San Jose City Councilman Omar Torres has been charged with multiple felonies for allegedly sexually abusing a family member dating back to the late 1990s, when the victim was a child, authorities announced Wednesday afternoon.
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said at a news conference Wednesday that Torres was arrested Tuesday night, hours after he tendered his resignation. A judge issued an arrest warrant for the deputy on charges of lewd acts against a child, forcible oral copulation and forcible sodomy of a child, Joseph said.
San Jose City Councilman Omar Torres was charged with multiple counts of felony sexual battery against a family member dating back to the late 1990s, when the victims were children. He was arrested on Tuesday and agreed to resign at the end of this month.
(Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office)
The San Clara County District Attorney’s Office said the allegations date back to 1999 and involve relatives of Torres. Santa Clara County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jay Boyarsky said he could face decades in prison if convicted.
“People are often suspicious of victims who come forward years after the crime,” Boyarsky said in a statement. “As a sex crimes prosecutor, I’ve talked to many of these survivors, and I’ll tell you, they’re heroic.”
Torres appeared in court for arraignment on Wednesday, but did not enter a plea, according to the DA’s office. He is scheduled for a bail hearing on November 14th.
He is currently being held at the main prison in San Jose, according to inmate records. Bail was not granted.
A call to an attorney listed as representing Torres was not immediately returned.
Torres submitted his resignation to the San Jose City Clerk’s Office hours before his arrest Tuesday. However, his resignation did not take effect immediately. Instead, he said he would resign on Nov. 27.
“While I am heartbroken by this choice, I believe it is in the best interest of my constituents and community,” he wrote.
Torres did not mention his legal issues in the letter.
Joseph said Torres’ accuser contacted San Jose police on Nov. 4 detailing the new charges against Torres.
The 43-year-old city councilman was already under investigation by San Jose police on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor, the San Jose Spotlight reported last month.
Joseph said that investigation is ongoing.
“We do not intend to release any new information regarding the status or nature of the case, other than that the case is not yet closed,” he said.
A police affidavit obtained in that investigation appears to indicate Torres was being threatened by a 21-year-old Chicago man with whom he shared nude photos and explicit text conversations, Spotlight reported. . The affidavit alleges that the man threatened to release photos and text messages unless Torres paid various amounts of money.
He was arrested the same day on new charges unrelated to the original investigation.
“Subsequent investigation uncovered evidence supporting the survivors’ claims,” Joseph said.
The police chief added that the alleged assaults began when both men were minors and continued after Torres was an adult and the victim was still a minor.
“These allegations are every parent’s worst nightmare,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said at a news conference. “But you don’t have to be a parent to be disgusted by the charges against Omar Torres. These are among the most serious charges imaginable.”
It is unclear who will replace Torres once he is gone.
A call and email to the mayor’s chief of staff did not immediately respond.
