty. However, the woman, identified as Kathryn, testified she performed oral sex on Forman because she felt that was the only way to avoid arrest.
Kathryn said the April 18, 2008, encounter occurred a few hours after Forman and other officers searched her residence in response to a domestic disturbance complaint. According to trial testimony, the officers discovered drug paraphernalia, including bags of methamphetamine and used syringes, as well as evidence of check fraud.
Kathryn testified that she feared being booked for violating her probation, but Forman assured her she would not be taken into custody “as long as you cooperate.” She alleged that the defendant returned to her apartment after his shift and demanded sex.
The jury found him guilty of the offense.
A sometime-prostitute and drug user identified as Tessa testified that in February 2008 Forman gave her a ride to a bus station near Chicago and University avenues and, at the end of the encounter, told her he liked her, then thrust his hand down her pants and kissed her. The woman said she quickly got out of the car.
Forman testified that Tessa had wanted to report a rape but repeatedly drifted “off track” during their 30-minute conversation, failing to provide details about her alleged assailant. He said he gave her a ride to the bus station as a courtesy.
The jury hung 8-4 in favor of guilt, prompting Molloy to declare a mistrial. Zekster would not say whether the D.A.’s office intended to retry Forman on the sexual battery count. He was found guilty of petty theft for taking the victim’s money.
Nadia, a prostitute and admitted cocaine addict, testified that in March 2008, Forman drove her to a secluded location and ordered her to “give me some head.” She said she complied, believing she had no alternative.
According to Forman, his interaction with Nadia was limited to gathering information on drug suppliers, which the jury believed.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2008/10/officer-robert-forman-arrested-for.html
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Former Officer Robert Forman Accused of Using Badge to Get Sex
Robert Forman said the incident was mutual and denied being sexually involved with two other accusers.
Forman is charged with three felonies, including sexual battery and oral copulation under the color of authority. If convicted, he could face up to 19 years in prison.
Forman described himself as a good cop while testifying in his own defense, but said he had violated certain Riverside Police Department policies, becoming complacent and lazy. At times, he failed to record interviews and to inform the station of his whereabouts. He paid one of his accusers $10 for information about drug activity in Riverside, pulling the money from his personal bank account.
He said he had oral sex with a woman shortly after investigating her for a crime, and he gave his personal cell phone number to people while on duty, including one of his accusers.
Forman cried on the witness stand, saying the situation had been a learning experience and had cost him his career, damaged the reputation of the department and hurt his family.
"I know how it looks," Forman said. "This is my time to tell what happened, so I'm here today telling you exactly what happened."
The officer of 11 years said he was not proud of his conduct but that he did not use his badge for sexual favors.
He explained that one prostitute was in his patrol car because he was giving her a ride. He denied helping the same woman steal $100 from one of her clients when she got into Forman's patrol car after failing to perform a sex act on the client.
Forman testified that when investigating a possible check fraud case in April 2008, he returned to the home where the operation was allegedly taking place without telling a fellow officer he was training.
"She asked if I'd come back and help her get these people out of here," Forman said. He cleared the home and looked in the bedroom closet to see if anyone was inside.
"She told me that it was a fantasy of hers, that she always wanted to be with a police officer in a sexual nature," Forman said.
Forman said the woman then led him to the bed and sat him down and began to have oral sex with him.
"She walked me outside and said that next time I came back, she wants to have sex with me," Forman testified.
The woman told investigators that Forman demanded sex from her or she would be arrested.
Forman is expected to continue testifying today.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Arraignment Held for Former Deputy Marc Diaz Accused of Rape
On Friday, the former Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy accused of raping a woman in La Quinta on Saturday pled not guilty to the charges. 35-year old Marc Diaz of Indio was arraigned on charges of kidnapping to commit rape, and two counts of rape under the threat of the authority of a public official. If convicted, he could face life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
The arraignment took place at the same Indio courthouse where the nine-year veteran of the sheriff's department once worked. Diaz is accused of walking into a business in the 78-000 block of Highway 111, and displaying a law enforcement badge. He then allegedly ordered a woman into his pickup truck, and drove her to a secluded place near Washington Street and Country Club Drive, where he raped her.
We've also learned more about Diaz's 2004 arrest on suspicion of hiring a prostitute. According to Indio police, the solicitation took place on June 25, 2004, near Bliss and Oasis streets. But today, the Riverside District Attorney's office said it did not file charges because of insufficient evidence.
On the rape charges, Diaz is being held on $1 million dollars bail and has requested a public defender. A felony settlement conference is set for February 19th. Meantime, the Coachella Valley Unified School District continues to have no comment on reports that Diaz worked for that district.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Case Against Deputy Fredrico Tafoya Still Under Investigation
A case against a former Kern County Sheriff’s detention deputy accused of trying to force an inmate to submit to oral sex has been sent back for more investigation.
There was insufficient evidence to file charges against Fredrico Tafoya, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s office.
Three months after the case was sent back to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department in August, the case is still being investigated.
The case will go back to prosecutors as soon as more information from the investigation is gathered, Senior Deputy Michael Whorf said.
Whorf said he could not discuss details about why the case was sent back.
In July, an inmate said Tafoya wanted to perform oral sex on him. Tafoya threatened to remove the inmate from a work release program if the prisoner didn’t submit, detectives said.
Tafoya was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, causing a person to expose themselves and attempted oral copulation under color of authority.
Tafoya was booked into jail and was released after posting $22,500 bail. Tafoya, who had worked with the Sheriff’s Department for four months, was fired.
Tafoya did not return to work when his case was sent for more investigation, Whorf said.
More Information: http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/603456.html
There was insufficient evidence to file charges against Fredrico Tafoya, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s office.
Three months after the case was sent back to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department in August, the case is still being investigated.
The case will go back to prosecutors as soon as more information from the investigation is gathered, Senior Deputy Michael Whorf said.
Whorf said he could not discuss details about why the case was sent back.
In July, an inmate said Tafoya wanted to perform oral sex on him. Tafoya threatened to remove the inmate from a work release program if the prisoner didn’t submit, detectives said.
Tafoya was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, causing a person to expose themselves and attempted oral copulation under color of authority.
Tafoya was booked into jail and was released after posting $22,500 bail. Tafoya, who had worked with the Sheriff’s Department for four months, was fired.
Tafoya did not return to work when his case was sent for more investigation, Whorf said.
More Information: http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/603456.html
Friday, October 17, 2008
Officer Robert Forman Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Three Women
A Riverside police officer is under arrest, accused of committing sex crimes while on duty and in uniform, according to the Riverside police department.
Three alleged victims have accused Officer Robert A. Forman of sexually assaulting them in separate incidents in attacks that spanned from February to April, 2008
Forman, who is 38 years old, was arrested Wednesday and booked into Robert Presley Detention Center. Bail has been set at $50,000, according to officials. He faces charges of committing a sex act by using his authority as a public official and one count of sexual battery, according to officials with the Riverside County Superior Court.
Forman is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 12.
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call Lt. Robert Meier at 951-353-7112.
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More Information: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_W_wpolice17.496d8ad.html
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