Former Costa Mesa Officer Pleads Guilty to Stalking and Database Abuse
Robert Jay Josett, a former police officer from Costa Mesa, California, has pleaded guilty to multiple misdemeanor charges, including unauthorized computer access, fraud, and violating a restraining order. Prosecutors revealed that Josett abused his access to confidential law enforcement databases, such as the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System and license plate readers, to track the locations of a woman he had an extramarital affair with, his wife, and the woman's new boyfriend. Between 2023 and 2024, Josett contacted the victim thousands of times, sometimes exceeding 100 calls or messages daily, and engaged in threatening behavior after their relationship ended. He also violated an emergency protective order by driving past the victim's home shortly after being notified of his termination from the police department. As part of his sentence, Josett must complete a 52-week domestic violence program and serve three years of informal probation. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the actions as dangerous and obsessive, emphasizing that law enforcement credentials should not shield criminal behavior. The case has been reported to the state commission overseeing officer licensing.
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Former Costa Mesa Officer Pleads Guilty to Stalking and Database Abuse
Robert Jay Josett, a former police officer from Costa Mesa, California, has pleaded guilty to multiple misdemeanor charges, including unauthorized computer access, fraud, and violating a restraining order. Prosecutors revealed that Josett abused his access to confidential law enforcement databases, such as the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System and license plate readers, to track the locations of a woman he had an extramarital affair with, his wife, and the woman's new boyfriend. Between 2023 and 2024, Josett contacted the victim thousands of times, sometimes exceeding 100 calls or messages daily, and engaged in threatening behavior after their relationship ended. He also violated an emergency protective order by driving past the victim's home shortly after being notified of his termination from the police department. As part of his sentence, Josett must complete a 52-week domestic violence program and serve three years of informal probation. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the actions as dangerous and obsessive, emphasizing that law enforcement credentials should not shield criminal behavior. The case has been reported to the state commission overseeing officer licensing.
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