| For Immediate Release Case # 12CF1964 July 3, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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SANTA ANA CITY COUNCILMAN AND FORMER HIGH-RANKING EXECUTIVE FOR COUNTY OF ORANGE CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS
SANTA ANA – A Santa Ana City Councilman who was a former high-ranking executive for the County of Orange until recent allegations related to this case surfaced has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting seven subordinates and committing grand theft of public funds.
For his sexual assault-related crimes, Carlos Bustamante, 47, Santa Ana, is charged with six felony counts of false imprisonment, three felony counts of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense, one felony count each of stalking and attempted sexual battery by restraint, and one misdemeanor count each of battery, assault, sexual battery, and attempted sexual battery with a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing the offenses as a result of sexual compulsion and for the purpose of sexual gratification.
For his fraud-related crimes, Bustamante has been charged with one felony count of grand theft by false pretense. If convicted on all counts, Bustamante faces a maximum sentence of 26 years and two months in state prison, plus an additional year and nine months in County jail, and would be subject to lifetime sex offender registration.
The defendant posted and is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned July 5, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Bustamante was arrested yesterday, July 2, 2012, in the parking lot outside of the Santa Ana City Council meeting by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Bureau of Investigation, who investigated this case. The OCDA began investigating in March 2012 after becoming aware of allegations against the defendant and over 50 witnesses have been interviewed.
SEXUAL ASSAULTS
Victims
Bustamante is accused of sexually assaulting at least seven women between 2003 and 2011 while working in his official capacity at Orange County Public Works, most recently as an administration manager. The OCDA will seek to present similar sexual assault evidence against 12 additional uncharged victims at trial. Due to the statute of limitations, any misdemeanor occurring prior to July 2011 or felony occurring prior to 2002 or 2009, depending on the crime, cannot be charged.