Menifee Police Officer Juan Jose Pesina Jr. has been charged with sexual assaults of two adult victims. Pesina has been charged by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office with eight felonies and faces a possible life sentence in prison if convicted as currently charged.
On August 14, Pesina appeared at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta to be arraigned. At the request of his attorney, his arraignment was continued to September 2 at 8:30 a.m.
Pesina’s bail was initially set at $1 million. Due to public safety concerns argued by the DA’s Office, the court ruled to hold Pesina without bail.
On July 22, the Menifee Police Department’s Professional Standards Unit received a complaint involving sexual assault allegations against Pesina. A preliminary internal investigation was immediately conducted.
On July 24, the Menifee Police Department formally requested an independent criminal investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit. During the course of the investigation, additional victims were identified in incidents that had allegedly occurred in Riverside County between 2023 and 2024. Investigators determined that Pesina encountered these victims while on and off duty.
Pesina was arrested on August 12. A search warrant was served at his residence in the City of Menifee and his workplace, where additional evidence was located.
Pesina, who has been with the department since 2022, has been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the criminal and administrative investigations.
This case is remains under investigation. Additional victims are encouraged to contact Master Investigator J. Andrade with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 951-955-1701.
