Trial begins for shelter supervisor

A trial began Monday at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana for an Orange County animal-shelter supervisor accused of sexually assaulting six female inmates who were working at the shelter to reduce their sentences, officials said.

Frank Martin Bojorquez Jr., 53, of Orange is charged with seven felony counts of sexual assault, one misdemeanor count of sexual battery and six misdemeanor counts of a detention facility employee engaging in sexual acts with confined consenting adults.

He is accused of using his authority to sexually assault the women in the Community Work Program after requesting that they work in isolation so that he could attack them in seclusion.

The women risked time behind bars if they did not comply with Bojorquez’s orders. They did not know each other and filed complaints independently.

If convicted, Bojorquez faces a maximum sentence of 17 years and four months in state prison.

-- Nardine Saad