LAPD Officers Sentenced to 25 Years For On-Duty Sexual Assaults NR18064dm

Two Los Angeles Police Department narcotics officers were sentenced today to 25 years in prison after pleading no contest to sexually assaulting four women. Some of the assaults occurred while the officers were on duty.

James Nichols, 46, and Luis Valenzuela, 45, pled no contest to two counts each of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation. They were immediately sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen. In additional to their 25 year sentences, both were ordered to lifetime sex registration.

After becoming partners, the two officers sexually assaulted women at various locations between 2008 and 2011. All four women, who ranged in age from 19 to 34, were involved in narcotics-related investigations with the officers when they were assaulted.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division, Special Assault Section, charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court and assigned case #BA444092.