Hearing for ex-Yuma cop delayed
A preliminary hearing for a former Yuma police officer who has been charged in an alleged sexual assault while off-duty in San Diego in September has once again been continued, according to a San Diego County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson.
Thursday’s hearing for Jared Elkins — which was to be held in the downtown Superior Courthouse — had already been rescheduled from its original date of March 22, with both having been vacated.
According to Steve Walker, Deputy Communications Director, the hearing was continued. A new preliminary hearing date has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 19.
A preliminary hearing is best described as a “trial before the trial” at which the judge decides, not whether the defendant is “guilty” or “not guilty,” but whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Elkins, who had been a seven-year member of the force, was charged on Nov. 17 with eight felony sex crimes, including forcible rape and rape of an intoxicated person. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He is also no longer employed by the city, having tendered his resignation on Jan. 2.
Elkins, who was off-duty at the time, was arrested the morning of Sept. 15 in the Kensington area of San Diego.
According to San Diego police, officers responded to the 4700 block of Marlborough Drive shortly before 4:30 a.m. that morning after receiving a phone call from the 23-year-old victim’s mother claiming that a Yuma police officer had raped her daughter.
When officers arrived, the victim was visibly intoxicated court documents indicate.
Elkins was booked later into the San Diego County jail. He was released on $100,000 bail later that same day. The relationship between Elkins and the victim has not been made public.