LONG BEACH - A former Long Beach police officer pleaded guilty last week to sex crimes involving minor girls and was immediately sentenced to 11 years and eight months in state prison.Noe Yanez, 40, pleaded to six counts during a preliminary hearing of the evidence against him, said deputy district attorney Natalie Adomian. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen, who was conducting the preliminary hearing, also ordered that Yanez register as a sex offender. The former office, who was fired by the Long Beach Police Department last June, pleaded to felony crimes that spanned 2008 until shortly before he was charged in May 2012. Adomian said Yanez pleaded guilty to one count each of forcible rape, meeting a minor for lewd purposes, using a minor for sex acts, possession of child pornography and two counts of false imprisonment by fraud or deceit. Five victims were involved. Yanez, who had been with Long Beach PD for nine years, originally was arrested on April 19, 2012, then rearrested on May 9 after a felony complaint for arrest warrant was filed by the District Attorney's office. He was suspended without pay, then his employment was terminated in June 2012. The Long Beach Police Department investigated the case.

********** Published: February 28, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 46