Benched sheriff's deputy faces trial on charges of assaulting ex-girlfriend
A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who was stripped of duty is scheduled to be tried Wednesday on charges that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend with a handgun after he put the weapon in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
Sean Paul Delacerda, 27, of Fullerton is charged with using a firearm in April 2010 to assault his ex-girlfriend after accusing her of cheating, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.
Delacerda allegedly entered the home of the woman, whom he had dated for two months, without her permission. She was not home, prosecutors said. At the time, he was a four-year veteran of the department but not on duty. When the woman arrived, Delacerda pulled out the gun, loaded one bullet into the cylinder and forced the woman to show him her e-mails.
The woman attempted to escape as Delacerda was reading the messages, prosecutors said.
Delacerda allegedly tackled the woman, climbed on top of her and covered her mouth as she screamed. He then put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger -- it clicked but failed to fire, according to prosecutors.
Delacerda then allegedly pointed the weapon at the woman and pushed her into a closet while he continued to pore over her e-mails. She finally escaped in her car and drove away as he chased after her, prosecutors said.
Delacerda was relieved of duty in April 2010 without pay, pending the outcome of the criminal trial, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Delacerda is charged with one felony count each of assault with a firearm, kidnapping and false imprisonment by violence, as well as a misdemeanor count of domestic violence battery. Opening statements are scheduled to begin at the courthouse in Fullerton on Wednesday.
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Deputy charged with assaulting ex-girlfriend with a handgun
-- Robert J. Lopez
Twitter: @LAJourno
Photo: Sean Paul Delacerda. Credit: Orange County district attorney's office
EDITOR'S PICKS:
how about attempted murder?? oh wait, it's a COP!
Posted by: travesty of justice | April 05, 2011 at 11:35 PM
your police at their best,LA county has a very bar for their police,your police cost 100s of billions and do pretty much nothing they are the biggest danger.
Posted by: frankie | April 06, 2011 at 09:39 AM
Doesn't surprise me one bit....
Posted by: westsidejesse | April 06, 2011 at 02:20 PM