Man accused of posing as immigration lawyer, raping client and offering hush money is arrested

Authorities arrested a 65-year-old man accused of posing as a lawyer and raping a woman who came to him seeking help with her immigration status.

On Nov. 12, a woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Jose Bernal after she refused his advances and attempted to leave his office at 1203 E. 17th St. in Santa Ana, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Bernal told the victim that his legal services would cost her $14,000 but that he’d offer a discount if she entered into a relationship with him, according to police. After the assault, he allegedly told her he’d pay her $400 not to report the incident to police.

On Wednesday, nearly a year since the accuser filed a police report, police published a bulletin seeking the public’s help in finding Bernal as part of their “Wanted Wednesday” series.

Jose Bernal was arrested Thursday morning, a day after police posted a bulletin seeking the public’s help in finding him.

(Santa Ana Police Department)

The following morning, Bernal was arrested in Tustin after employees at a McDonald’s recognized him from the social media post and notified law enforcement.

There is no Jose Bernal listed as a licensed lawyer or paralegal with the State Bar of California or the California Alliance of Paralegal Assn.’s online directories.

A tax preparation business called BMB Multiservices is listed at the address where the alleged assault took place. NBC4 spoke to a man who identified himself as Bernal’s brother and said that the business belongs to his sister and that Bernal had worked for it.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact Det. M. Tapia at (714) 245-8379 or mtapia@santa-ana.org.