Disbarred Ex-DA Who Pressured Workers in His Office for Sex Gets 1 Year, Apologizes for 'Flirting'
A former Colorado district attorney who was disbarred last month over his mistreatment of multiple women was sentenced today to one year in prison after pleading guilty to criminal charges related to the sexual demands he made on three women working in his office.
Former Montrose County DA Myrl Serra was sentenced to one year for violating conditions of his bond, as well as to 60 days in jail and four years of sex-offender probation on felony extortion and misdemeanor unlawful sexual contact counts. He must also register as a sex offender, the Denver Post reports.
Although Serra apologized to the victims, who said he repeatedly exposed himself, grabbed them and pressured them for sex (three said he asked “What will you give me?” when they sought time off from work), he also insisted that the interaction between them was “flirting” or consensual, on both sides. The problem, he indicated, was poor judgment on his part concerning the imbalance of power rather than sexual harassment, the newspaper says.
Montrose County District Court Judge David Bottger said he believed the women, not Serra.
Serra faced a maximum of 15 years in prison, but is unlikely actually to serve more prison time due to credit for 130 days already served, special prosecutor Robert Shapiro said. He predicted that Serra will be jailed for 60 days and that he will be back in court within a year for violating the terms of his probation.
A presentence investigation report said Serra is at low risk of reoffending, the Post notes.
