Cop pleads not guilty

Chula Vista Police Officer Roman Granados appeared in court Monday for his arraignment, as his attorney submitted a not guilty plea on his behalf for allegedly beating up his girlfriend’s 16-year-old son.

Granados, a 14-year veteran of the Chula Vista Police Department, faces a maximum of one-year in a San Diego jail as he confronts two misdemeanor charges of battery and two counts of cruelty to a child.

“He’s not guilty of the charges so he pleaded not guilty,” said defense attorney Robert Baumann, with the law firm Adams, Ferrone and Ferrone. “So my assumption is this may go to trial.”

Deputy District Attorney Ryan Kirkenney said he anticipated the not guilty plea.

“On a case like this, that (not guilty plea) was expected,” he said.

The incident occurred on June 5 after a promotion ceremony at Chula Vista Hills Elementary School, where according to the victim’s father, Granados “punched and choked” the teenage boy without provocation.

Initially, the boy had declined medical attention but later checked himself into a local hospital after experiencing head pain, said Chula Vista Police Capt. Lon Turner.

“My son has been through a lot, a lot, because of what this man did,” said the victim’s father Matthew McCormick.

“We are going to make sure that he is prosecuted. No father likes to see their son attacked by a man unprovoked.”

A criminal protective order remains in place.

“Mr. Granados has already been advised of a protective order,” said Commissioner Terrie Roberts.  “That order remains, protecting the victim in the protective order.”

The protective order prohibits Granados from contacting with the teenager in person, over the Internet or through electronic communication.

As part of the order, the officer cannot own, maintain or posses a fire arm.

Turner said Granados is currently on paid administrative assignment at the police department.

A week after the incident a judge granted a restraining order for the victim against Granados.

The order states that Granados must stay 100-yards away from the boy.

The boy also filed a restraining order against his mother, Blanca Jimenez, whom he said was also abusive during the incident.

A hearing for the restraining order was continued last week to January.

The district attorney’s office has not brought any criminal charges against Jimenez.

A readiness conference is scheduled for Nov. 18, with a Feb. 24 trial.