S.F. deputy charged in domestic violence case

A San Francisco sheriff’s deputy has been charged with domestic violence after he slapped and choked a woman who he had an “on and off ” relationship with, the district attorney’s office said Monday.

Jonathan Espiritu, 49, pleaded not guilty to two counts of domestic violence, one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of stalking, one count of domestic battery and other charges at his arraignment Monday, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office said that Espiritu became “increasingly possessive” when the woman tried to end the relationship between them. The charges stemmed from three separate incidents between the two, according to the DA’s office.

During the first incident, on Aug. 14, 2023, Espiritu choked the victim in her home when she tried to end their relationship, the DA’s office said. The second incident occurred on Dec. 8, 2023, when Espiritu attacked the victim at her workplace, the DA’s office said. During the third incident on March 7, Espiritu slapped the woman in a car and threatened to kill himself if she reported him to authorities, according to the DA’s office.

The woman finally reported the abuse on April 3 when she discovered a tracking device on her car, according to the DA’s office. Police arrested Espiritu that same day “in close proximity to where the victim was filing the report,” the DA’s office said.

A judge granted a motion from the DA’s office to detain Espiritu without bail pending a trial in his case after they argued he is a public safety risk. His next court date is scheduled for April 19.

“I would like to thank the survivor in this case for coming forward and reporting these crimes to law enforcement,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “My office will now do everything we can to ensure that there is accountability, and that justice is served.”