Trial in Former Salem Police Officer Sex Abuse Case Continues

The defendant says only consensual sex occurred, but the prosecutor says that when a police officer wears a uniform and carries a gun, it automatically constitutes "use of force."

(SALEM, Ore.) - The trial of former Salem Police officer Sterling Alexander entered its third day today, in the Marion County courtroom of Judge Albin Norblad. He faces charges in three separate cases; in which two of the alleged victims are described as former acquaintances and one was a co-worker with the city of Salem.

Prosecutor Jodie Bureta says that Alexander forced the three women to commit sexual acts with him while he was a police officer. One of the victims was 17-years old at the time of the alleged act. The other two women were adults. The three have all offered some courtroom testimony about the alleged crimes at this point.

Bureta played an audio tape for the jury today that was a copy of an interview police conducted with Alexander. In the interview he admits to having had consensual sex with the girl, then seems startled when it is disclosed that she was 17. The defendant says he had no knowledge that she was a minor, but Bureta says that can't be true, because Sterling Alexander initially met the girl by taking a police report from her which disclosed her age.

Alexander and the alleged victim met after she witnessed a crime and then was threatened by the suspect because she turned it into police. That alleged threat is what caused Salem PD to send another officer to investigate, and the officer was Sterling Alexander.

She describes a casual relationship with Sterling Alexander that began that day, was based in his general concern for her well being and safety, purely platonic. As a Salem Police officer, Alexander gave the girl his business card which included his cell phone number. After that, the two began conversing. But the woman says it was all comforting and never anything else until the day in question.

The alleged crime happened during broad daylight while Alexander was giving the girl a ride to court, where she was going to testify as a witness regarding the crime she had earlier reported.

Newspaper accounts previously depicted Alexander as having offered the girl a ride to court, and that he told her to wear a dress. Testimony from the alleged victim however, indicates that it was she who phoned Alexander and asked him for a ride, and that she asked him what she should wear because she had never been in court before. It was at that point that Alexander reportedly told the girl that she should dress well and suggested she wear a dress or a skirt for court.

The jury has to decide if Sterling Alexander, one of the distinctly few African-American police officers in this area who claimed before any of these charges were lodged against him that he was the victim of racial attacks in the police department, is guilty. Did he befriend this girl, treat her kindly, and then pull over and rape her before dropping her off at court, where he knew she would be surrounded by police and court officers?

It is for them to decide. Advocates for this embattled former police officer say that would be out of character for Alexander, who was a military policeman before becoming a police officer in Oregon. But the sexual act that is alleged is something Alexander admits happened, consensually, and he says he thought that she was an adult. The prosecution says they aren't buying it.

Another alleged victim who testified today says she too was befriended by Sterling Alexander almost six years ago when he was a Stayton, Oregon Police officer. She describes Alexander as a friend who used to cruise by her duplex in his police car and she would walk out to the street to visit him. Alexander is accused of raping this woman, but by her own testimony she was not forced, and she did not say "no" to his advances.

She says she participated in the sex act because she had revealed to Alexander as a friend that she was having underage drinking parties at her house, and he is alleged to have told her that her child could be removed by state authorities over the alcohol use.

When asked, the woman says she didn't stop having drinking parties with other minors, in spite of having been warned by Sterling Alexander. When Lafky asked her why, she said, "Because I like to hang out with my friends and they drank."

Then she says that one night Alexander shined his spotlight on her bedroom window which she said he had done before to let her know that he was there. He then is alleged to have entered her house in uniform and kissed her. She says she replied, "Can't you get into trouble for that?"

The alleged victim testified that Alexander told her he would return the next morning after he finished his shift at 6:00 AM. The next morning the woman says she was sleeping on her couch when he returned in civilian clothes and knocked on the door. The woman says she let Alexander in.

Citing her fear of losing her child over the underage drinking parties, she says she complied with Alexander's demands. She testified today that he told her to take her clothes off and she initially hesitated. She mentioned repeatedly that she was afraid that her kids would be taken away, so she ultimately had sex with him.

