Adolfo M. Corona was a judge of the Superior Court of Fresno County in California. He assumed office in 2003. He left office on May 1, 2024. Corona was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis in 2003. His legal career included working as an attorney at Dowling Aaron & Keeler Inc. in Fresno from 1986 to 2003 and serving as a judge pro tem for the Fresno County Superior Court from 1992 to 2003. He was also a member of the Central Valley Chapter of La Raza Lawyers Association. At the time of his retirement, he was presiding over juvenile court cases.
State charges were first filed against Corona in September 2024 following a state grand jury indictment by the Fresno County District Attorney. Prosecutors charged him on one count of felony sexual penetration by force, fear, or duress and one count of misdemeanor sexual battery, stemming from an alleged assault on a court employee on March 14, 2024, at the Fresno County Superior Court. He pleaded not guilty, was released on $70,000 bail, and is represented by attorneys Michael Aed and Margarita Martinez-Baly.
The two renowned local defense attorneys have represented the likes of Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula. Aed reportedly would not answer questions about the timing of the judge’s resignation, weeks after the alleged incident. “He is entitled to counsel of his choice. This case came out of the blue without any pre-warning. He made certain decisions at the beginning of the case. He expects a vigorous and complete defense, and we intend to give him that,” Aed reportedly said.
Now in August 2025, the U.S. Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Fresno returned a five-count indictment charging 66 year old Corona with federal offenses for sexually assaulting a court employee (Victim 1), making false statements to cover up the assault, and with obstructing the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted another court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement regarding the new federal case.
The indictment alleges that on March 14, 2024, Corona, while serving as a California Superior Court Judge, led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her. The indictment further alleges that Corona, during separate interviews with the FBI and court administrators, made false statements about the circumstances of his assault on Victim 1.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Corona obstructed the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted Victim 2. Corona was alone with Victim 2 in his chambers for approximately two hours on Dec. 5, 2023, and she was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out. The indictment charges that Corona falsely told the FBI that he left Victim 2 alone in his chambers while he drove to pick up a motorcycle. Corona allegedly attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact their local FBI office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.