ANAHEIM : Officer Convicted in Attack on Woman

An Orange County Superior Court jury deliberated just over an hour Thursday before convicting an Anaheim police officer of felony and misdemeanor charges for attacking his former girlfriend, officials said.

Frank Emile Stroobant, 45, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon for holding a loaded gun to Riqui K. Sedoris, 44, his former girlfriend and the mother of his child. Jurors also convicted Stroobant of a misdemeanor charge of battery on Sedoris.

The jury acquitted Stroobant of both a felony charge of making a terrorist threat against Sedoris and a misdemeanor assault charge.

He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 19, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Wendy S. Lindley. The conviction also means that Stroobant will not be allowed to possess a weapon for 10 years, she said.

Lindley, who was recently appointed domestic violence coordinator, said the conviction points to Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi’s dedication to prosecuting domestic violence cases.

“When Michael Capizzi created a domestic violence coordinator’s position, it was intended for this kind of case--a case that could have fallen through the cracks,” Lindley said. “But this case didn’t fall through the cracks. More than 25 witnesses were interviewed and there was an extensive investigation.”

Stroobant was placed on administrative leave from the Police Department after he was indicted in June by the Orange County Grand Jury on assault and battery charges dating back to March, 1992.