Already Facing Criminal Charges, DA is Arrested Again for Allegedly Harrassing One of His Accusers
Already facing criminal charges for allegedly seeking to pressure women in his office into providing sexual favors, a Colorado district attorney has been arrested again.
Seventh Judicial District DA Myrl Serra is now facing new charges of harassment and violating a protective order and bond conditions, concerning his alleged contact with one of his accusers in the earlier case, reports the Daily Sentinel. The article also says Serra is the subject of an ongoing sexual assault probe, apparently concerning the same prior case, by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Serra, who was again released on bond last night after being charged earlier in the day, is also prohibited by his bond conditions from entering judicial district offices. The DA’s office is currently being run by his first assistant, and a Montrose lawyer has been appointed to take over as interim DA in January.
An article in the Montrose Daily Press provides additional details about Serra’s alleged encounter with his accuser, relying on an arrest affidavit for Serra:
She says–and surveillance footage confirms–that both were in a clothing store at the same time. She entered first, according to the affidavit, and tried to hide behind a clothing rack to escape Serra’s notice. But when she looked up he was standing on the other side of the rack, staring at her for perhaps 15 seconds that “seemed like forever” with a “cocky grin” on his face as she stood “stuck” in place and “shaking from fear,” the affidavit says. Then Serra left the store.
His lawyer, Colin Bresee, told the Press after Serra’s earlier arrest that he “vehemently denies all of these accusations” and said the charges appeared to be a “he said, she said” case. The Press now reports that an unidentified lawyer for Serra called his new arrest shocking and akin to selective prosecution.
Serra is next due to appear in court, on both cases, in February.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “DA Accused of Exposing Himself to Workers; Sext Message Launched Investigation”
