AG Calls San Diego County Clerk’s Gay Marriage Petition Improper

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California Attorney General Kamala Harris says the elected clerk of San Diego County is improperly using the state’s legal system to try to prevent same-sex couples from getting married.

Harris argued in court papers filed Monday that county clerk Ernest Dronenburg Jr. picked the wrong venue when he asked the California Supreme Court to declare that gay marriages remain illegal in all but two of the state’s 58 counties.

She says the state court does not have authority to limit a federal trial judge’s order declaring California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriages to be unconstitutional and prohibiting its enforcement.

The U.S. Supreme Court let that order stand last month, clearing the way for gay marriages to resume.

Harris says Dronenburg is trying only “to create legal uncertainty where none actually exists.”

Dronenburg’s lawyers have until Aug. 9 to respond.

RELATED STORY:

Court Rejects San Diego County Clerk’s Bid To Stop Gay Marriages

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LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested On Suspicion Of Rape, Soliciting Bribes

PALMDALE (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was arrested Monday on suspicion of rape and soliciting bribes, among other crimes, according to authorities.

Jose Rigaberto Sanchez, 28, a seven-year veteran of the force, was taken into custody at his home around 5:30 p.m. on 11 felony counts, including sexual penetration under the color of authority, rape under fear or duress, and soliciting a bribe from alleged victims. He’s being held on $1.4 million bail.

A six-month probe into a 2010 incident began after investigators received a tip from an informant. The case was turned over to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office in January 2011.

Sanchez, most recently assigned to patrol with the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station, was relieved of duty with pay after the alleged incident in 2010, and was relieved of duty without pay after his arrest Monday.

It is alleged that the reported crimes occurred while Sanchez was on duty.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

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