Ex-Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Assault

A 30-year veteran Anaheim police officer pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexually assaulting an undocumented immigrant.

Bradley Wagner, 58, pulled the woman over on a traffic stop and then threatened to have her deported unless she performed oral sex on him, according to Susan Kang Schroeder, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.

Wagner was charged with forceable oral copulation, oral copulation under the color of authority and false imprisonment. He could face nine years in prison if convicted.

The incident took place Nov. 11, Schroeder said. After stopping the woman’s vehicle at North Kraemer Boulevard and La Jolla Avenue, Wagner asked her to prove she was in the country legally, Schroeder said. When the 40-year-old woman could not provide documents, he took her to another location and forced her to have sex, she said.

Wagner, who lives in Perris, is also accused of fondling her.

Wagner was arrested Friday, the day he retired. He had been held on $1-million bail; Orange County Superior Court Judge Roger Robbins reduced bail to $150,000 Tuesday.

“Bradley Wagner has served his community for more than 30 years as a police officer, putting his life on the line to protect others,” his attorney, Jennifer L. Keller, said in a prepared statement. “He has a pristine record. The accused is an undocumented person who we know nothing about.”

Schroeder said the fact that the victim was undocumented should not be a factor.

“Every person in America deserves the protection of the constitution and the law,” she said. “And they have the right to be free from intimidation and assault from law enforcement.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kal Kaliban said he expected Wagner to post bail.

“The fact that [Wagner] is out on bail will cause the victim a great amount of concern,” Kaliban said.

“From the police reports, we can see that this woman is terrified. She was assaulted by a person in position of authority that you expect to protect you.”