Issue date: July 01, 1998
By JESSIE SEYFER
Former Menlo Park community center director Aaron Johnson pleaded no contest to the charge of battery Tuesday, June 23, in San Mateo County Municipal Court. Mr. Johnson, who directed the Onetta Harris Community Center for 15 years, was accused of putting his hand up the skirt of a co-worker last June.
Presiding Judge Barbara Malach sentenced Mr. Johnson to 18 months of probation, $515 in fines and restitution, and 10 days in county jail. He was recommended for the sheriff's work-release program, wherein he would not have to spend time in jail, and would instead perform county service projects during the day.
Mr. Johnson was originally supposed to stand trial for sexual battery, but the charge was reduced. Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Meola said the sexual qualifier was dropped because there was some uncertainty as to where the victim was specifically touched.
"Sexual battery requires touching in certain places of a person's body," said Ms. Meola. "Basically he touched her upper thigh, her underwear. But just because the sexual part was dropped doesn't mean it didn't occur the way the victim said."
As for the outcome of the trial, Ms. Meola said she was satisfied.
"It was an appropriate response," she said. "The victim is glad she doesn't have to go through the ordeal of testifying and she's glad that he admitted he has done something wrong."
James Collins, Mr. Johnson's attorney, was not available for comment.
Mr. Johnson filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Menlo Park for wrongful termination the week before his trial was set to begin. He was fired from his job as director of the community center last year amid questions of sexual impropriety that arose from the sexual battery charges against him.
His civil lawsuit also accuses the city and various employees of slander, libel and infliction of emotional distress.
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