Between September 10, 2023, and October 1, 2023, defendant Elijah Edwards (Case #23MI016007) drove around various parking lots in the Natomas area and grabbed five separate women on their buttocks. The incidents occurred in the parking lots of Safeway, Walmart, PetSmart and HomeGoods. All five women reported similar descriptions of the perpetrator and his vehicle. On October 1, 2024, Sacramento police officers were able to locate Edwards based on descriptions provided by two victims who were grabbed that day. Officers arrested Edwards after he admitted to grabbing the victims. Edwards also stated it occurred six times over the last two months and that he was sexually aroused from grabbing the women. On October 9, 2023, the District Attorney's Office charged Edwards with five counts of sexual battery.
During a pre-trial conference held on August 12, 2024, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Allison Zuvela indicated she would give Edwards a Deferred Entry of Judgement (DEJ) where the case would be dismissed after Edwards completed a simple program. The District Attorney's Office informed the judge that the court's plea deal was illegal under the law pursuant to penal code section 290. Furthermore, diversion would not allow the five victims their right to have their voices heard pre-plea agreement. The subsequent dismissal would also protect Edwards from having to register as a sex offender. If Edwards commits another similar sex offense, the dismissal would prevent the District Attorney's Office from charging him with a felony.
Despite being aware of the illegal nature of the plea and the People's vehement objection, Judge Allison Zuvela extended the offer to Edwards who accepted the plea deal.
"Our office vehemently opposed the Court's illegal offer and informed the judge accordingly," said District Attorney Thien Ho. "The judge's decision to move forward with her illegal offer denied the victims their ability to have a voice before the plea was made, does not hold the defendant accountable and places our community at risk of a serial sexual batterer."
The next court date is on August 19, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 16 for victim impact statements.
Sacramento District Attorney's Office