This morning a barrage of media greeted the 17-year veteran San
Jose police officer from Gilroy who is accused of engaging in
sexual activities with two teen Gilroy boys. Patrick D’Arrigo, 44,
pleaded not guilty to three counts of unlawful sexual contact with
minors which allegedly occurred in April 2009 when the victims,
Gilroy residents, were 15 and 17 years old.
A barrage of media Friday morning greeted the 17-year veteran San Jose police officer from Gilroy who is accused of engaging in sexual activities with two teen Gilroy boys. Patrick D’Arrigo, 44, pleaded not guilty to three counts of unlawful sexual contact with minors which allegedly occurred in April 2009 when the victims, Gilroy residents, were 15 and 17 years old.
If convicted, D’Arrigo faces three years and eight months in prison. He is currently on paid administrative leave from SJPD.
At least a dozen members of the media, many with TV news cameras in hand, bombarded D’Arrigo and his attorney Brian Madden when he arrived at 10:15 a.m. to the Hall of Justice on West Hedding Street in San Jose.
Dressed in a black suit and tie and sunglasses, D’Arrigo never said a word to anyone while walking into the building nor did he speak after his arraignment. A crowd followed him down Hedding Street for about a block.
Deputy District Attorney Stuart Scott, who is prosecuting the D’Arrigo case, said D’Arrigo met a teenage boy through Craigslist in December 2008, who later introduced D’Arrigo to the alleged victims – a 15-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy.
D’Arrigo allegedly bought gifts for the teen boys, including a $300 iPod in 2008. And it was between December 2008 and January 2009 that he had several parties at his home at 883 Alder Street in Gilroy where he provided alcohol to four teen boys, and allegedly engaged in sexual activities with two of the teens.
“I want everyone to keep in mind the presumption of innocence during this case,” Scott said Friday after the arraignment. “We expect there to be more evidence,” he added.
According to the indictment, several computers, flash drives and cell phones were taken during the search of D’Arrigo’s home by GPD on Wednesday.
The four teen boys testified Tuesday in front of the grand jury and the indictment was handed out Wednesday, according to Scott.
D’Arrigo was arrested on a $100,000 warrant Wednesday at the San Jose Police Department – the same day his home in Gilroy was searched by the Gilroy Police Department. He posted bail Thursday morning and was released from jail.
The trial setting is scheduled for Sept. 15 at the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill.
Check for more updates soon.
The two-year investigation into D’Arrigo stalled in 2009, but a witness “recently” came forward which re-ignited the investigation, according to GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao.
That new information prompted a search of D’Arrigo’s home Wednesday. Gallacinao wouldn’t confirm whether police found photographic or video evidence linking D’Arrigo to the alleged sex crimes with minors.
GPD and officials from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office remain tight-lipped about what they discovered during the search.
No one answered when the Dispatch knocked on D’Arrigo’s front door at 883 Alder Street Thursday morning or later in the day. A lightly faded American flag fluttered above the garage door, and a small metal utility trailer with flat tires sat in the home’s driveway. Christmas lights were still strung along the home’s awning.
Crews from several TV news stations filmed on the quiet, fairly new street and knocked on doors Thursday morning in attempts to speak with residents.
One woman, who only wanted to be identified as Teresa, told the Dispatch she doesn’t know D’Arrigo personally but confirmed he did live in the neighborhood.
D’Arrigo was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail Wednesday evening and posted bail early Thursday morning, though it’s unknown who posted his bail and for how much, said Sgt. Troy Smith of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department. Smith said it’s usually the minimum 10 percent – or $10,000 in D’Arrigo’s case. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Stuart Scott, who is handling the case, said D’Arrigo will be arraigned 10:30 a.m. Friday in San Jose.
D’Arrigo worked as a part-time campus police officer at Leland High School in San Jose from 1996 through 2007 during his 17-year career with SJPD, according to Karen Fuqua, spokeswoman for the San Jose Unified School District.
Gallacinao said he, along with SJPD, are concerned there could be other incidents involving D’Arrigo and are asking anyone with information to come forward and speak with police.
“Based on the type of activity that was happening, there is a potential for more victims,” Gallacinao said.
D’Arrigo, who was hired by the SJPD in 1994 and has always served as a patrol officer, was placed on paid administrative leave “essentially at the moment he was arrested,” SJPD spokesman Jose Garcia said.
In 2008, a criminal grand jury declined to indict D’Arrigo and SJPD Sgt. Will Manion following accusations they attempted to cover up a DUI incident that involved Sandra Woodall, an investigator with the District Attorney’s office.
D’Arrigo and Manion were fired in January 2010 for their roles in the investigation, but were reinstated following lengthy arbitration last December, Garcia said.
An “automatic” internal investigation was launched due to D’Arrigo’s arrest, and the SJPD will investigate whether he violated department policies regardless of the case’s outcome, Garcia said.
GPD Chief Denise Turner and SJPD Chief Chris Moore had conversations during the two-year D’Arrigo investigation, Gallacinao said. He said there are no other ongoing investigations to his knowledge, and no other arrests are expected. Gallacinao said more information would be released in the next few days.
Two GPD sex crime detectives headed up the investigation, Gallacinao said, though their names are being withheld.
On Thursday, Teresa who lives in D’Arrigo’s neighborhood, said the gatherings she noticed at his home weren’t out of the ordinary.
“I’m not aware of any parties. It was nothing bigger than barbecues or anything else the rest of us have,” she said.
The GPD has not responded to D’Arrigo’s house for reports of partying – or for any other reason – in the last two years, Gallacinao said.
Police probably won’t interview any of D’Arrigo’s neighbors, he said.
“If they know information, hopefully they’ll come forward,” Gallacinao said.
When asked what she thought about allegations against D’Arrigo, Teresa said, “I’m not going to rush to judgment.”
Prosecutors won’t be able to pursue any charges related to parties or providing alcohol to minors, Fein said.
“The grand jury indictment can’t be modified, so what you see is what you get,” he said.
The grand jury indictment allows prosecutors a quicker path to a trial because the jury – comprised of 12 county residents – is presented with the evidence up front, eliminating the need for multiple pre-trial hearings, Gallacinao said.
It’s a rarer procedure, as more often law enforcement agencies ask the District Attorney’s Office to pursue the case.
When asked why the case went through a grand jury instead of a more-common procedure where a law enforcement agency asks the District Attorney’s office to pursue charges, Supervising District Attorney Steve Fein said, “I can’t really talk about that.”
Asked to elaborate, Fein said, “Because I’m not going to reveal our strategy.”
Deputy District Attorney Scott also declined to comment on the case.
“I can’t talk about anything until after he (D’Arrigo) gets arraigned,” Scott said.
Grand jury transcripts should be available in about 10 days, Fein said.
When asked if there were any concerns over D’Arrigo’s release, Fein said, “We always have concerns when someone accused of a sexual assault is out of custody.”
