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Oakland police sex scandal: seven officers face charges for abusing teen Oakland police sex scandal: seven officers face charges for abusing teen
(about 1 hour later)
Prosecutors will charge seven current and former San Francisco Bay Area police officers in a sexual misconduct scandal involving a teenager.Prosecutors will charge seven current and former San Francisco Bay Area police officers in a sexual misconduct scandal involving a teenager.
The charges, announced Friday by Alameda County district attorney Nancy O’Malley, involve a range of felonies and misdemeanors, including engaging in prostitution, oral copulation with a minor, engaging in lewd acts and obstruction of justice. Alameda County district attorney Nancy O’Malley said she was waiting to formally file charges until the teen could be returned to California from Florida, where she has been jailed in an assault case.
The prosecutor said she needs the teen to provide testimony in the case.
O’Malley said the officers who will be charged are former Contra Costa sheriff’s deputy Ricardo Perez; former Livermore officer Dan Black; Oakland officers Brian Bunton, Giovani LoVerde and Warit Utappa; and former Oakland officers Tyrell Smith and Leroy Johnson.
The officers will be charged with a range of felonies and misdemeanors, O’Malley said.
The charges, announced Friday, involve a range of felonies and misdemeanors, including engaging in prostitution, oral copulation with a minor, engaging in lewd acts and obstruction of justice.
The wide-ranging scandal stems from a case involving a teenage girl who was sexually exploited by more than a dozen police officers throughout the region, according to numerous news reports and the young woman’s testimony. In 2015, an officer reportedly killed himself, leaving a note that launched an investigation.The wide-ranging scandal stems from a case involving a teenage girl who was sexually exploited by more than a dozen police officers throughout the region, according to numerous news reports and the young woman’s testimony. In 2015, an officer reportedly killed himself, leaving a note that launched an investigation.
The girl, who goes by the pseudonym Celeste Guap on social media and in news reports, said she was a sex worker at the time. By law, however, those relationships would be considered statutory rape and human trafficking.The girl, who goes by the pseudonym Celeste Guap on social media and in news reports, said she was a sex worker at the time. By law, however, those relationships would be considered statutory rape and human trafficking.
The now 19-year-old said she had sex with four of the officers before she turned 18 and sometimes traded sex for protection from arrest or tips about planned prostitution stings.The now 19-year-old said she had sex with four of the officers before she turned 18 and sometimes traded sex for protection from arrest or tips about planned prostitution stings.
The Associated Press generally doesn’t identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes. The Guardian and Associated Press generally don’t identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes.
O’Malley said she found much of the conduct “morally reprehensible” but noted the actions of the officers on social media did not violate criminal statutes.
Most of the implicated officers work in Oakland, where on Wednesday the city’s mayor Libby Schaaf said disciplinary action has begun against a dozen officers. Schaaf said dismissal proceedings have begun for four officers, seven will serve a range of unpaid suspensions before being allowed to return to duty and another will be required to attend training classes.Most of the implicated officers work in Oakland, where on Wednesday the city’s mayor Libby Schaaf said disciplinary action has begun against a dozen officers. Schaaf said dismissal proceedings have begun for four officers, seven will serve a range of unpaid suspensions before being allowed to return to duty and another will be required to attend training classes.
The department, which cycled through three chiefs in 10 days in June after the allegations were first reported in the media, earlier announced that two officers implicated in the scandal previously resigned.The department, which cycled through three chiefs in 10 days in June after the allegations were first reported in the media, earlier announced that two officers implicated in the scandal previously resigned.
On Thursday, a Livermore police officer who had been on administrative leave resigned after seeing the results of his department’s investigation.On Thursday, a Livermore police officer who had been on administrative leave resigned after seeing the results of his department’s investigation.
Critics had questioned why officers haven’t faced criminal charges and yet the woman is incarcerated at a local jail for aggravated battery charges. The charges stemmed from an alleged incident at a rehab center in Florida.Critics had questioned why officers haven’t faced criminal charges and yet the woman is incarcerated at a local jail for aggravated battery charges. The charges stemmed from an alleged incident at a rehab center in Florida.