A correctional officer at the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office was indicted on Thursday morning on a host of sex crimes charges that allege that he abused inmates under his supervision while working in his official capacity at the San Joaquin County Jail.
Alex Tafoya, who worked inside of the San Joaquin County Jail, is being charged with oral copulation by force, sexual penetration by force, false imprisonment by violence, fraud, or deceit, and assault by a police officer.
According to San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar – who has prosecuted a number of former officers from the sheriff’s office that broke the law – the charges stem on protecting people regardless of the circumstance that they find themselves in.
“We must protect women from sexual violence irrespective of their circumstance,” Verber Salazar said in a statement announcing Tafoya’s charges. “When law enforcement officers violate their oath and authority and abuse members of the community, they will be held accountable.
“The District Attorney’s office commends the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office for believing victims, conducting a thorough investigation, and for partnering with our office to seek justice.”
The details of the case are currently sealed, and the DA’s office said that the once defense counsel gets the chance to read the indictment transcript, any unsealed records will be made available for public viewing.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office also commented on the charges against Tafoya – noting that while those accused of a crime are innocent until proven guilty, the alleged conduct goes against the very oath that peace officers take.
“When allegations of this nature are brought to our attention, we take them extremely seriously,” the agency wrote in a social media post announcing Tafoya’s charges. “Conduct of this nature is a dishonor to our Office, the Oath that we take, and the badge that we wear.
“As always, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure the safety on the citizens San Joaquin County.”
Tafoya appeared in San Joaquin County Superior Court on Thursday to answer to the charges against him.
