FRESNO, CALIF – The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Fresno returned a five-count indictment Thursday charging former California Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona with federal offenses for sexually assaulting a court employee, making false statements to cover up the alleged assault, and with obstructing the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted another court employee in his chambers.
The indictment alleges that on March 14, 2024, Corona, while serving as a California Superior Court Judge, led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her.
The indictment further alleges that Corona, 66, during separate interviews with the FBI and court administrators, made false statements about the circumstances of his assault on Victim 1.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Corona obstructed the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted Victim 2.
Corona was alone with Victim 2 in his chambers for approximately two hours on Dec. 5, 2023, and she was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out.
The indictment charges that Corona falsely told the FBI that he left Victim 2 alone in his chambers while he drove to pick up a motorcycle. Corona allegedly attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges.
