ANTELOPE VALLEY : Mistrial Leads to Dismissal of Sexual Assault Charges
A judge dismissed sexual assault charges against an Antelope Valley psychologist after a jury in his second trial deadlocked, leaning toward acquittal.
A Lancaster woman accused Charles Catanese of raping her Jan. 2, 1992, at his remote residence near Gorman. A mistrial was declared Wednesday after a Van Nuys Superior Court jury remained split 10 to 2 in favor of not guilty.
Judge Howard J. Schwab, who presided over both trials, dismissed the case.
In Catanese’s first trial, the jury split 6 to 6 on the charges of rape, sexual battery and attempted oral copulation. Catanese’s accuser was a 38-year-old employee of the Los Angeles County Probation Department, who was referred to Catanese so he could evaluate a stress disability claim she filed after allegedly being sexually harassed by male co-workers.
The woman’s charges had prompted an administrative law judge to suspend Catanese’s license to practice psychology. A trial is scheduled for March to determine if the suspension will be permanent.
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