Cop guilty of misdemeanor abuse gets probation

Chula Vista Police Officer Roman Granados avoided jail time last week after a San Diego Superior Court judge sentenced him to four years probation for physically abusing his girlfriend’s then 16-year-old son in June 2014.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Matthew C. Braner said Granados, as a police officer, should know better and said his actions against the teen were “serious” and, as part of his sentence, Granados must complete 52 weeks of child abuse-focused therapy and pay a $764 fine — $50 of which was included for a disturbing the peace charge.

Braner also ordered Granados to pick up trash on the side of the highway for 45 days.

A criminal protective order also remains in effect for the duration of probation.

Granados had to give up all the guns and ammunition in his possession under a previous order.

The court ruled Granados must stay at least 100 yards away from Matthew McCormick Jr. and is prohibited from any electronic or personal communication with him.

Granados, 48, cannot posses any guns or ammunition when not at work.

As of Wednesday, Granados remained on paid administrative leave from the city of Chula Vista.

In addressing the court for the first time, McCormick Jr., now 18, said that what Granados did to him still haunts him.

“Waking up in the morning, after nightmares, reliving the attacks was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” McCormick Jr. told the judge. “Because in my mind, I keep reliving every day, playing back what you did … you have changed my life Mr. Granados, you beat me in two unforeseen and unprovoked attacks.”

McCormick Jr. said he had to move away from Chula Vista to rebuild his life.

He said he’s been attending counseling to help him overcome the psychological effects from the incident.
McCormick Jr. said Granados grabbed him behind his neck, slammed him into a wall, punched him and then ran off.

McCormick said Granados then came back and choked him, only to run off again during his sister’s sixth-grade promotion ceremony at Chula Vista Hills Elementary School last year.

Initially the boy declined medical attention but later checked himself into a local hospital after experiencing head pain, police said.

McCormick Jr. said he has no ill will toward Granados and hopes he gets the treatment he needs so hat he won’t harm anyone else.

The man’s father, however, wasn’t as forgiving.

“The look in my son’s teary eyes when he explained to me what happened was so saddening,” Matthew McCormick Sr. said. “It took hours for me to be able to try to understand how another dad could do such unexplainable things to a child.”

Chula Vista Police Chief David Bejarano said he respects the court’s sentence that was imposed on Granados.
Police Capt. Lon Turner said an administrative investigation into the off-duty incident has been completed.

Court papers show that the department completed its administrative investigation in October 2014. Based on their investigation it was recommended that Granados be terminated from the police department.

Turner said Granados is still entitled to due process through the civil service commission.

Bejarano said state law prevents him from discussing what actions the department may take against Granados.

“But I can assure you that all Chula Vista Police employees are held accountable for any incidents involving sustained inappropriate behavior or conduct in violation of the law,” he said. “Obviously we hold our people accountable.”