| For Immediate Release Case # 02WF0387 August 10, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
FORMER COP SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR LURING
16-YEAR-OLD POLICE EXPLORER AND
ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL SEX ACTS
*Fled to London in 2004 before trial and placed on OCDA’s 10 Most Wanted
WESTMINSTER – A former Anaheim Police officer was sentenced today on charges he had an unlawful sexual relationship with an underage girl who was under his supervision while participating in a police Explorer program. Jason David Rosewarne, 36, County of Devon in Southwest England, pleaded guilty to the court to felony oral copulation of a person under 18 years of age and felony failure to appear while on bail. He was sentenced to one year in jail and five years of formal probation. The court rejected the People’s request of state prison and sex offender registration.
While working as a police officer for the Anaheim Police Department, Rosewarne was a supervisor of the Explorer program. The Explorer program consists of approximately 50 students who volunteer with police departments to participate in law enforcement and community activities. Rosewarne violated his position of trust as a police officer and a supervisor when he began sending sexual text messages and having sexual conversations with an underage girl who was involved in the Explorers. On August 22, 2002, Rosewarne fondled her and engaged in oral copulation with the victim.
After being charged with felony oral copulation of a minor and appearing at several court hearings between November 2002 through March 2003, Rosewarne failed to appear at a court hearing after learning of the sentencing recommendation by the probation department. He was out of custody on $20,000 bail. The defendant, who was born in England, fled to the United Kingdom with his wife and children, and a bench warrant was issued on May 27, 2003 by the court. In October 2005, he was placed on the Orange County District Attorney’s 10 Most Wanted List. On July 26, 2006, Rosewarne came back to Los Angeles to turn himself in.
Deputy District Attorney Kal Kaliban of the Sexual Assaults Unit prosecuted this case.
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