Disgraced former San Jose councilmember Omar Torres has pleaded “no contest” to charges he molested a minor relative in the 1990s – on the same day downtown residents vote for his replacement in a special election. Torres made the plea in Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Sevely’s courtroom Tuesday. The 43-year-old ex-councilmember faces...
San Jose leader made unusual move to change staff email addresses
A San Jose politician directed the city to change the email addresses of three staffers who went to work for a colleague, an unusual move that comes after she was accused of turning a blind eye to child sex abuse allegations against a former councilmember. District 1 Councilmember Rosemary Kamei has seen an exodus of...
Ex-San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres pleads not guilty
Disgraced former San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is pleading not guilty to child molestation charges as attempts to reach a settlement appear to have failed. Torres entered the plea at the main county courthouse Monday morning after his decision dragged out for months. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Cynthia A. Sevely set a preliminary...
Disgraced San Jose official could settle, attorney says
The plea hearing for disgraced former San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres has been delayed to next month, but his attorney said his client is willing to accept responsibility. Torres appeared at the main county courthouse Friday morning, but his hearing was delayed until Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. The former District 3 leader, who resigned...
San Jose LGBTQ+ community grapples with Omar Torres scandal
The allegations were hard to believe. Initial reports of a child sex abuse investigation into San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres reeked of a political smear to his supporters, who had yet to see key details, in early October. For more than a year, the District 3 official faced incessant online vitriol for being an openly...
San Jose Councilman Omar Torres denied bail
San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres was denied bail on Thursday amid an ongoing child sex abuse investigation. Torres, who resigned from City Council effective Nov. 27, faces a maximum 24 years in jail if convicted on three felony counts of child molestation, which came after his Election Day arrest. Police are continuing their investigation of...
San Jose vice mayor warned about Omar Torres — and did nothing
Another top San Jose political leader was contacted about Councilmember Omar Torres — now facing charges of molestation and child sex crimes — more than a year before his downfall. Screenshots obtained by San José Spotlight shows a tipster — who had been in a sexual relationship with Torres — sent Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei...
San Jose official opts for appointment to replace disgraced colleague
San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez is calling for an appointment to replace disgraced colleague Omar Torres, whose recent arrest and resignation could have business and labor interests dueling to tip the City Council’s balance of power. Jimenez wants his colleagues to interview replacement candidates and appoint someone at a special meeting, ideally by Dec. 27....
San Jose Councilman Omar Torres sodomized cousin, documents show
San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres allegedly sexually abused and sodomized his cousin when his relative was as young as 13, new police records obtained by San José Spotlight have revealed. The disturbing new details emerge as Torres faces three felony counts of child sexual assault, according to new court documents released after his stunning arrest...
San Jose police arrest Councilman Omar Torres
Story updated Nov. 6 at 9:27 a.m. Original story published Nov. 5 at 4:40 p.m. San Jose police have arrested Councilmember Omar Torres, his attorney confirmed to San José Spotlight. The attorney said on Tuesday that Torres had been “picked up,” and will be arraigned Wednesday. SJPD confirmed Torres was taken into custody as part...