Two LAPD officers have been charged with sexually assaulting four women while on duty, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
James Nichols, 44, and Luis Valenzuela, 43, were charged with multiple counts each of sexual assault, including forcible rape, rape under color of authority, oral copulation under color of authority and oral copulation by force, a DA news release stated.
Valenzuela was also accused of pointing a gun at one of the victims, and faces an additional charge of assault with a firearm.
Both officers, described by the DA as veterans, were assigned to the Hollywood division and worked together from December 2008 to March 2011.
The victims, who were 19, 24, 25 and 34 at the time, were mostly assaulted while the officers were on duty, the DA stated.
All four women had been arrested at various times by the officers for narcotics-related offenses.
Nichols and Valenzuela were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
Prosecutors were expected to ask that bail be set at $3.83 million for Nichols and $3.76 million for Valenzuela.
The case was filed Tuesday.
