A former Virginia police officer pleaded guilty last week to federal charges related to the abduction and sexual assault of a teenager three years ago while the creepy cop was in uniform.
Cleshaun Alfonzo Cox, 31, copped to violating the victim’s civil rights by “forcibly sexually assaulting her,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on Friday.
Cox previously pleaded guilty to state charges of carnal knowledge and abduction related to the same May 2019 incident in August 2021, 13 News Nows reported.
The federal charges were tacked on because the defendant was on duty and in uniform at the time of the assault, the outlet explained.
Cox was an officer with the Portsmouth Police Department when, on the night of May 27, 2019, he and another, more senior officer responded to a noise complaint involving a 17-year-old girl, the US Attorney’s Office said, citing court documents.
The senior officer told the teen to return home.
Cox followed the girl in a marked police vehicle without his superior’s knowledge and told her to drop off the friend who was with her before following him to a parking lot.
The officer subsequently instructed the teen to get into his car. He then drove to an isolated location, where he threatened to ticket her for a slew of minor offenses before raping her.
Cox, who was 27 at the time, was arrested and charged with rape and abduction the following day, 13 News Now reported.
He initially lied to detectives and said he believed the victim was over 18 years old, though he later admitted that he knew her age after reviewing her driver’s license, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said.
Under the state charges, Cox was initially sentenced to 15 years behind bars, 10 years of which were suspended by the court, according to 13 News Now.
His next sentencing hearing is set for November.
Under the plea agreement, he faces at least 15 and up to 20 years in prison and up to five years of supervised release.
He also has to register as a sex offender.
According to state records, Cox is awaiting sentencing at Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk.
SOURCE: New york post
