By Eric Kurhi
STAFF WRITER
An Oakland police officer was sentenced today to six months in jail for illegally pulling over and detaining Asian women.
In November, Richard Valerga, 51, entered no contest pleas to two counts of interfering with the civil rights of the motorists he pulled over and two counts of false imprisonment. All counts were misdemeanors.
Charges were filed last August after a joint investigation by the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Valerga orignally faced seven counts, stemming from stops the officer made on three women earlier last year.
Investigators found that the drivers who were pulled over were recent immigrants, and two were unlawfully held in the officer’s car after requesting to be let go. Investigators said Valerga also photographed the women, kissed and “patted” one of them, and asked for their phone numbers.
The former officer faced a maximum sentence of four years -- one for each misdemeanor.
In November, Valerga’s attorney, Paul Brennan, said he hoped his client would avoid jail time altogether because Valerga was no longer with the police department and the crimes were not violent.
However, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Beatus took prosecutor Mark McCannon’s recommendation for a six-month term.
Valerga was placed on administrative leave in May when allegations surfaced.
He resigned in early November after being on the force for six years. The patrol officer’s beat included parts of the Oakland hills, the Dimond and Laurel districts and the area east of Lake Merritt.
Contra Costa Times (http://www.contracostatimes.com/)