FRESNO, CA – A former California Superior Court judge has been federally indicted on charges of sexual assault, false statements, and obstruction of justice, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Adolfo Corona, 66, accusing him of sexually assaulting a 33-year-old court employee (Victim 1) in a courthouse stairwell on March 14, 2024, while he was still serving on the bench.
Corona is also charged with making false statements during interviews with the FBI and court officials to cover up the incident involving Victim 1. Additionally, the indictment alleges he obstructed a separate investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a 43-year-old court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers on December 5, 2023. Victim 2 was later found unconscious and alone in the judge’s chambers.
The indictment states that Corona falsely told FBI investigators he left the building to pick up a motorcycle during the time Victim 2 was in his office and later tried to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to falsify records to back up that alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces up to 40 years in prison for the sexual assault charge and up to 20 years each for the obstruction offenses.
The charges were announced by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, and the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office.
Key Points
- Former judge Adolfo Corona indicted on sexual assault and obstruction charges involving two court employees
- Allegations include assault in a courthouse stairwell and misconduct in judicial chambers
- If convicted, Corona faces up to 80 years in federal prison
A former California judge now faces decades behind bars for allegedly abusing his position and obstructing the investigations into his conduct.