Menifee police officer faces trial for sexual assault charges

A trial date of November 9 has been tentatively set for Juan Jose Pesina Jr., a 34-year-old Menifee police officer accused of sexually assaulting five women. The charges include sexual battery, assault with intent to commit rape, extortion, forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, attempted forcible sodomy, bribery, and burglary.

Following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit, Pesina was arrested last August. Investigators noted that some of the alleged assaults occurred while the officer was on duty. The Menifee Police Department placed Pesina on indefinite unpaid administrative leave following the initial complaint received in July 2025.

During a pretrial conference at the Southwest Justice Center, Superior Court Judge John Molloy coordinated with the prosecution and defense to schedule the proceedings for the first half of November. Pesina is currently being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.