The underage drinking parties according to the woman, are not something Alexander witnessed. It had only been part of a conversation between them and Alexander had not personally seen any of the alleged drinking activity.

"I didn't want to make him mad and I didn't want to get into trouble," she stated in regard to why she allowed him back inside after his alleged unsolicited kiss the night before. She said she "did kiss him back" and that she was not physically forced to comply with the sexual intercourse.

Bureta says that a police officer's actions are unlike those of civilians, in that wearing a uniform and carrying a gun she says they automatically constitute a "use of force, even when the act is committed against another police officer."

That seems to be the angle in bringing charges against Alexander in the third case, which involves a former city employee who worked as one of the "redshirts" or downtown Community Enforcement officers. The woman says she desperately wanted to become a police officer and that is one of the main reasons she cites for why she complied with Alexander's wishes to have her perform oral sex on him. This woman is the third alleged victim and also the most recent.

This is another interesting situation as the incident was already reviewed by Salem Police and the woman received disciplinary action. Deputy Chief Steve Bellshaw of Salem Police testified that they did not pursue it as a criminal matter at the time because the alleged victim/participant did not want to press the matter. Sterling Alexander was not disciplined at that point as a city employee because he had already resigned his position with Salem Police.

Exactly where this alleged crime occurred is the biggest question facing the court, because the area where this is stated to have occurred is actually in West Salem, which is in Polk County, and would consequently have to be tried in that court system.

The prosecution said that they had an investigator take the alleged victim to the place where it happened yesterday, which she had originally stated was on either Glen Creek or Orchard Heights, and now says it happened in the 3000 block of Eola.

The prosecutor in this case faces a problem if the case is in Polk County, a situation that apparently was not given strong consideration before the case began. The matter raises a big question about double jeopardy; a person can not be charged twice with the same crime, so it looked like the prosecution might be watching this one slip away.

But Jodie Bureta stated today that in cases where there is a potential conflict of venue like this, the case can be tried in the first county, providing it happened within one mile of the county line.

As the alleged victim now recalls a new location on Eola, it appears to be within one mile of the county line. The original locations she had stated were both clearly beyond the county line.

Lafky also said that a GIS Analyst from Marion County who testified today did not have adequate findings as far as the mile mark went, on a map that was being used to demonstrate the 'under a mile' proximity. Even with the alleged victim's newer, closer location, the question of whether it is under or over a mile depends on what a person considers to be the center of the Willamette River.

"You say the county line is in the middle of the Willamette River, but you show it here going across a bank," Lafky told the witness. It looks like the exact location of the alleged sexual contact between Alexander and the city employee will be a matter of ongoing arguments.

Unlike the first two alleged victims, the woman in this case says she knew Sterling well and had considered him a flirt. She admits having many contacts with Sterling Alexander and that she continued to spend time around him even though she says sex was a frequent subject.

The woman says that on the day of the alleged crime, she went for a ride-along with Sterling Alexander and from all accounts they were both being sexually forward with one another and she admits each of them reaching into the other's lap and making 'through the clothing' contact with each other's private areas.

Lafky asked Bellshaw why the case was not vigorously prosecuted in the beginning, instead of sitting for ten months. Bellshaw replied that the alleged victim was not interested in pressing any charges in the matter. "We try to take into account the victim's feelings," he said.

Lafky then led the Salem Deputy Chief down a road of questioning that brought up how, in recent years, police have changed policies that allowed a victim to "just drop charges against a suspect." Bellshaw explained that there are still cases where a witness is reluctant or refuses to testify, and that police do come into contact with charges that they ultimately can not pursue because they lack evidence or witness cooperation.

As one former police officer is tried for crimes, a different allegation is at hand as well; the ethics of the police investigation itself have been called into question by Defense Attorney Kevin Lafky over a series of police inter-office emails.

He says those and other emails indicate that Salem Police were actively involved in investigating the case for an extended period of time, even after it had been assigned to Oregon State Police to avoid a conflict of interest.

