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Published on 02/24/1997 All articles from this issue

Rosario sentencing, hearing delayed

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Town Crier Staff Report

Sentencing for the ex-Los Altos police officer convicted of 12 charges including sexual assault has been postponed until March 7, a court clerk said.

Also postponed is the preliminary hearing for two more charges, in a second, separate case against the former cop, until next Monday.

Originally, the sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 7. When that date was changed, Deputy District Attorney JoAnne McCracken said that the probation department needed more time.

Rafael Rosario, 30, a five-year veteran of the Los Altos Police Department until he was fired by the city in August 1996, was found guilty Jan. 21 in the first case following a six week trial.

Rosario could face up to seven years in state prison for those charges which involved five victims, McCracken said.

If Rosario is given some prison time, he could face a world of hurt behind bars. Experts agree that the prison inmates most despised by other inmates are child molesters and police officers.

Even without prison time, Rosario is now a convicted felon and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, McCracken said.

And he cannot ever work again as a police officer.

"As a convicted felon he is ineligible to get his job back," said Los Altos city attorney Bob Booth.

The second case against Rosario includes charges of sexual battery and assault with a stun gun.