| For Immediate Release Case # 09CM08950
September 10, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S INVESTIGATOR CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE REPORTS ON
SERIOUS CASES, INCLUDING CRIMINAL
THREATS AND ROBBERIES
SANTA ANA – An Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) investigator has been charged with filing false reports, by lying that she had been in contact with victims of serious crimes including robberies and criminal threats and that no further investigation could be done. Janet Virginia Strong, 52, is charged with six misdemeanor counts of filing a false report as a peace officer and faces a sentence ranging from probation up to six years in jail if convicted. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-47, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Strong is a 25-year veteran of OCSD assigned to the City of Stanton. On Sept. 13, 2006, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had contacted a victim in February related to a robbery in January of that year. She is accused of not returning the victim’s call after he left Strong a message.
On June 20, 2007, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had contacted the victim of a petty theft, but there were no additional “avenues for further investigation.” She is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On Feb. 20, 2008, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that a robbery victim had not returned her calls, and therefore she was unable to conduct her follow-up investigation. She is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On July 9, 2008, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had contacted a victim and there were no additional “avenues for further investigation” related to a case of criminal threats from August 2006. The victim later said that he was told by deputies in uniform the day after the threats that an investigator would contact him. Strong is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On March 17, 2009, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had made several attempts to contact a robbery victim, but he had not returned her calls, and there were no additional “avenues for further investigation.” She is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On March 19, 2009, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she spoke to a female victim on Nov. 19, 2008, related to criminal threats made by the victim’s ex-husband. She is accused of not contacting the victim until March 19, 2009.
OCSD investigated their own case and then presented their investigation to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.