LA County Sheriff's Deputy Pleads Not Guilty To Rape, Bribery Charges
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 28-year-old Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy pleaded not guilty Wednesday to raping and bribing two women while on duty three years ago.
KNX 1070's Megan Goldsby reports that Jose Rigoberto Sanchez, a seven-year veteran of the force who worked patrol out of the Palmdale Sheriff's Station, faces 11 felony counts, including two counts of soliciting a bribe and one count each of kidnapping to commit another crime, rape by fear or duress, rape under color of authority, sexual penetration by a foreign object, sexual penetration under color of authority, sodomy by fear or duress, sodomy under color of authority, oral copulation by fear or duress and oral copulation under color of authority.
LA County Sheriff's Deputy Pleads Not Guilty To Rape, Bribery Charges
David Ring, an attorney for one of the alleged victims, said Sanchez pulled his client over in Sept. 2010, saying she appeared to be driving drunk.
"Threatened her with jail then proceeded to drive her to an area where he threatened her again and raped her," he said. "He took advantage of his position to really do harm to this poor lady."
Sanchez is also accused of assaulting another woman two nights later.
Ring said he's working on civil charges against Sanchez.
"We had filed our lawsuit well over a year ago and then suddenly Deputy Sanchez got arrested," he said. "We're allowed to continue with the civil case during the criminal proceedings up to a certain extent."
Sanchez will appear in court Sept. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
RELATED STORIES:
Arraignment Delayed For LA County Sheriff's Deputy Accused Of Rape
Los Angeles Co. Sheriff's Deputy Charged In Rape, Bribery Case