Lafky says they tell more than that though, as he produced the email from Terri Cassebarth to Salem Police Lt. Steve Bellshaw which read: "Tell Jeff to work harder and name his price - Desperate for another victim."

Lafky says the statement that former Salem Police Sgt. Jeff Barnes "work hard and name his price" could be an indicator of the police actually paying a witness to testify.

When asked about the statement, Bellshaw said it was meant in a way like, "I'm buying dinner for the first person to break this case" and not as a direct reference to paying a witness. Lafky did not pursue the matter today. When Bureta questioned Bellshaw about it, she asked the question, "Did you pay for a witness?" to which Bellshaw replied "No."

Bellshaw says he was a liaison officer in the case who was charged with being the go-between with the two agencies. But throughout a large part of the investigation, it seems Jeff Barnes, the former Salem Police Sergeant, may have been very active in the case, trying to convince the second victim, known as "a family friend" to testify. Bellshaw says Barnes spent his personal time on the case and not his official on the clock police time.

Lafky asked why Bellshaw found it necessary to be in the middle of the conversations between the OSP investigator and Barnes, who was working on the case in his private time. "They had different schedules" Bellshaw explained, saying that Jeff Barnes was working as an undercover drug officer.

"I think that in this day and age with cell phones and email that they could have communicated," Lafky replied, pushing his point about how a liaison and an investigator appear in this case to be doing similar work.

Lafky says his client did not have forcible sex with any of the victims. Spokesman for Alexander "Skip" Osborne says they will demonstrate that Sterling Alexander has been investigated and prosecuted unfairly and that both police agencies appear to be the subject of a major legal conflict of interest when it comes to this case.

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Corvallis Girl June 12, 2007 10:22 am (Pacific time)

This is the last blog I am going to write only because things are getting way too out of control. First off, there should be no reason that anyone should be attacking these girls. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH. All you are doing to them is victimizing these women again. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE DOING THAT. You do need to realize that just because you don't like these girls for whatever reason doesn't make it ok for you to say anything to them or against them. You honestly don't know these people and for that reason is a good reason for you to stop and grow up. Be adults, this isn't high school unless you are still in high school but none the less it needs to stop. I don't know these girls but I sure do like the fact that them and their loyal friends are defending them(selves) against your harassment. I will tell you something, these girls obviously have a lot of guts to be doing what they are doing. I give them props. I also want to thank them because for some of us mature ADULTS, that lets us know that there are people who are out there that are strong and can move on from the things that hold us back for so long. It's a milestone for these women because now they can live on with their lives without worry or wonder. All of it is out now and there nothing you can say or do that will put all this back away. That man, well I can't call him a man for what he did, whether he gets convicted (which i hope and pray to god he does) or not, there is this thing called karma and this goes to you girls out there that are attacking these women... Karma will find you at some point in your life when you least expect it. I can say from experience, karma sometimes is almost worst then being thrown in jail for the rest of your life. Cause with karma you have no idea what hits you until it slaps you in the face. I hope to see that these girls get justice for what he did to them. TO THE WOMEN WHO ARE PROTECTING THEIR LIVES... you are strong and you will now be able to move on and be happy. I will have to say thank you so very much for being strong when some of us can't. I wish that I knew you ladies so I could give you a hug and just to meet you. You are an inspiration to some of us. Keep going on strong and don't let this get you down and keep on telling these girls that they need to grow up and just maybe they get it through their small minded heads.

SMP Crime Spree June 12, 2007 7:15 am (Pacific time)

Sad fact that Salem PD is such a mess. Alexander isn't the first one to get disciplined for sex on duty and neither was Robb McCracken. That needs to be addressed. Even if Alexander did not commit "rape", which I think he did, he still has no business being a police officer due to his disgustingly poor judgment. We all need to keep in mind that no one thought Tacoma, Washington PD was the corrupt cesspool that it was until Chief David Brame executed his wife in front of their children. It is only a matter of time until something that horrible happens in Salem if things don't change. Do you know that the Internal Affairs Officer position is one that officers rotate in and out of, they have ever reason to defend other officers from that position, they may need them in the future when they are back on the road. Just something to think about. And for those of you threatening and harassing sexual assault victims, I only hope you never have to live through what they have!

