Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 6, 2006 9:27:29 GMT -5
09.06.2006 - RIVERSIDE - Instead of using his position of power and trust to help, a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy abused his authority and committed crimes, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday.
Officer Jorge Delacruz, 33, is charged with multiple counts of sexual molestation and abuse involving five girls. The charges allege that the abuse occurred in Delacruz's home in Eastvale, an unincorporated community north of Norco.
Delacruz, who was arrested in January 2004, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. His attorney, Peter Morreale, did not make an opening statement Tuesday. He declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Riverside County Deputy District Attorney John Henry told jurors that Delacruz is suspected of storing more than 2,000 images of children in sexual situations on his personal computer. A forensic examination discovered the images stored on the hard drive, and Delacruz used a profile name of "Unholy Afflictions" on that computer, Henry said.
"You will see 14 of those images," Henry said. "They will help tell you exactly what was going on inside the defendant's mind."
The Riverside County grand jury indicted Delacruz on May21, 2004.
If convicted of all the charges, Delacruz could face a maximum prison term of more than 90 years.
Judge Richard T. Fields denied Morreale's motion to not refer to his client as a sheriff's deputy during the trial. Morreale said he believed Delacruz is on paid administrative leave from his job as a sheriff's deputy in Los Angeles County.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sgt. John Hocking, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman, said Delacruz has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the trial.
www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_kidsncop06.3aedc6e.html
Officer Jorge Delacruz, 33, is charged with multiple counts of sexual molestation and abuse involving five girls. The charges allege that the abuse occurred in Delacruz's home in Eastvale, an unincorporated community north of Norco.
Delacruz, who was arrested in January 2004, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. His attorney, Peter Morreale, did not make an opening statement Tuesday. He declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Riverside County Deputy District Attorney John Henry told jurors that Delacruz is suspected of storing more than 2,000 images of children in sexual situations on his personal computer. A forensic examination discovered the images stored on the hard drive, and Delacruz used a profile name of "Unholy Afflictions" on that computer, Henry said.
"You will see 14 of those images," Henry said. "They will help tell you exactly what was going on inside the defendant's mind."
The Riverside County grand jury indicted Delacruz on May21, 2004.
If convicted of all the charges, Delacruz could face a maximum prison term of more than 90 years.
Judge Richard T. Fields denied Morreale's motion to not refer to his client as a sheriff's deputy during the trial. Morreale said he believed Delacruz is on paid administrative leave from his job as a sheriff's deputy in Los Angeles County.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sgt. John Hocking, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman, said Delacruz has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the trial.
www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_kidsncop06.3aedc6e.html