D.A. to Apply for Rape Case Funding

The Ventura County district attorney’s office has been given authorization to apply for $150,000 in state funding to form a special three-person prosecution team to handle more statutory rape cases.

But the Board of Supervisors asked the district attorney to prepare a report on the number of cases it handles during the one-year program to determine the impact it has on the public defender’s office.

Public Defender Ken Clayman told the board on Tuesday that if the district attorney’s program means that 40 to 50 more cases a year will go to court, as officials estimate, then he may have to add more staff to handle the increased caseload.

“If this happens, I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me at budget time,” Clayman said.

Specifically, the state grant money would be used to pay for one deputy district attorney, a victim’s advocate and an investigative assistant who will work together as a team on individual cases, officials said.

Additionally, proceeds from the one-year pilot program will be used to help educate minors who are sexually involved with adults about the dangers of such behavior, officials said.