Corrections Officer Deandra McNeill Accused of having Sex with Inmate

GRANTS, N.M.

A Cibola County Detention Center corrections officer is accused of having sex with an inmate.

Deandra McNeill, 20, was arrested and charged with one count of criminal sexual penetration, according to a New Mexico State Police news release.

According to the release, McNeill and the inmate had an ongoing sexual relationship since early last month. She was fired on March 4.

McNeill is being held on a no-bond warrant at the McKinley County jail.

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http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=9984602&nav=menu505_2

Former Reserve Officer Brian Livingston Arrested for Sex Abuse

TURNER, Ore.

A former reserve police officer in Turner has been jailed on sex abuse and official misconduct charges.

Until he resigned this week amidst the allegations, Brian Livingston worked as a reserve officer in Turner since 1999. On Friday, he was booked into Marion County Jail on charges of second-degree sexual penetration, three counts of first-degree sex abuse and official misconduct.

The Turner Police Department has not commented on the charges. Police only said the alleged crimes didn't happen while Livingston was on duty.

However, police said the misconduct charge stems from Livingston downloading pornographic material onto his work computer.

Jason Mink, who lives in Turner and said he knows Livingston, responded to the allegations.

"Where there's smoke, there's fire. Somebody had to come forward and say something," Mink said. "I don't know exactly how he was caught, but where there's smoke, there's fire."

Investigators have released no other details in the case.

Livingston is expected to appear in court on Feb. 10.

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http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090131/NEWS/901310316/1001

Veteran Sex-Crimes Prosecutor Arrested for Rape

A veteran Contra Costa County sex-crimes prosecutor was arrested Thursday on suspicion of rape, Martinez police said.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Gressett, 51, of Martinez is suspected of raping another deputy district attorney, according to two sources close to the investigation. A statement issued by Martinez police did not refer to the alleged victim.

Gressett was booked on suspicion of committing rape, oral copulation, sodomy and penetration with a foreign object, all felonies, Cmdr. Eric Ghisletta said in the police statement. The alleged attack occurred "several months ago," police said, but they did not give a date.

Gressett's attorney, Michael Cardoza, said his client is innocent and will "fight these allegations very vigorously."

"Everybody that knows him is exceedingly shocked by these allegations," Cardoza said. "The problem with allegations like this is that when he walks away innocent, there will always be people who will wonder. The allegations alone have a devastating effect."

Gressett was being held Thursday night in the county jail in Martinez in lieu of $1 million bail, a sheriff's deputy said.

Ghisletta said investigators were first told of the alleged attack Sept. 26. Officers later served a search warrant and "discovered evidence which was consistent with the victim's statements," Ghisletta said.

Police did not say where the warrant had been served.

"It's a sad day for our office for anything like this to occur," District Attorney Robert Kochly said late Thursday. "Anything of this nature is devastating to the office. It's antithetical to what we're about."

Kochly said Martinez police planned to turn over their evidence to the office of state Attorney General Jerry Brown to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Brown's office will decide on possible charges.

Gressett was arrested near the district attorney's office in Martinez. He was then placed on paid administrative leave, Kochly said.

Gressett has worked as a prosecutor for more than 20 years, and worked in the sex-crimes unit for the past 2 1/2 years, Kochly said. He ran unsuccessfully three times for Contra Costa district attorney, in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

During his most recent campaign, Gressett pledged to initiate a "real" no plea-bargaining policy, mandating maximum prosecution of violent felonies, including rape.

During his 1998 campaign, Gressett proposed a program that would list the disposition of every criminal case on the Internet.

"It's my belief that sunshine is the best disinfectant," Gressett said then. "This would hold the district attorney accountable. The one institution we need pure is the district attorney's office."

Gressett grew up in New Mexico and earned his law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1986.

This article appeared on page B - 12 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Deputy D.A. Arrested for Suspicion of Rape

A veteran Contra Costa County sex-crimes prosecutor was arrested Thursday on suspicion of rape, Martinez police said.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Gressett, 51, of Martinez is suspected of raping another deputy district attorney, according to two sources close to the investigation. A statement issued by Martinez police did not refer to the alleged victim.

Gressett was booked on suspicion of committing rape, oral copulation, sodomy and penetration with a foreign object, all felonies, Cmdr. Eric Ghisletta said in the police statement. The alleged attack occurred "several months ago," police said, but they did not give a date.

