Fresno, CA — A former Fresno County Superior Court judge accused of sexually assaulting two court employees and obstructing a federal investigation has filed a motion to dismiss his case. The move comes months after a five-count federal indictment was handed down against him.
Adolfo Corona, 66, was charged in August with multiple federal offenses, including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, and making false statements to investigators. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Federal Indictment and Charges
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the federal grand jury indictment accuses Corona of sexually assaulting two employees who worked under his supervision while he served as a judge in Fresno County. Prosecutors allege he later attempted to cover up his misconduct by providing false statements and interfering with the investigation.
“The 66-year-old is charged with sexually assaulting two court employees, making false statements to cover up his alleged crimes, and obstructing the investigation,” federal officials said.
The indictment includes three counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of sexual assault. Each obstruction charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the sexual assault charges carry up to 40 years if convicted.
As reported by ABC30 News, Corona filed the motion to dismiss earlier this week, challenging the federal charges and maintaining his innocence.
Background and Previous Proceedings
The case follows a long-running investigation that began in September 2023, after court staff members came forward with complaints of inappropriate conduct. State investigators initially pursued county-level charges, and Corona pleaded not guilty in Fresno County Superior Court.
Federal prosecutors later took over the case, presenting additional evidence to a grand jury, which resulted in the five-count indictment issued in August 2025.
“Action News first told you of this investigation last September and was in the courtroom when Corona pleaded not guilty to the county charges,” the report noted.
Corona continues to deny the allegations, insisting that he is the target of a politically motivated investigation. His legal team argues that the federal charges duplicate elements of the earlier county case and should therefore be dismissed.
Motion to Dismiss and Legal Strategy
In the new filing, Corona’s attorneys claim that the federal indictment violates the Double Jeopardy Clause and includes “procedural defects” that warrant dismissal. The defense also argues that statements attributed to Corona were taken out of context and should not form the basis of obstruction charges.
“Mr. Corona has consistently denied the allegations and maintains that the federal indictment overreaches the facts and misrepresents his conduct,” his attorney said in a written statement.
Federal prosecutors have not yet responded to the motion. A hearing on the matter is expected in the coming weeks in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
What’s Next
Corona remains free on bond while awaiting further court proceedings. If his motion to dismiss is denied, the case will proceed to pretrial hearings and possibly a federal trial later this year.
The case has drawn attention in legal circles across California, with judicial watchdog groups calling it a major test of accountability for the state’s court system.
If convicted, Corona could face up to 100 years in prison across all counts.
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