San Diego Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence, Resigns

SAN DIEGO, CA — An off-duty San Diego police sergeant who injured his girlfriend during a night out in the Gaslamp District pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge — and subsequently resigned.

Oscar Armenta, 42, was immediately sentenced to three years probation and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

Armenta worked for the San Diego Police Department for 13 years.

"He's an outstanding cop," Armenta's defense attorney Rick Pinckard said outside court. "This was a judgment error. He's got a very stressful job. (There's) a lot of pressure in the job that he does, (there's) pressure and stress in the job that his girlfriend does, and you just sometimes never know how that stress and pressure is going to manifest."

As part of probation, Armenta was ordered to violate no laws and complete a 52-week domestic violence recovery program.

Judge Dan Link ordered the defendant to have no negative contact with the victim, even though she didn't want the order and is standing by Armenta. The judge also ordered a 10-year federal firearm prohibition.

Police said the assault took place July 3 about 8:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Island Avenue. A witness said he saw Armenta punch a woman in the face, then he and another good Samaritan tried to tackle the defendant.

One of the good Samaritans aggravated a pre-existing injury in the scuffle, said Deputy District Attorney Melissa Diaz.

Armenta — who had no prior record — was placed on leave after the incident.

Following the former sergeant's guilty plea Tuesday, San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman issued a statement.

"Oscar Armenta pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence charges today and has subsequently tendered his resignation to the San Diego Police Department," Zimmerman said. "As I stated back in July when this investigation first began, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and take the conduct of our employees very seriously."

— City News Service contributed to this report.

Patch file photo/Maggie Avants