Gressett's attorney, Michael Cardoza, said his client is innocent and will "fight these allegations very vigorously."

"Everybody that knows him is exceedingly shocked by these allegations," Cardoza said. "The problem with allegations like this is that when he walks away innocent, there will always be people who will wonder. The allegations alone have a devastating effect."

Gressett was being held Thursday night in the county jail in Martinez in lieu of $1 million bail, a sheriff's deputy said.

Ghisletta said investigators were first told of the alleged attack Sept. 26. Officers later served a search warrant and "discovered evidence which was consistent with the victim's statements," Ghisletta said.

Police did not say where the warrant had been served.

"It's a sad day for our office for anything like this to occur," District Attorney Robert Kochly said late Thursday. "Anything of this nature is devastating to the office. It's antithetical to what we're about."

Kochly said Martinez police planned to turn over their evidence to the office of state Attorney General Jerry Brown to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Brown's office will decide on possible charges.

Gressett was arrested near the district attorney's office in Martinez. He was then placed on paid administrative leave, Kochly said.

Gressett has worked as a prosecutor for more than 20 years, and worked in the sex-crimes unit for the past 2 1/2 years, Kochly said. He ran unsuccessfully three times for Contra Costa district attorney, in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

During his most recent campaign, Gressett pledged to initiate a "real" no plea-bargaining policy, mandating maximum prosecution of violent felonies, including rape.

During his 1998 campaign, Gressett proposed a program that would list the disposition of every criminal case on the Internet.

"It's my belief that sunshine is the best disinfectant," Gressett said then. "This would hold the district attorney accountable. The one institution we need pure is the district attorney's office."

Gressett grew up in New Mexico and earned his law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1986.

Former Sgt. Mike Rodrigues Arrested on Fourth Rape Charge

Deputies arrested former Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Rodrigues today on suspicion of a fourth rape charge, and a judge later released him on his own recognizance, according to authorities.

Rodrigues was set to be arraigned today on suspicion of three previous rape counts alleged by a grand jury. While walking toward the San Benito County Courthouse, authorities "peacefully" took him into custody, said Sheriff Curtis Hill.

The sheriff, for the second time since Rodrigues' first arrest on rape charges in December, apologized to the community and also said he's "not happy" with the visiting judge's decision to release Rodrigues after authorities charged him with the additional rape count, along with two other felony counts alleging possession of firearms and ammunition while under a restraining order.

Authorities today also charged Rodrigues on three misdemeanor counts on suspicion of violating a restraining order.

The visiting judge, from Napa County, arraigned him on the prior rape counts and released Rodrigues on the condition that he agree to turn in his passport and not leave the county, Hill said. After Rodrigues' December arrest, the suspect posted the $300,000 bail and was released from the San Benito County Jail.

"While he was on bail he continued to violate the law, including possessing a gun and ammunition," Hill told the Free Lance. "These allegations are from citizens that live and work in this community. When people hear this they'll think, 'If I did that, I would be in jail.' That's what Joe Six-Pack is going to think. I am very disappointed in the judge's decision."

Although Hill said Rodrigues was peacefully arrested, defense attorney Arthur Cantu contended otherwise and argued the case is "nothing more than a witch hunt."

If you have seven or eight deputies grabbing you and forcefully putting handcuffs on you and putting you under arrest, that by definition is an incident," Cantu said. "How dare they file new charges? How dare they file new charges? This is nothing more than a witch hunt. This is nothing more than a vendetta between Mikey and his enemies in the sheriff's department."

An investigation of Rodrigues, a 25-year sheriff's office veteran, resulted in the December indictment alleging three counts of forcible rape, two counts of unlawful sexual penetration and one count each of spousal rape, domestic violence and attempted rape.

The sheriff today said he's sorry for the Rodrigues ordeal - he apologized emphatically in December after the indictment as well.

"I want to apologize to every man woman and child in San Benito County," Hill said today. "We work to build trust in the community, and these allegations break that trust down."

Former sheriff's Sgt. Mike Rodrigues in court in January. Rodrigues faces four counts of forcible rape, two counts of unlawful sexual penetration, two felony counts of possession of firearms and ammunition while under a restraining order, and one count each of spousal rape, domestic violence and attempted rape.