CLEARLAKE — Former Lakeport Police officer Richard Erickson took the witness stand Tuesday in the last leg of his trial. He faces felony counts of misappropriation of government funds and making terrorist threats.
The 11-year police force veteran testified about extramarital relationships he conducted both on and off-duty, including his most recent affair with 18-year-old former Lakeport resident Josephina Cerda.
Two of the charges Erickson faced at the beginning of the trial are no longer up for consideration.
A count of simple battery stemming from an incident with Cerda in which she told District Attorney investigator John Flynn that Erickson shoved her up against his car was dropped immediately following jury selection and before evidence was introduced, according to prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson.
Erickson was found not guilty of a stalking charge last week. The charge alleged that Erickson”s attentions to Cerda included keeping tabs on her whereabouts, and were unwelcome.
In addressing the allegation that he made a terrorist threat to Cerda, Erickson described an incident in which he was off-duty and met Cerda on Campbell Way in his truck. Erickson said he asked her what she would do if he broke off their relationship, to which he said Cerda jokingly replied that she would run him over with her car.
“I do not remember pointing to a mountain and saying, I”m going to kill you and bury you in this mountain,”” Erickson said.
Cerda”s June 21, 2006 statement to Flynn offered a different account of the events. According to Flynn”s report, Cerda said she was worried after Erickson said he would “bury her underneath (a hill)” he pointed to after she asked what he would do if she told anyone about their relationship.
Erickson”s defense attorney Don Anderson indicated in an earlier interview with the Record-Bee that Erickson had said that in jest, pursuant to the tone of the conversation.
Private investigator and retired CHP officer Cecil Brown testified Thursday regarding a contradictory statement Cerda had given him, saying she was more afraid of the Lakeport Police than she was of Erickson.
Erickson also testified regarding conduct of other officers he had observed, saying it was common and even accepted practice to carry on personal business while on duty. He maintained that the average time he spent having sex with Cerda while on duty was between 15 and 20 minutes.
As for time spent at his Miramonte Avenue home, under construction, Erickson said the longest time he was there was just over two hours, during which time he had lunch, conducted some police business and then took some time to “de-stress” after responding to five death calls in approximately the previous month”s time.
It was not uncommon, he said, for officers to spend between 45 minutes to an hour, or more, taking lunch breaks.
Outside the courtroom, Erickson said it was good to finally be able to tell his side of the story.
Erickson”s testimony is expected to wrap up today after Abelson”s cross-examination. Closing arguments are expected to begin in the afternoon or on Thursday morning.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
