Ex-Officer Pleads No Contest or Guilty in Beach Rapes, Robberies

Former San Diego Police Officer Henry Hubbard, who maintained for nearly a year that he was not guilty of a string of rapes and robberies last summer along local beaches, reversed himself Thursday and pleaded guilty or no contest to all 38 felony charges.

Hubbard pleaded guilty to 26 charges and no contest to 12. Included in the 38 counts were seven rapes, attacks that dominated a string of crimes along the coast from La Jolla to Solana Beach.

Hubbard could be sentenced to about 200 years in prison but is likely to receive about 60 years, sources said. Parole guidelines mean that Hubbard, 30, will be behind bars for about 30 years, sources said.

Hubbard said nothing in court in his defense. But after the hearing, he issued a 16-line, handwritten statement that said: “I am hopeful that the people of San Diego and the involved parties will, in time, be able to heal from this ordeal.”

Hubbard, with 4 1/2 years on the force, patrolled the beach area and worked the late shift until 1 a.m. All but one of the attacks occurred shortly after that time.

Last Aug. 15, Hubbard was arrested in connection with an attack on two men and a woman at Torrey Pines State Beach in which the assailant was shot. The two men were also wounded.

Shortly after the early morning assault, Hubbard checked into a hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. His police flashlight was found at the scene and sand was discovered in his clothing, authorities said.