![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gvwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Retired-Fresno-County-Superior-Court-Judge-Adolfo-Corona-second-from-left-is-accompanied-from-left-to-right-by-wife-Marcella-Corona-attorneys-Scott-Quinlan-and-Michael-Aed.jpg\")
<\/a>Retired Fresno County Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona (second from left), is accompanied, from left to right, by wife Marcella Corona and attorneys Scott Quinlan and Michael Aed. (GV Wire\/David Taub)\nNo Standalone Sexual Assault Charges by Feds<\/p>\n
Corona is not charged in federal court with sexual assault against the two victims mentioned in the indictment.<\/p>\n
Sarah Howard, the lead prosecutor for the federal government in the case, would not explain why there are no standalone sexual assault charges, or why the case is being prosecuted in federal court.<\/p>\n
She referred GV Wire to a U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson who did not immediately provide answers.<\/p>\n
The case is being prosecuted by the civil rights division of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office. Howard is listed as a Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney. Three other prosecutors are from the Fresno office.<\/p>\n
Corona\u2019s attorneys also declined to make a statement about the proceeding. Aed said it would be \u201cinappropriate to litigate the facts and circumstances of this case outside of court.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nature of the allegations is serious and significant, and we don\u2019t want to compromise the integrity of the trial or the potential jury pool by litigating this in the press,\u201d Aed said.<\/p>\n
As to the lack of a standalone sexual assault charge, Aed said, \u201cWe\u2019re not the deciders in terms of what charge to file.\u201d<\/p>\n
Corona was charged with two counts of sexual battery in state court. That case was dismissed when the federal government took over the prosecution.<\/p>\n
He did not make a comment on advice of his attorneys.<\/p>\n
Defense: Actions Not Under Color of Law<\/p>\n
Quinlan argued that the federal government did not properly charge Corona.<\/p>\n
Corona did not act under color of law, Quinlan argued, because the interaction with the court employee was a private encounter. The indictment alleges Corona met the unnamed employee to give her a gift, then assaulted her.<\/p>\n
Quinlan said the court worker was not directly employed by Corona.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were two people working in the building. It was a personal matter,\u201d Quinlan argued.<\/p>\n
Quinlan said that if Corona had acted under color of law, he would not have needed to create a \u201cruse\u201d of offering a gift to meet in the stairwell.<\/p>\n
Sherriff rejected that argument.<\/p>\n
\u201cColor does not require an employer-employee relationship,\u201d he said, noting the alleged incident took place at the courthouse.<\/p>\n
During an interview with administrative investigators after the March 2024 allegations involving the first\u00a0victim, Corona allegedly lied about the incident, saying the victim grabbed his phone to enter her cellphone number. He also allegedly lied to FBI investigators later that year.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors, in the charging documents, said there was a second victim whom Corona assaulted and later lied about during interviews. Corona allegedly called a motorcycle dealership to persuade an employee to falsify records that would show he was picking up a motorcycle at the time of the alleged assault.<\/p>\n
Quinlan also argued that the three counts of making false statements did not meet the legal definition of the charges. One alleged false statement occurred before a formal criminal investigation began, he said.<\/p>\n
Making a false statement to an FBI agent does not constitute persuading another person to hinder an investigation, Quinlan argued.<\/p>\n
Again, Sherriff disagreed, saying arguments about whether the charges are legally sufficient should be made before a jury.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether the government can prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt is not before me today,\u201d Sherriff said.<\/p>\n
The defense did not directly deny that Corona made false statements to investigators. Quinlan declined to comment after the hearing.<\/p>\n
Case Returns in April<\/p>\n
With the motion to dismiss denied, the case returns to federal court for an April 8 status hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean.<\/p>\n
Gov. Gray Davis appointed Corona in 2003. He previously worked in private practice and was an elected trustee for the State Center Community College District.<\/p>\n
Gov. Gavin Newsom filled the Corona vacancy in 2025, appointing Melissa Baloian to the bench.<\/p>\n
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