LAPD Officer Accused Of Inappropriately Touching Deceased Woman’s Body To Stand Trial On Felony Charge

A Los Angeles police officer who testified to touching a deceased woman’s breast while on duty, but testified that it was done as part of an investigation into her death was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on a felony charge.

On Wednesday, Judge Borjon — who noted that it was unusual for a defendant to testify at a hearing to determine if there’s enough evidence to allow a case to proceed to trial — said he had concluded that the officer touched the deceased woman’s breast for his “own sexual gratification.”

“I think what happened here is you didn’t think anything would happen to you,” the judge told the defendant, adding that he “took advantage of a position of trust.”

On the stand, Rojas said he turned on his body-camera and used a flashlight to illuminate the woman’s body in the darkened bedroom and then touched the 34-year-old woman’s right breast twice with his gloved left hand after noticing a mark he couldn’t identify in that area.



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