The first of three lawsuits involving accused former Menifee Police officer Juan Pesina has delayed the start of a jury trial until next June.
Christina Whitton’s civil case against the City of Menifee, Pesina, and Doe Officers 1-10 was set for a trial setting conference today, but that the meeting was vacated. According to court records, both sides agreed to delay the process until next year. A mandatory settlement conference has been set for May 28, 2027 and a jury trial is set to begin June 11, 2027 at the Menifee courthouse.
Whitton alleges that on Sept. 11, 2023, Pesina followed her from a gas station to a nearby residence and assaulted her during an illegal search. She is seeking general and punitive damages against Pesina and other officers involved in the incident. She is also suing the City of Menifee for alleged negligence in supervision of Pesina.
The City has argued that Pesina’s protection against self-incrimination and a pending criminal case against him by the DA’s Office “derivatively impact the City’s ability to litigate this matter.”
The court agreed to the delay until next year because Pesina’s criminal trial on 15 counts of sexual assault and other crimes against four victims – including Whitton — is due to begin on Nov. 9, 2026.
In a third lawsuit, victim “Jane Doe JH” is seeking damages and demanding a jury trial for charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment on Feb. 9, 2023. That lawsuit has a case management conference set for Oct. 20, 2026.
That lawsuit includes a claim of negligence against the Menifee Police Department because of the department’s decision to keep Pesina after a previous incident, said Scott Carr, the attorney for the alleged victim.
Sources within Menifee PD have told Menifee 24/7 that Pesina was the subject of an internal investigation and was on administrative prior to his current unpaid administrative leave and arrest, and that he was cleared for a return to active duty. Since that incident in February 2023, the charges against Pesina claim, he committed crimes including sexual assault and extortion with the aforementioned four other females while on duty.
Menifee 24/7 has requested records pertaining to the earlier internal investigation and has been denied access to those records by the City of Menifee.
Pesina, who was arrested in August 2025, is in custody at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning awaiting the Nov. 9 trial.
