A California police officer was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly committing sexual assault while on and off duty.
In July, a report was made regarding an incident involving an unidentified officer. Investigators passed the case to Menifee police, who named the officer in question as Juan Pesina, 32. They suspect he perpetrated the assaults between 2023 and 2024, as reported by The Press-Enterprise.
Pesina has been charged with sexually assaulting an individual during an on-duty investigation. Additionally, he is under suspicion for committing assaults while off-duty.
Upon concluding its initial inquiry, Menifee police Chief Chris Karper stated that the investigation was transferred to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit for an unbiased probe.
The Los Angeles Times detailed that a search warrant was executed at Pesina’s residence, where authorities discovered further evidence supporting the claims against Pesina.
Records show Pesina was employed by the Los Angeles police from 2018 until 2024, at which point he resigned. He began working with Menifee police four days after stepping down.
Pesina was arrested at a courthouse in Murietta. He is facing various charges, including rape, sodomy, and forced oral copulation.
Despite his arrest, Pesina has not been formally charged. He remains jailed on $1 million bail.
[Feature Photo: Menifee police]
