Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 3, 2006 12:58:51 GMT -5
02/03/2006 - A former Salem and Stayton police officer was returned to jail Thursday after prosecutors presented new charges against him involving sex abuse and misconduct.
Sterling Van Ness Alexander, 38, of Salem was arrested Dec. 22 on charges of second-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape, second-degree sex abuse and strangulation. He was transferred to the Linn County jail for his safety and later was released on $115,000 bail.
On Thursday in Marion County Circuit Court, Alexander pleaded not guilty to those charges, which stem from allegations that he kidnapped, raped and choked a woman in September 2003.
Jodie Bureta, a Marion County deputy district attorney, also presented new charges Thursday of second-degree sex abuse and three counts of misconduct against Alexander.
She said those charges stem from statements from an alleged victim who came forward after Alexander's December arrest.
Alexander pleaded not guilty to those charges, too.
Bureta argued that Alexander could be a threat to the latest alleged victim, and Circuit Judge Tracy Prall ordered that Alexander be returned to jail in Linn County. She set a bail hearing for next week.
Mindy Stannard, a lawyer representing Alexander at the hearing, told Prall that Alexander posed no threat and had followed all requirements of his release agreement. She asked the judge to allow his bail to stand.
Alexander's attorney, Kevin Lafky, who did not attend Thursday's hearing, said he was appalled by the court's decision to return Alexander to jail.
"He's already made a substantial financial guarantee that he will make his court dates," Lafky said, "and he has done nothing to violate any of his agreements."
Alexander was a member of the Salem Police Department from March 31, 2003, to July 6, 2004.
He was a Stayton police officer for nearly three years, from Jan. 10, 2000, to March 21, 2003.
In the September 2003 incident, according to the Marion County District Attorney's Office, Alexander became acquainted with the woman through his duties as a police officer, but the woman was not affiliated with the police department.
Bureta said Alexander offered to drive the woman to court while he was off duty. The woman was taken to a secluded area in Marion County and attacked, Bureta said.
Salem police Lt. Chuck Bennett said in December that Alexander quit the Salem force in lieu of being fired for a "violation of department policies and directives." He said the dismissal was not related to the current charges.
The Board of Public Safety Standards and Training voted unanimously in April to recommend that Alexander's police certification be revoked. The revocation is pending.
Sterling Van Ness Alexander, 38, of Salem was arrested Dec. 22 on charges of second-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape, second-degree sex abuse and strangulation. He was transferred to the Linn County jail for his safety and later was released on $115,000 bail.
On Thursday in Marion County Circuit Court, Alexander pleaded not guilty to those charges, which stem from allegations that he kidnapped, raped and choked a woman in September 2003.
Jodie Bureta, a Marion County deputy district attorney, also presented new charges Thursday of second-degree sex abuse and three counts of misconduct against Alexander.
She said those charges stem from statements from an alleged victim who came forward after Alexander's December arrest.
Alexander pleaded not guilty to those charges, too.
Bureta argued that Alexander could be a threat to the latest alleged victim, and Circuit Judge Tracy Prall ordered that Alexander be returned to jail in Linn County. She set a bail hearing for next week.
Mindy Stannard, a lawyer representing Alexander at the hearing, told Prall that Alexander posed no threat and had followed all requirements of his release agreement. She asked the judge to allow his bail to stand.
Alexander's attorney, Kevin Lafky, who did not attend Thursday's hearing, said he was appalled by the court's decision to return Alexander to jail.
"He's already made a substantial financial guarantee that he will make his court dates," Lafky said, "and he has done nothing to violate any of his agreements."
Alexander was a member of the Salem Police Department from March 31, 2003, to July 6, 2004.
He was a Stayton police officer for nearly three years, from Jan. 10, 2000, to March 21, 2003.
In the September 2003 incident, according to the Marion County District Attorney's Office, Alexander became acquainted with the woman through his duties as a police officer, but the woman was not affiliated with the police department.
Bureta said Alexander offered to drive the woman to court while he was off duty. The woman was taken to a secluded area in Marion County and attacked, Bureta said.
Salem police Lt. Chuck Bennett said in December that Alexander quit the Salem force in lieu of being fired for a "violation of department policies and directives." He said the dismissal was not related to the current charges.
The Board of Public Safety Standards and Training voted unanimously in April to recommend that Alexander's police certification be revoked. The revocation is pending.