A deputy with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has been charged with multiple sexual offenses and false imprisonment, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Alejandro Gabriel Apodaca, 31, of Lemoore, is accused of committing sexual offenses against one woman and falsely imprisoning a second woman. He was arrested in May.
According to the criminal complaint, Apodaca went to an apartment on May 10 while wearing his uniform and allegedly engaged in unwanted and inappropriate sexual contact with a woman. Apodaca allegedly touched the woman and told her to engage in sexual contact with him.
The complaint also alleges that on March 11, Apodaca told a second woman to pull her vehicle to the side of the road. He then approached the vehicle, reached inside, and took her cellphone. Apodaca allegedly attempted to engage in unwanted sexual contact with the woman as she moved away from him inside the vehicle.
Apodaca is charged with sexual battery by restraint, assault by a public official, two counts of sexual battery and false imprisonment by violence or menace.
If convicted, Apodaca faces up to five years and four months in jail. A conviction on a qualifying sex offense would also require him to register as a sex offender for life.
The sheriff’s office said Apodaca is on unpaid administrative leave. His certification with California POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) is temporarily suspended.
Apodaca’s arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Alejandro Apodaca, 31, a deputy with The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office was arrested and accused of sexual battery. FRESNO POLICE DEPARTMENT
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Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news/sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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