Anonymous June 11, 2007 11:41 pm (Pacific time)

KJ, I got your back. Glad to hear there a few educated people still here in Stayton. Its very entertaining to see the "alleged victim(s)" and there "friends" sticking up for them on here. I wonder if they will be running their mouths just the same when the verdict is handed down and Sterling Alexander is found: INNOCENT! I know I'll be there.

sad June 11, 2007 6:07 pm (Pacific time)

KJ The 17 year old never lied about her age. How could she he had her date of birth!!!!! Hello! Also she told the other police that the other young man TOLD HER HE WAS GOING TO RAPE HER!!! Which is what he did so thanks but you weren't there obviously if you missed the testimony by the police officers that took the report. BTW You should look up the other young mans criminal history you would be surprised. That and you have no idea how much the 17year old sacrificed for the other young man.

don't run your mouth!!! June 11, 2007 5:58 pm (Pacific time)

you really need to learn your P's and Q's time to grow up KJ! Leave those girls alone!! If you have such a problem with them why don't you tell them to her face!!! It's not fair what he did to those girls!!!So don't open your mouth KJ!!! You can get into big trouble! So what are you going to do to the stayton women try and hurt her? Your crazy and leave her alone!! Grow up.... It's not agaisnt the law for these women to go on myspae!!! Grow up ...

Corvallis Girl June 11, 2007 12:05 pm (Pacific time)

Jerks- you are right, the names of the victims will never be released out to the public besides by those who testified against the girls. I know for a fact that they are out there telling the world and having a hay day thinking that they are mature adults. I hate to be the one to break the news to them but they aren't mature. They are being childish and they do need to grow up. N-B: Why in the world would these women just decide to pick and choose the same man to go after if all they wanted was 15 seconds. Think about it, if thats what they really wanted they would allow the paper to print their names and then some, don't you think? Anonymous- Yeah, you may have been "one" of his ex's but not the key ex. Trust me, if she would have gone up there she would have told it like it is. Unfortunately, that's why he backed out after the fact the he PROMISED his people he was going to testify. KJ- How can you label someone on here as the stayton girl. I don't think you should assume because you don't even know. I'm sure that all the girls have computer access. Also, not a smart idea to threaten someone over a blog. Even though they are going through a hard time doesn't mean that they have to put a hault on there life. Do you not realized that is how some people communicate with family or friends that don't live close enough to be their support? Do you not realized that their lives DO NOT have to stop because of this. They are being strong for what they have done. Don't disrespect these women because they are sticking up for themselves. ONE MORE THING FOR YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT... "YOUR PAST IS YOUR PAST FOR A REASON. SOME PEOPLES PASTS CAN HAUNT THEIR EVERYDAYS LIVES UNTIL IT IS FINALLY PUT TO REST. LET THEM BE ABLE TO MOVE ON AND LIVE A HAPPY LIFE."

ConspiracyMan June 11, 2007 10:40 am (Pacific time)

WHats up with this????? On cross-examination, defense attorney Kevin Lafky asked the detectives about e-mails and phone calls Cassebarth had made to Salem officers while investigating the third victim to come forward, a single mother in Stayton. Lafky produced e-mails in which Cassebarth asked a ranking Salem officer, then-Lt. Steve Bellshaw, to press Barnes to get the woman to talk. "Tell Jeff to work harder and name his price," Cassebarth wrote in an e-mail to Bellshaw. "Desperate for another victim." Cassebarth characterized the "price" as something like coffee, lunch or interviewing a witness Barnes might need for a later case.

KJ June 11, 2007 10:11 am (Pacific time)

These girls are supposed to be going through this awful experience but they still have time to play around on myspace and talk to each other HMMM starting to smell like fish around here!!!

