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| Adolfo Corona at Fresno County Superior Court in September 23, 2024. (GV Wire/David Taub) |
Retired judge, Adolfo Corona, 66, was charged by a federal grand jury in Fresno in a five-count indictment that includes allegations of one count of sexual penetration by force and another count of sexual battery, making false statements to cover up the assault and obstructing an investigation into his purported sexual assault of a woman in his chambers according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The two assaults occurred on Dec. 5, 2023, and March 14, 2024, prosecutors said. Corona reportedly retired on May 1, 2024.
The latter incident involved Corona leading a court employee “into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her,” then lying to the FBI and court administrators about it, the DOJ said.
That came a little over three months after Corona was alone with another court employee in his chambers for about two hours.
“She was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out,” the DOJ said.
Per the indictment, Corona lied to the FBI, asserting that he’d left the woman in his chambers while he went to pick up a motorcycle.
“Corona allegedly attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi,” the DOJ said.
That came a little over three months after Corona was alone with another court employee in his chambers for about two hours.
“She was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out,” the DOJ said.
Per the indictment, Corona lied to the FBI, asserting that he’d left the woman in his chambers while he went to pick up a motorcycle.
“Corona allegedly attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi,” the DOJ said.
Corona was already indicted in state court on September 23, 2024 for one count of sexual penetration by force and another count of sexual battery.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges.
“Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables,” prosecutors said.
“Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables,” prosecutors said.
"At this time, we will acknowledge receipt of the indictment, waive formal arraignment and further advisement of Constitutional and statutory rights, and enter pleas of not guilty," said Eddie Ruiz, Corona's defense attorney.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact their local FBI office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.