Crime & Safety

Former San Diego Police Officer Convicted of Sexual Battery

Anthony Arevalos was convicted of eight felonies.

A former San Diego police officer who elicited sex from women he pulled over in the Gaslamp District was convicted of eight felonies and four misdemeanors on Thursday.

After more than three days of deliberations, jurors found Anthony Arevalos, 41, guilty of multiple counts of sexual battery by restraint, asking for a bribe and assault and battery by a peace officer.

Arevalos was convicted of charges involving five women. He was acquitted of other serious charges involving two others.

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He faces a maximum of 10 years and four months in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 19.

Judge Jeffrey Fraser ordered Arevalos to be taken into custody without bail.

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One juror, who did not want to give her name, told reporters she had to come up with verdicts that she could live with. She said she was thinking of the victims as the verdicts were reached.

"It was very stressful for us," the juror said. She said the case didn't change the way she looks at police officers, saying officers were there to protect the public.

Prosecutor Sherry Thompson thanked the jury for their verdicts and had special praise for the women who testified against the former officer.

"I'm grateful to the seven courageous women who came forward in this case," the prosecutor said. "A verdict like this shows that no one is above the law."

Defense attorney Gretchen von Helms said Arevalos was extremely remorseful to the women he victimized, especially one referred to in the trial as "Jane Doe," whom he sexually assaulted following a traffic stop.

Von Helms said Arevalos was known as a friendly officer until he went too far.

"Unfortunately, he made a mistake," von Helms said. "He feels terrible about it."

Police Chief William Lansdowne reacted to the verdicts by saying he was "confident" the jurors made the right decisions about the ex-officer's culpability, and he thanked them for being "thoughtful and considerate" in discharging their duties in the case.

"I believe that justice has been served in this case and (that) the San Diego Police Department, as well as the law enforcement community in general, can begin to heal after this terrible episode," he said.

Arevalos, an 18-year SDPD veteran, was fired after allegations came to light in March that he tried to make deals with women he stopped and sexually assaulted three of them. Most of the stops in question were on suspicion driving while intoxicated and happened between September 2009 and March of this year.

In her closing argument last week, Thompson said Arevalos "used the Gaslamp like a playground to stop people as he saw fit."

Thompson told jurors that Arevalos asked the women, "What can you offer to get out of a DUI?"

Von Helms told the jury in her closing argument that there was reasonable doubt on many of the charges, saying some counts could be construed as misdemeanor conduct. She contended that most of the alleged victims were drunk and their testimony exaggerated.

Von Helms said some of the alleged victims sought benefits for their testimony, such as getting their DUI cases dismissed, while some have a vested interest in the outcome of the trial because they have filed claims against the city, seeking monetary damages.

The police chief described the prosecution of Arevalos as a painful episode that forced changes in his department.

"This case brought a black mark of discredit upon all law enforcement, and because of it, we have implemented new procedures to uncover and deal with allegations of misconduct," Lansdowne said. "I have been receiving updates on a daily basis on this case, but we will conduct a thorough review of the transcripts to ensure that this type of tragedy does not occur again in the San Diego Police Department."

The chief urged the public to refrain from judging the agency as a whole based on the disgraced former officer's misdeeds.

"This case is a victory for the principle that nobody is above the law," Lansdowne stated. "However, it is important to remember that this case is not representative of the real work done on a daily basis by the dedicated men and women of the San Diego Police Department who serve with honor, distinction and integrity.

"I look forward to rebuilding the positive relationship that we have shared with the public, as well as encouraging our officers to continue to do their very best to earn the title of "America's Finest."'

-City News Service


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