Menifee Cop Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Women Is Ordered To Stand Trial

MENIFEE, CA — A Menifee policeman accused of sexually assaulting five women on- and off-duty will stand trial on more than a dozen felony and misdemeanor charges.

Juan Jose Pesina Jr., 33, of Murrieta, was arrested last August following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Unit.

At the end of a preliminary hearing Friday, Superior Court Judge Paul Dickerson found there was sufficient evidence to bound Pesina over for trial on five counts of sexual battery, two counts each of assault with intent to commit rape and extortion, and one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, attempted forcible sodomy, attempted forcible oral copulation, bribery and burglary, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of perpetrating sexual offenses during a burglary.

The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for May 15 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. Pesina is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

The Menifee Police Department said in September the defendant was on indefinite unpaid administrative leave. It was unclear Monday whether he had been formally terminated.

The agency released a statement soon after his arrest, saying its Professional Standards Unit had received a complaint from a woman on July 22, 2025, 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 only 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, when he 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 capacities he had worked, other than patrol.

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