KJ June 11, 2007 9:55 am (Pacific time)

Sad: You said you were there in the courtroom and you believed Stayton Girl and Sunflowergirl has issues. I was a spectator also and I think you missed the part about the 17 yr old lying about her age and how she falsely accused another young man of rape in Keizer just a year ago.. Good ol Stayton gossip talk..

KJ FAN June 11, 2007 9:08 am (Pacific time)

Thank you KJ for standing up for someone. I am sorry that she cheated on you. Maybe we should hit the bar.

sad about it all June 11, 2007 9:05 am (Pacific time)

I am sorry that any of this ever happened to anyone. I just hope that the jury does the right thing. What ever that may be for this case. It is hard to judge someone else's fate. The line between guilt and innocence can be sometimes blurry. They also were talking alot about inconsistencies in the statements but it is hard to remember every conversation that a person has ever had. I just wish that maybe the ex that has been on here would be smart enough to realize that even if one of the women was not being truthful that there are 3. Three women who didn;t know that any of the others existed. So don't push one vics supposed wrong doing on to the other two. I agree that the Stayton woman and the ride along woman had some issues but the 17 year old? She was the only one that I actually believed sitting in the court room. I don't know about anyone else but just the way that she carried herself and the fear in her eyes made me side with her. Now I don't know if I am right but I believe her. It is a sad time in life when you cannot even trust the police to be the good guys. But look at what todays society has come to. Also the fact that he did not testify has me concerned too. He told all the media and made a big thing about having nothing to hide and then at the last min. decided that he must not testify. I think that was a little weird and inconsistent to what he had previously stated. Everyone here has some sort of inconsistency but that is life and also human nature.

KJ June 10, 2007 5:01 pm (Pacific time)

I live in Stayton and I know the so called alleged victim. I also know one of Sterlings ex who also lives in Stayton. I heard she was trying to get in on his case too. A scorned woman. Both should keep their mouths shut. So called victim has issues a mile long. Right Ms. Shocker!!! and the ex is paddleing the same type of boat. Cheated on her ex hubby didnt you dear. So ladies see you at the bar sometime...

rightwinger June 9, 2007 2:59 pm (Pacific time)

When he's convicted, he can all the sex he wants in prison. What an embarrassment to police

Anonymous June 9, 2007 1:28 pm (Pacific time)

jerks aka stayton woman-His ex did testify! sorry you werent in the courtroom when I was on the stand. Sexual pics with prostitutes on the digital camera. You need to ask Jodi Bureta for that report because you have been mistakingly informed. I would be careful if I were you the things you are saying on here as this trial is not over!

Marco June 9, 2007 10:42 am (Pacific time)

This cop should be jailed for having sex on the job, regardless of whether or not there was consent. We're not paying him our tax dollars to have sex on the job.

Role Model June 9, 2007 8:49 am (Pacific time)

Consensual or not, this guy has a lot of persuasiveness at his disposal because of his position. He's packing hard metal that could shoot hot lead into his victims. Bottom line, he used his postion for sex. He's just another loser.

ML June 8, 2007 10:19 pm (Pacific time)

Bring in his ex's!!! Maybe bring in the girls ex's to find a pattern for them! If the rape did occur, I am sorry... I truly don't believe it did. When you come out and charge someone with rape, of course you will be questioned to see if you did anything to instigate it; not that you deserve to get raped. I'm just saying that you should not start anything that you cannot finish because it seems these women were playing sexual games with sterling according to their stories. According to the girl's testimonies, these girls had CONSENTUAL sex, if they had sex at all. You guys need to look at their past since they are the ones accusing also! As far as the location on that one incident, come on!! How can you not remember where it happened? I really hope that the truth comes out soon so that those that are lying can be punished for their crimes.

