Juan Pesina, Riverside County Police Officer, Charged With Sexual Assault

Riverside County Police Officer Juan Pesina, 31, of Menifee, Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Multiple Victims Both On and Off Duty

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (August 13, 2025) – A police officer in Riverside County identified as Juan Pesina is facing charges that he sexually assaulted several people.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is saying that the sexual assaults took place when the defendant was on and off duty. Juan Pesina works for the Menifee Police Department. 

Menifee police receive numerous complaints relating to sexual assault allegations involving the defendant. An independent investigation was conducted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The assaults allegedly took place between 2023 and 2024. Officers searched the home of Juan Pesina and found evidence that they believe is connected with the allegations. 

The defendant was subsequently arrested on several felony charges, including rape. Authorities are concerned that there are additional victims that have not yet come forward. 

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time. 

Liability for Sexual Assaults Involving California Police Officers

Police departments in California have a legal obligation to protect suspects from foreseeable sources of harm. Pursuant to California Government Code § 815.2, government entities can be liable for the negligent actions of their employees who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties. Though sexual assaults are normally outside a worker’s scope of employment, a police department could be liable for several failings. 

• Negligent Hiring: A police department could be liable for the negligent hiring, retention, or supervision of one of their officers. For example, a police department may have hired an officer with a history of sexual abuse claims or convictions.
• Failure to Train: A police department may have failed to train officers on preventing abuse and other forms of misconduct. 
• Ignoring Red Flags: When a police department has actual or constructive notice that an officer poses a risk of sexual assault to suspects, they must take action. If a police department ignored red flags or other prior complaints, this may be construed as negligence.

Victims of sexual assault involving police officers may also be able to pursue a civil rights claim. This is particularly true if a police officer assaults a suspect under the guise of official police duties. Consider, for example, Rogers v. City of Little Rock. An 8^th circuit court found that an officer who allegedly raped a female motorist after following her home acted “under the colour of law,” thereby constituting a civil rights violation. 

Preventing Sexual Assaults Involving Police Officers

Sexual assaults involving police officers remain a very common occurrence. Many of these sexual assaults are performed under the color of law. According to WVLT8, “officers in the U.S. were charged with forcible rape 405 times between 2005 and 2013. That’s an average of 45 a year. There were 636 instances of forcible fondling. Experts say the statistics on sexual assaults by police are almost nonexistent.” Police departments should take several measures to prevent sexual assaults.

• Rigorous Hiring: Police departments should conduct a thorough background check on all potential officers. Officers should also undergo a thorough psychological evaluation for traits linked to abuse.
• Zero Tolerance: Police departments should have clear policies that ban sexual contact with any person in custody. These measures should be enforced with zero tolerance for abuse.
• Supervision and Monitoring: Police departments should properly supervise and monitor the conduct of their officers who are on duty. This should include having officers wear body cameras at all times.

Sexual assaults involving police officers are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where safety gaps are exploited. By the time any police officer is arrested for sexually assaulting a suspect, there were often numerous red flags that were missed. Despite this, police departments will often fight hard to deny responsibility when any of their officers assaults a suspect. 

Investigating Sexual Assaults Involving Menifee Police Department Officers

We at the Carrillo Law Firm extend our best wishes to all of the people and families who have been impacted by the actions of Juan Pesina. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the allegations against this officer. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. How many people have made complaints about this officer? Were any such complaints potentially ignored or not properly investigated? 

Have you or someone that you care about been the victim of sexual assault involving a California police officer? You may have legal recourse. Our team of Los Angeles police misconduct and brutality attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We have a long track record of holding police officers and police departments fully accountable for their misconduct. In fact, we have consistently achieved some of the highest settlements for civil rights claims in the history of California. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at 626-799-9375.