Fresno Criminal Lawyer Blog

King County Supervisor Richard Valle has been accused by a second woman of sexual assault while she was incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, the Fresno Bee reported.

Anyone facing allegations of sexual assault should contact a Fresno criminal defense attorney at the earliest signs that an investigation is under way. Particularly, when drugs or alcohol are involved, an alleged victim sometimes has regrets and makes false allegations against an innocent defendant. In many cases involving allegations of sex crimes, the case comes down to the statements made by the victim and the defendant. DO NOT talk to investigators or authorities until you have consulted with an attorney. Detectives understand you are embarrassed by the possibility of being charged with a sex crime, and will often use that to get you to give a statement. Such statements will not be helpful to your case, will be used against you in court, and may conflict with your future defense strategy.

We reported in September on our Fresno Criminal Lawyer Blog when the first allegations came to light. Valle denied the charges of sexual assault on an unconscious or intoxicated female. The 24-year-old woman went to the police station about 3:30 a.m. to report she had been raped in his home.

At that time, Valle, 40, was arrested on four sex-related felonies: oral copulation on an unconscious victim; oral copulation on an intoxicated victim; sexual penetration of an unconscious victim and sexual penetration on an intoxicated victim.

He has been free on $300,000 cash bail. A new charge of sexual intercourse with a victim who was "prevented from resisting by an intoxicating anesthetic and controlled substance" has been added to the charges. If convicted, he faces 3 to 8 years in prison on each count.

Fellow board members said he should decide whether he should resign his position on the Board of Supervisors in light of the most recent allegations.