Jerks June 8, 2007 10:10 pm (Pacific time)

They would have brought his exes in to the picture but since he refused to testify we were unable to. The DA could not use them because he would not defend himself to the accusations. What does that tell you. There was a lot that the judge deemed inadmissible about sterling. Such as a jewelry case that is pending. And the pictures of the sex acts with prostitutes on his police digital camera. Is that enough for you? N-B? I wish that you could have been there n-b because you would have learned alot. I also would be willing to bet that the NAACP is not thrilled because he promised everyone that he was innocent and that he was going to take the stand because he had nothing to hide. Well apparently he did because the defense rested their case and he DID NOT TESTIFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not buying it June 8, 2007 4:29 pm (Pacific time)

you really don't know what you are talking about! I think these women are going threw a lot! They don't need people trying to trash them because of what sterling did to them! Why don't they bring his X girlfriends into the picture and she if he has a pattern!!!!!!

Jerks June 8, 2007 3:31 pm (Pacific time)

I hate to break it to you N-B but the names of the accusers will never be released. We have the right to remain out of the public eye as much as possible. Also we as victims are not looking to have out 15 seconds of fame. That is the last thing on our minds. All we want is justice for the crimes committed against us. We have said our piece and now it is in the hands of a jury to decide the fate of Sterling Alexander. I wish that you and other narrow minded individuals like yourself would take a step back and realize that there are bad apples in every profession. If I were you I would think about what if this hit a little closer to home for you? What if it was your friend, family member, mother that this happened to. Would you want justice for the pain and humiliation that they faced? And not want people spreading rumors and talking bad about them to their backs? I would hope so. I cannot speak for the other vics but I know what that man did to me. I know that he is Guilty of at least that. I will not speak for the other vics because I was not there. Now I am not saying that I do not believe them but I was not there or directly involved so I have no right to make a decision about his guilt in those matters. Please just try to remember that we do read these and it does hurt when people say things like you have said in your comments. Also I have not done anything to be charged with the defamation of Mr. Alexander's character.

Not buying it June 8, 2007 3:04 pm (Pacific time)

I agree that the 17 year old is of some concern, but there are a lot of inconsistancies and missing pieces here. I am sure Sterling isn't a saint, and that he's probably done some things wrong in his life. Haven't we all? But it's very apparent that these women are far from being saints also. If the two women were truly not antagonizing his flirtation, shouldn't they have told him NO? I can appreciate that it is hard to come forward after abuse, but the sunflower seed games, inviting him back to your home... if they were at all uncomfortable, sunflower woman should have told him to stop, after all, she asked for the ride along with him, not vice versa. And Stayton woman should have made an excuse as to why he couldn't come back over after work (I need to go to work -or- my son is sick). Just some more of my cynical rambling...

Raven June 8, 2007 1:33 pm (Pacific time)

It is really hard to say that two of the women were forced, when they actually consented to the act. Hard to believe that those parts are even included in the evidence, especially since one of them did this act to "further her career". Although the issue with the 17 year old is very concerning.....

Not buying it June 8, 2007 10:42 am (Pacific time)

Henry- Once names are released, many people will see where I am coming from with my opinions/thoughts. I am truly interested to see where this all goes.

Henry Ruark June 8, 2007 9:24 am (Pacific time)

N-Buying: Worth noting that women's opportunity you illuminate comes only by fact of attack on onetime colleague from former force-served by the attackee. This is "universal pattern" for nearly all such incidents.

Not buying it June 8, 2007 8:29 am (Pacific time)

Based on what I see in both S-N's articles and S-J's articles, a few women are trying to have their 15 seconds of fame, at someone elses expense. May the truth prevail and if Sterling IS innocent, may the defense consider pursuing the plaintiffs for defamation of charachter.

comment June 8, 2007 7:45 am (Pacific time)

"but the prosecutor says that when a police officer wears a uniform and carries a gun, it automatically constitutes "use of force." That must mean every day there are thousands of rapes occurring all over US as military and law enforcement personnel have sex with their spouses! Yikes! A crime spree!

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Trial in Former Salem Police Officer Sex Abuse Case Continues

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