Former Pinole Cop Charged for Recording, Sharing Sex Acts Without Consent
Sex is a private act unless all parties agree to make it public. Recording and sharing intimate sexual encounters without consent is a violation of law, a fact a former Pinole police officer being charged with sexual misconduct should have been well aware of.
Anthony Vasquez, 24, was an active Pinole police officer when the department received an email in May containing photographic evidence of several encounters with different women, police said in a Monday media release. The email sender told police that Vasquez shared the images and video recordings in a group chat, and they believed the women were wholly unaware.
The department immediately placed Vasquez on administrative leave and referred the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. The DA said Monday that results of an independent investigation confirmed Vasquez used a hidden camera in his Hercules bedroom to secretly record at least one “Jane Doe.” They believe Vasquez victimized other women as well.
The officer, who resigned in June amid the salacious allegations, has been formally charged with one felony and one misdemeanor in connection with the Jane Doe case.
The victim’s identity is being withheld due to the sensitive nature of the case.
“This type of conduct will not be tolerated, which is why we took immediate action as soon as we learned of the situation. I, as well as this entire department, deeply care about the community and our duty to protect and serve,” police Chief Neil Gang said in Monday’s media release. “We know behavior such as this can damage the trust and partnership between law enforcement and the community. The egregious behavior of one, does not reflect the hardworking women and men of the Pinole Police Department.”
The DA’s office asks that anyone with information about the investigation please contact Senior Inspector Steven Cheatham at 925-957-8761.
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