As Riverside County sex crimes criminal defense lawyers, we were interested to see a recent report on a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy accused of filing a false report on child molestation. The Orange County Register reported Aug. 31 that Patricia Margaret Bojorquez, 43, actually faces two charges in Orange County stemming from two separate off-duty incidents. In one, she is accused of calling Huntington Beach police to report that her ex-husband was molesting a 13-year-old girl, possibly their daughter. After police looked into this and determined it was false, they charged Bojorquez with filing a false police report. She also faces a count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence for firing a shot through the window of her Westminster home. No one was hurt, but the bullet went into the street where children were playing.
According to a press release reprinted by the OC Weekly, Bojorquez allegedly made up the molestation charges in November of 2009 because she was upset about child custody matters. The girl reportedly had not made any accusations. Later, in January of this year, Bojorquez is accused of firing her gun through a bedroom window and into the street with "a disregard for the safety of the children outside." Her brother and fiance were present and called the police. Bojorquez is already on probation for two separate drunk driving convictions stemming from 2009 and 2010. In one incident, she also pleaded guilty to child endangerment by a caretaker because her children were in the vehicle. In the other, a passer-by spotted her driving drunk and naked from the waist down in a parking lot. If convicted on the new counts, Bojorquez faces up to three years in state prison.
Our Seal Beach sex crimes criminal defense attorneys are disappointed when anyone files a false police report on a serious matter like child molestation. But it is especially disappointing to see when the false reporter is also an officer of the law. Sexual assault on a child is a heavily penalized crime that carries years in prison, lifelong sex offender registration status and permanent ineligibility for certain careers. If the ex-husband had been charged by hasty police officers, he could have had an uphill battle just to clear his name. The charge for firing the gun is not a sex charge, but it too shows poor judgment by someone who was sworn to uphold the law. The articles suggest that Bojorquez may have a drinking problem, and if so, we hope she gets help before someone is hurt. But if it is proven that she intentionally lied about her ex-husband, the court should ensure that she understands how serious the consequences could have been.
Howard Law, P.C. aggressively represents clients who are accused of sex crimes, including serious sex crimes against children. A mere accusation is enough in some cases to end relationships and jobs, and the criminal penalties can be far worse. That's why we recommend that you speak to our San Clemente sex crimes criminal defense lawyers as soon as possible after you have been accused, or realize that you will be accused. Not every accusation is true. As this case shows, some accusations come from people with a hidden agenda, while others come from children who are easily led or confused by the adults around them. Whenever possible, we make sure that contradictory evidence sees the inside of a courtroom or a settlement room, so that innocent clients are not convicted by prosecutors eager to put away a "predator."
If you're accused of a sex crime, you should call Howard Law, P.C. right away for help. To learn more or set up a free consultation, you can contact us online or call 1-800-872-5925.
