Prostitute claims San Diego County sheriff's detective sexually assulted her

Testimony in a San Diego area courtroom on Friday indicated that a San Diego County sheriff's detective allegedly sexually assulted a known prostitute.

Testifying in the trial of Thomas John Sadler, 49, the woman testified that he transported her from El Cajon Boulevard to a parking lot in Mission Valley and sexually assaulted her after informing her he needed to search her for drugs.

While in the detective's unmarked car, Sadler reportedly had her spread her legs and put his head on her leg toward her vagina.

"He told me I had nothing on me and I was no good," the witness testified.

The woman claimed Sadler let her out of the car, then wrestled with her over her cell phone when she fumbled attempting to use it to take a photo of his license plate.

"I asked him for his badge number," the woman testified. She then stated that Sadler rattled off a number, then got her phone away, took the back off and threw the battery in some bushes near a dumpster.

The woman claims Sadler then put the car in reverse out of a parking space and drove off, causing her to fall to the ground.

Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Dort questioned the woman about when she started being concerned for her safety. "After I (had) seen his gun," the woman claimed.

The woman stated she was on probation for prostitution but wasn't working the day Sadler had her get in his car.

Dort informed the jury in his opening statement that Sadler pulled up to a bus stop around 11 a.m. on Feb. 6, 2008, informed the woman he had a few questions and told her to get in his car.

The woman refused, and Sadler pushed her into the car and drove to the Mission Valley location, Dort stated.

On cross-examination by defense attorney Mary Ellen Attridge, the woman admitted she had been to the parking lot prior to that time to commit an act of prostitution. She also said she had been arrested for soliciting prostitution previously.

Another woman with a drug conviction testified that Sadler had her pull up her shirt and bra at the time of a search of her home in 2001.

The woman said Sadler walked her into her bedroom and showed her a bag of drugs he supposedly located at the time the search. She said she informed Sadler the drugs weren't hers and she'd do anything to avoid going back to jail.

"He asked me to lift up my top," the woman claimed, adding that he came closer and touched her bare breasts.

When the woman repeated she'd do whatever necessary to stay out of jail, Sadler reportedly said, "Well, we could work something out," she testified.

The woman claims she never reported what took place until contacted recently due to the fact she didn't think anybody would believe her.

Later in 2001, the woman claims Sadler pulled her over and discovered a bag of syringes in her car. The woman stated the unopened syringes belonged to her diabetic father, and that Sadler called her family to check out her story.

Sadler placed the woman in the back of his patrol car and had her lift up her shirt, she testified.

Dort alleged in his opening statement that Sadler has a history of assaulting women in the same way he allegedly assaulted the prostitute.

Sadler could be looking at up to eight years in prison if convicted of sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by a peace officer, false imprisonment by violence and a pair of counts of accessing a computer to defraud.

Sadler apparently tried to take his own life shortly after his arrest. He has worked for the sheriff's department for more than 20 years.
 

While the credibility of some of these witnesses certainly comes into question, it also appears that this detective may have some issues when it comes to dealing with women he comes into contact with while working the streets.