Menifee Police Officer Charged In 5 On And Off Duty Sexual Assaults: Court

MURRIETA, CA — Five women have come forward to accuse a Menifee policeman of sexual assault, officials say. Juan Jose Pesina Jr., 32, of Murrieta, was arrested one month ago on suspicion of sexually assaulting two women while on- and off-duty.

Pesina's arrest came at the end of an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Unit. On Monday, the District Attorney's Office filed additional charges stemming from recent findings tied to the ongoing investigation.

Pesina was initially charged with forcible rape, felony sexual battery, attempted forcible sodomy, first-degree burglary, forced oral copulation, attempted forced oral copulation, and two counts of assault with intent to commit rape, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of perpetrating sexual offenses during a burglary.

The amended complaint against Pesina shows four more sexual battery counts, along with two counts of extortion and one count of acceptance of a bribe.

Pesina pleaded "not guilty" to all charges during an arraignment Monday before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 9 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Pesina is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to the Menifee Police Department, he is on unpaid administrative leave.

That department released a statement soon after his arrest, saying its Professional Standards Unit had received a complaint from a woman on July 22 alleging encounters with the lawman over two years earlier in which he had sexually abused her.

"A preliminary internal investigation was immediately conducted," Menifee police Sgt. Raul Perez said. "In order to ensure a fair, thorough and impartial investigation, the department requested an independent criminal investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department."

Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Peters said MPD Internal Affairs detectives informed the Special Victims Unit that "Pesina was accused of sexually assaulting a victim during an on-duty investigation."

"During the course of our investigation, additional victims were identified in incidents that had occurred between 2023 and 2024," Peters said. "Investigators determined Pesina encountered these victims while on duty and off duty."

According to the criminal complaint, the victims, identified as "C.W.," "C.R.," "G.S.," "J.H." and "J.R.," were allegedly assaulted in February and September 2023, as well as January, November and December 2024, and August 2025.

J.H. was Pesina's first alleged target. The defendant allegedly accessed her property illegally and perpetrated multiple sexual offenses over an unspecified period, according to the prosecution.

C.R. was allegedly victimized 11 months later, suffering similar abuse, the complaint said.

The document didn't specify which person, but it alleged that "after returning the victim of domestic violence to her home ... the defendant entered her home and forcibly sexually assaulted her."

"It is further alleged the offenses involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness," according to the narrative.

The police department did not disclose when Pesina was hired, or in what specific capacities he had worked, other than patrol.

If convicted, he could face life in prison with the possibility of parole.

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