Cases Against Ex-Deputy, Former Jail Worker Cont’d

Posted by: Perry Smith in Court November 15, 2013 - 2:11 pm 0 129 Views

Two cases involving former Sheriff’s Department employees were in court Friday, with both cases being continued for later this month.

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Jose Rigoberto Sanchez, 28, of Valencia, was arrested and booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on July 30.

He stands accused of sexual penetration under the color of authority, rape under fear or duress and soliciting a bribe from alleged victims.

Juan Ortiz, 55, was an employee of the Sheriff’s Department for 13 years, assigned to the laundry detail. He was one of 10 charged in a complaint.

Ortiz was arrested at Pitchess Detention Center, South Facility, by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau personnel after a brief investigation.

After he was arrested, Ortiz resigned from the Sheriff’s Department.

Sanchez is expected back in court Dec. 19, when a preliminary hearing is expected to be scheduled for his trial. The hearing date would likely be some time next year, according to officials.

Ortiz is due back for a preliminary hearing Dec. 16.

At a preliminary hearing, the case against a defendant is presented to a judge who decides if a trial is warranted.

After an extensive investigation by the District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division, Sanchez was charged with soliciting a bribe from a female driver he pulled over in Palmdale while on duty on Sept. 22, 2010.

Sanchez allegedly offered not to arrest her on an outstanding warrant in exchange for sex.

Two nights later, he pulled over another female on suspicion of DUI and allegedly solicited a bribe in the form of sexual activity.

Sanchez was relieved of duty with pay after the alleged incident in 2010, and was relieved of duty without pay when he was booked.

Sanchez is being held for 11 felony charges.

Sanchez, a seven-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was most recently assigned to patrol at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

The six-month ICIB investigation into the 2010 incident began after investigators received a tip from an informant, according to a Sheriff’s Department statement.

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