L.A. County sheriff’s sergeant accused of sexual assault while on duty

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeant has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman and inappropriately touching two other women during traffic stops while on duty in Compton last year, prosecutors said Friday.

Mark Fitzpatrick, a 19-year veteran, was arrested Thursday night and pleaded not guilty Friday to sexual penetration under threat to arrest or deport, sexual battery by restraint and two counts each of false imprisonment by fraud and deceit, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Natalie Adomian.

Prosecutors allege that Fitzpatrick, 39, attacked the first woman on May 24, 2008. Four days later, authorities allege, he detained another woman while on patrol and tried to touch her inappropriately. He then allegedly had improper contact with another woman the next day, prosecutors said.

Shortly after the incidents, the women reported Fitzpatrick to sheriff’s officials, who began a criminal investigation, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.

“We do not pull any punches. The Sheriff’s Department investigated as soon as we heard the allegations,” said Steve Whitmore, a department spokesman.

“As soon as this came to the department’s attention, he began riding a desk. . . . Now that the charges have been filed, he will be relieved of duty without pay.”

Whitmore said investigators have not discovered any other victims and no other law enforcement personnel were involved.

In 2006, another sheriff’s deputy, Gabriel Gonzalez, was convicted of raping three women while he was on duty in the Compton area and sentenced to 30 years in prison. His victims received nearly $5.6 million in civil settlements.

Fitzpatrick, who is free on $245,000 bail, was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing July 6. If convicted, he could face up to 11 years in prison, prosecutors said.

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richard.winton@latimes.com