A police officer in Southern California was arrested on Aug. 12 on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple victims while on and off duty, authorities said.

Menifee Police Officer Juan Pesina, 32, was arrested by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

Menifee police received a complaint involving allegations against an officer on July 22, accusing him of sexually assaulting a victim during an on-duty investigation, according to the department.

“Following the receipt of this complaint, a preliminary internal investigation was immediately conducted, during which an employee of the department was identified in connection with the allegations,” the department reported.

The police department, located in a city about 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles, requested an independent criminal investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department on July 24.

During the sheriff’s investigation, more victims were identified who claimed the incidents happened in Riverside County in 2023 and 2024.

“Investigators determined that Pesina encountered these victims while on duty and off duty,” the sheriff’s department reported in a statement.

Pesina has been with the Menifee Police Department since 2022 and was serving as a patrol officer at the time of the alleged incidents, Sgt. Raul Perez told The Epoch Times.

Sheriff’s detectives determined there was sufficient cause to make an arrest, according to authorities.

On Aug. 12, sheriff’s investigators arrested Pesina without incident at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

A search warrant was served at his residence in Menifee and at his workplace, where more evidence was located, according to the sheriff’s department.

Pesina faces multiple felony charges, including rape, sodomy, and forced oral copulation.

Officer Juan Pesina, 32, of Menifee, was arrested in Murrieta, Calif., on Aug. 12, 2025. (Riverside County Sheriff's Department)

“This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time,” the sheriff’s department stated.

Investigators believe there may be more victims and encourage anyone with information to contact the Riverside Sheriff’s Department at (951) 776-1099.

Pesina was placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the criminal and administrative investigations, according to police.

“The Menifee Police Department remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement,” the department stated in a news release. “We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and will continue to cooperate fully with investigative authorities.”

The police department has not made changes to any patrol procedures following Pesina’s arrest, according to Perez.

“That’s not being discussed,” Perez said.