Authorities have arrested a 65-year-old man accused of impersonating a lawyer and raping a woman who asked him for help with her immigration status.
On Nov. 12, a woman reported that she was sexually assaulted by Jose Bernal after she refused his advances and attempted to leave his office at 1203 East 17th Street in Santa Ana, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.
According to police, Bernal told the victim that his legal services would cost her $14,000 but that he would offer a discount if she formed a relationship with him. After the attack, he allegedly told her he would pay her $400 if she did not report the incident to police.
On Wednesday, nearly a year after the accuser reported the crime to police, police issued an advisory asking for the public’s help in locating Bernal as part of their “Wanted Wednesday” series.
Jose Bernal was arrested Thursday morning, a day after police issued an advisory seeking the public’s help in locating him.
(Santa Ana Police Department)
The next morning, McDonald’s employees recognized Bernal from social media posts and notified law enforcement, and Bernal was arrested in Tustin.
Jose Bernal is not listed as a practicing attorney or paralegal in the online directories of the State Bar of California or the California Federation of Paralegal Societies.
The address where the alleged attack occurred lists a tax preparation company called BMB Multiservices. NBC4 spoke with a man who identified himself as Bernal’s brother and said the company belonged to his sister and that Bernal had worked for the company.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact Detective M. Tapia at (714) 245-8379 or mtapia@santa-ana.org.
