CONEJO VALLEY: BRIEFLY : RETRIAL WEIGHED IN FELONY SEX CASE.VENTURA - In the wake of a mistrial A courtroom trial that has been terminated prior to its normal conclusion. A mistrial has no legal effect and is considered an invalid or nugatory trial. It differs from a "new trial," which recognizes that a trial was completed but was set aside so that the issues could be Wednesday, prosecutors have not decided whether to refile felony charges against a former Moorpark youth counselor accused of having sex with a high school student. Alberto Rios, former director of Moorpark Project Pride, dodged a conviction on four felony counts when jurors deadlocked and a mistrial was declared by Municipal Court Judge Herbert Curtis III, said Deputy District Attorney Adam Pearlman. Jurors told the judge they could not reach a verdict after nearly two days of deliberations. They were split 9-3 in favor of not guilty, Pearlman said. Rios remains free on bail and is next due in court May 23 to see whether prosecutors will seek a new trial. ``We can retry re·try tr.v. re·tried , re·try·ing, re·tries To try again. Verb 1. retry - hear or try a court case anew rehear him,'' Pearlman said. ``We need to evaluate the evidence and the responses from jurors to see what types of problems they saw in the case.'' Rios was charged with three counts of oral copulation copulation /cop·u·la·tion/ (kop?u-la´shun) sexual union; the transfer of the sperm from male to female; usually applied to the mating process in nonhuman animals. cop·u·la·tion n. 1. and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse sexual intercourse or coitus or copulation Act in which the male reproductive organ enters the female reproductive tract (see reproductive system). , all stemming from two encounters with a 17-year-old girl in May 1996. The defendant said he thought the girl was over the age of 18, Pearlman said. ?13- Daily News Rape suspect faces arraignment A criminal proceeding at which the defendant is officially called before a court of competent jurisdiction, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted SIMI VALLEY - A former Simi Valley High School Simi Valley High School is a secondary school located in Simi Valley, California which was established in 1920 as the first high school in the valley. It nestles in the Santa Susana Mountains and is adjacent to the San Fernando Valley, part of the city and county of Ventura. assistant track coach who was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of statutory rape could be charged with a misdemeanor or felony for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a teen-age student, Deputy District Attorney Adam Pearlman said Thursday. Robert America, 22, is scheduled to be arraigned at Ventura Municipal Court today, Pearlman said. America remained at Ventura County Jail Thursday afternoon on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse in lieu of $5,000 bail, jail officials said. The girl told police that she was 16 years old at the time of the relationship, according to Simi Valley police. She remains a student at Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative High, Pearlman said. The suspect, of Simi Valley, had been an assistant track coach at Simi Valley High at the time that the sexual relationship allegedly took place, according to police. America no longer is associated with the high school. |
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