Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner pleaded guilty to a felony criminal charge for false imprisonment and two misdemeanor counts of battery after an ongoing probe conducted by the State Attorney General's office, NBC San Diego reported.
Filner pleaded guilty to three charges at the Superior Court in San Diego. The charges involve victims identified by court officials as "Jane Does 1, 2 and 3." There were three separate instances where the former mayor acted inappropriately and made unwarranted advances to women. 19 women in six weeks had gone public with allegations that Filner made sexual advances toward them, which included lewd comments and 'unwanted' touching, news reports said.
The felony count involves allegations of "false imprisonment by violence, fraud, menace and deceit."
Filner will serve three years of probation and home confinement for three months as well as "undergo treatment by a mental health professional while on probation," news reports said. He may face up to 6 months in jail if he violates probation.
"No one is above the law. The conduct was not only criminal, it was also an extreme abuse of power. This prosecution is about consequence and accountability," said Attorney General Kamala Harris. Her office is conducting an ongoing criminal probe against Filner.
Judge Robert Trentcosta set the formal sentencing for December 9.
Gloria Allred, who filed a civil lawsuit against Filner on behalf of his former director of communication, hailed prosecutors for bring charges forward.
"His conduct as the mayor of San Diego was reprehensible, and justice demands that he be punished for the harm he has caused to countless women who trusted and believed in him,' Allred said by email, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.
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