Pasadena Mayor’s Wife Accused of Sex With Minor

The wife of Pasadena’s mayor was arrested last week on suspicion of having sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy, police said Monday.

Michelle Elizabeth Holden, 35, the wife of Pasadena Mayor Chris Holden, was booked Thursday on felony charges of oral copulation with a minor and sexual intercourse with a minor and released later that day after posting $20,000 bail, authorities said.

“The allegations were initially brought forward July 1 by the parents of a 16-year old male victim from Pasadena who contacted the department,” Pasadena Police Cmdr. Mary Schander said. Michelle Holden then turned herself in, Schander said.

The arrest stemmed from “an incident or incidents that happened in January or February,” Schander said. “The victim and the suspect were acquainted,” Schander said.

A police report on the case had yet to be completed.

In a statement released Monday, Chris Holden said his wife “strongly denies the charges leveled against her. She is a wonderful mother and wife, and I stand behind her 100%. Together, we will fight these outrageous allegations. When the background of the individuals who have made the allegations comes to light, the public will see these allegations are completely false.”

The Holdens have been married since 1990 and have four children. Chris Holden, a real estate broker who has served as Pasadena’s mayor for a year, is the son of Los Angeles Councilman Nate Holden.

The elder Holden issued a statement saying the case “simply reeks of politics. It’s an effort to smear my son’s good name.”

In an interview before Monday night’s Pasadena council meeting, Councilman William Paparian also suggested that the charges were politically motivated. “I don’t think the timing of this allegation is accidental,” Paparian said. “It comes as the council is discussing changing the form of government in Pasadena, a change championed by Chris Holden and opposed by the powerful political interests in the city.”

Police said there was a delay in releasing information about the arrest because of the Fourth of July 4th weekend.