Case Intel
- What jumps out — A federal grand jury in Fresno returned a five-count indictment against retired Fresno County Superior Court Judge Adolfo M. Corona, 66, alleging sexual assault of a court employee and efforts to cover up that incident and another alleged assault.
- Why this matters — The Justice Department says the former judge not only misled investigators about a March 2024 stairwell encounter but also tried to shape records to support an alibi in a separate 2023 episode.
- The parallel track — Corona already faces a state indictment unsealed in September 2024 tied to the March 2024 incident; that case has seen trial delays into 2025.
By SAMUEL LOPEZ · USA HERALD — August 23, 2025
FRESNO, CA – The Justice Department announced Friday that a Fresno grand jury charged Corona with sexually assaulting a court employee (Victim 1), making false statements, and obstructing an investigation into allegations he assaulted another court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant, and FBI SAC Siddhartha Patel announced the charges. Justice Department
According to the indictment, on March 14, 2024, while still on the bench, Corona led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where the assault occurred. Investigators say he later gave conflicting explanations about why he was there and what happened.
