Crime & Safety
SMC Man Sentenced In Sexual Assault Of Neighbor
Meanwhile, the man's attorney says that given the sexual history between his client and the victim, the sexual contact was consensual.
PACIFICA, CA — A 23-year-old Pacifica man convicted of sexual assault, despite his attorney's unsuccessful attempt to introduce evidence calling the victim's sexual history into question, was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday in San Mateo County Court.
Ross Anthony Jones and the victim were neighbors and had known each other since high school when he invited the woman into his home and forced her to give him oral sex, causing her to gag and choke, Nov. 7, 2015, according to prosecutors.
She struggled, said "no," and Jones gave up. They'd been spending time together that day, and after the assault she gave him a ride and later dropped him off at home.
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The next day she told a family member who accompanied her to the police department where she reported the crime. During a "pretext call" from the victim that was recorded by police, Jones made admissions that would later be used to secure a conviction for misdemeanor sexual battery and felony forcible oral copulation in April, 2017.
No forensic evidence was presented at the trial, but defense attorney Randall Knox attempted to introduce the victim's Tumblr blog - which contained sexually suggestive images - into evidence but the court would not admit them.
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Knox maintains that given the sexual history between Jones and the victim, the sexual contact in question was consensual.
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe called that irrelevant, however.
"No means no," Wagstaffe said. "That's the rule."
Knox also argued that the victim made inconsistent statements to detectives during the criminal Investigation, and that race may have been a factor.
"He's a tall black guy and she's a smaller white girl," Knox said.
Judge Mark Forcum called the sentence one of the most difficult decisions he's made in his career. He would've preferred to sentence the defendant to probation, but state law requires a mandatory minimum sentence.
In addition to jail time, Jones will have to register as a sex offender, pay $400 in fines and fees as well as $700 in restitution to the Pacifica Police Department. He's also prohibited from contacting the victim
for 10 years.
— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock
