DA won't prosecute Bakersfield cop accused of sex crimes
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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Charges won't be filed against a Bakersfield police officer accused of sexual crimes.
The Kern County District Attorney's office said Thursday that the officer's behavior was "professionally reprehensible" but not necessarily criminal.
Officer Patrick Lefler was arrested July 18, accused of trying to coerce a woman into having sex with him in exchange for the return of her stolen property that police had recovered.
After that arrest was made public, another woman came forward claiming she was sexually assaulted by Lefler. The officer was accused of forcible rape while on duty, according to a search warrant obtained by Eyewitness News.
Investigators searched Lefler's home in southwest Bakersfield, looking for evidence, such as DNA, bodily fluids left on uniforms, and a 16- to 20-inch baton the second victim claimed Lefler used to penetrate her.
Investigators also recovered text messages and other documents through computer forensics, looking into the claims of sexual ransom.
The District Attorney's office said it decided to decline prosecution because it found "significant inconsistencies in the statements of the alleged victims and the text messages sent from the victims' cellphones to Lefler."
"Due to these significant inconsistencies, we have serious doubts as to what actually transpired between Lefler and the women he came in contact with while on duty," the District Attorney's office said in a news release. "This equates to lack of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard by which all criminal cases are judged."
Lefler remains on paid administrative leave while the police department continues its internal investigation.
Thats what we get for living in California, the cops do whatever they want to whoever they want. I am WHITE AS RICE aand I myself have seen how racist these shitbags are, its really just pathetic... And without that gun they are pussies anyways, not even that baton is gonna stop an asswhopin on one of these fags.
Don't you know this is part of what living in a police state is? The cops and all law enforcement personal are above the law. That means they can break the law without consequence.. Did you think that the laws applied to everyone? You foolish American you lost your freedom and your civil rights 09/11/2001. A DA Can hide evidence lie, cheat and steal and even if you catch him/her they can not be held accountable . This way we are sure to get the scummiest power hungry piece crap criminals for this office as they can not be held accountable for thier criminal acts
The current DA is as much of a dirt bag as her predecessor jagles. If this were not a cop, but a black or Hispanic person, they would be prosecuted without a doubt. The bring BS cases against people EVERY DAY. Now all of a sudden they actually care about "evidence". Lol, what joke, why do you people keep electing these dirt bags to be our DA? It's, in essence, your own darn fault for voting for them.
So let's think for a minute.... BPD officer does (perhaps) something really stupid. Woman reports it. DA investigates but finds 'inconsistencies' in the woman's story, resulting in the  "professionally reprehensible" but not necessarily criminal comment. Well after the fact another woman comes forward and claims sexual assault and the officer is arrested for forcible rape while on duty. Again no evidence. Isn't it just possible these women have something against this officer and are out to get him? I don't know this officer, it could be he is a scumbag but it just seems like a wild leap to 'lords of bakersfield' and 'another cop gets away with breaking the laws' or some other 'tinfoil hat' remarks. Kinda reminds me of all the folks who defend their relative felons, "Oh, he was such a good man. Trying to turn his life around" It all smells like BS to me....
If the woman was a weak witness then the evidence needs to be brought out in public so it is beyond a shadow of a doubt the policeman was innocent of what Todd Akin calls "forcible" rape.
figures of course there is going to be no evidence he is a cop he knows how to make forensic evidence go away oh well a leopard never changes his spots so if it happened twice allegedly it could happen again.
typical lords of bakersfield behaviour - most of the bpd are scumbags
Whatever........go figure..another cop gets away with breaking the laws they are supposed to uphold.... no worries though, karma is a b word and never forgets.Â