Streets Czar Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Offense

Mario Sierra, once known as the "streets czar" in San Diego, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of committing a lewd act against a minor seven years ago.

If convicted Sierra, 47, could face up to eight years in prison. Although the prosecutorial team is not revealing too many details at this time, they stated that Sierra put his hands on the genitals of a girl under the age of 14 between January and May 2004. At the time the girl was 10 years old. According to broadcast reports of the case the young girl kept quiet about the incident until an Oprah show triggered her memory. Until the case has been heard completely Judge Melinda Lasater has ordered Sierra to stay far away from the victim.

In the meantime he will be back in court on April 11 for a readiness conference and then again on May 2 for a preliminary hearing. This all comes just a month after the city appointed Sierra director of the Transportation and Stormwater Department.

If you've been charged with a sex crime, now is the time to contact us to enlist the services of a San Diego criminal defense lawyer.