Attorneys Deny Deputy Raped Woman, Assaulted Wife

Claiming that a veteran sheriff’s deputy has been falsely accused of rape, defense attorneys said they will attempt to have the charges dismissed today in the second day of a preliminary hearing.

Former Sheriff’s Deputy Harris Scott Mintz, 41, faces six counts of felony sexual assault, punishable by up to 48 years in prison. He is accused of the 1995 rape of a Calabasas woman while on duty and of sexually assaulting his wife three times.

Mintz pleaded not guilty in December and is being held on $1 million bail.

The 10-year Sheriff’s Department veteran surrendered in November at the Malibu-Lost Hills station where he had been working, after an 11-month internal affairs investigation and after the county had already paid $100,000 to the alleged rape victim.

Sgt. Cathy Renner, an internal criminal investigator with the department, testified Monday that the rape victim and the deputy’s wife related similar stories of abusive action and sexual assault by the deputy.

The hearing, to continue at 9:30 a.m. today, is being held before Municipal Judge Stephen A. Marcus in Los Angeles to determine if there is sufficient evidence to hold Mintz for trial in Superior Court.

Two Encino attorneys defending Mintz--James E. Blatt and Darren T. Kavinoky--said they expect the deputy’s wife to testify today that the alleged sexual assaults were consensual acts and not rape. The couple, who wed on Dec. 31, 1992, are still married.

Blatt also called the attack on the Calabasas mother of two “a total and complete fabrication.” He said the county “rushed to judgment” by paying the victim before the case was brought to trial.

The three-member Los Angeles County Claims Board approved the award June 19 at the recommendation of county attorneys to settle a civil lawsuit filed by the victim.