Friday, officials announced after almost two years since receiving the case from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, deputy Jason Ghassan Kailany will be charged with one count each of forceable rape and oral copulation.
Kailany made a brief court appearance on November 20th. Prosecutors from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office requested bail be set at $200,000.
Immediately upon taking office in January 2019, Sheriff Villanueva took swift action and filed the rape case with the DA’s office against deputy Kailany, who received a slap on the wrist and suspension under former Sheriff Jim McDonnell.
For the last 23 months and because of the failure to file charges by the DA, Kailany was still legally employed by LASD and receiving pay while on administrative leave. Now that the DA has moved forward with the case, Kailany has been relieved of duty without pay.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva released a statement yesterday on social media:
“I’m horrified by the charges in this case. We represented the facts to the DA last January, What was the delay all about? I will not tolerate misconduct from our own. We hold ourselves to a higher standard”.
DA Lacey lost her bid for re-election November 3rd. Kailany’s case will be tried under incoming D.A. George Gascon.
