More Charges for Ex-Officer in O.C.

A former Anaheim police officer, already charged with sexually assaulting a female illegal immigrant while on duty, has been charged in two other cases.

Bradley Wagner, a 30-year veteran of the department, was charged with false imprisonment and sexual battery in one case and false imprisonment and acting under the color of authority in the other, Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Kal Kaliban said Thursday. All are felonies except for the last charge.

Wagner was charged in the new cases Sept. 8. The prosecutor said he did not know whether Wagner’s latest accusers were also illegal immigrants.

“The first victim’s courageous decision to report the assault made these new charges possible. The two new victims learned about it in the media and got up the courage to go to police. They viewed a [photo lineup] and identified Wagner,” said Kaliban.

Wagner was originally arrested after the 40-year-old undocumented woman told police that he stopped her at 1 a.m. Nov. 11, 2005, while she was driving home from work. She told police she had broken no laws when Wagner pulled her over and directed her to drive to another location.

The woman went to police that same day, and Wagner was immediately put on administrative leave. He was arrested at the police station eight days later when he submitted his retirement papers.

In a federal civil rights lawsuit the woman filed against Wagner, the Police Department and city of Anaheim, she said he threatened to have her deported if she did not continue to meet his demands for sex. Wagner, 59, pleaded not guilty to forceable oral copulation, oral copulation under color of authority and false imprisonment.

The two new incidents took place between Sept. 1 and Nov. 10, 2005, Kaliban said. He offered few details. He said Wagner, while on duty, forced the women to drive to secluded areas. One woman said he touched her against her will before he let her go. The other woman resisted his advances, Kaliban said.

Wagner’s attorney, Jennifer Keller, declined to comment. She earlier had accused the first alleged victim of lying about the assault for financial gain and to obtain legal residency in the United States.

“She must think that this is her ticket to easy street,” Keller said of the lawsuit.

Wagner is free on $150,000 bond and faces a preliminary hearing on all counts Nov. 22, Kaliban said.

Kaliban said Wagner could face at least 10 years in prison if convicted of all counts.

hgreza@latimes.com