Riverside councilwoman files libel suit against Sheriff Chad Bianco over vandalism comments

Riverside City Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes has filed a libel lawsuit against Sheriff Chad Bianco, stating the sheriff “had no reliable source of information from anyone” when he accused her of supporting pro-abortion rights activists who defaced a historic courthouse downtown this summer.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Riverside County Superior Court, comes about two months after local police and sheriff's deputies arrested several people for vandalism of the Riverside Historic Courthouse as part of a pro-abortion rights rally on July 30.

Within a day, Bianco posted on his Facebook account about the incident.

"When you damage, deface, or destroy property, you are no longer a protester, you are nothing more than a common criminal," Bianco wrote. "Shame on the Riverside city councilwoman for supporting the defacing of our courthouse. You are lucky we couldn’t arrest you."

Bianco soon apologized to two other female members of the council, and clarified that he was talking about Cervantes, who responded with her own statement denying the sheriff's claims.

"While visiting downtown Riverside last night, I witnessed the arrest of protesters who vandalized our historic courthouse," she wrote. "I recognized one of the Riverside Police Department officers who were on the scene, so I spoke to him briefly to ask what was occurring and thank him for his work. Neither myself nor any of my City Council colleagues were involved with the protest or the vandalism."

Cervantes added that the sheriff provided no evidence for his claims.

More: Councilwoman denies Sheriff Chad Bianco's accusation that she 'supported' vandalism at courthouse

The lawsuit filed this week also accuses Bianco of “rejecting evidence he knew contradicted his false statements,” including from Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez.

“Plaintiff is informed ... that Riverside Chief of Police Larry V. Gonzalez told Bianco Cervantes was not among the protesters and that she was a passing witness who had nothing to do with the incident,” the lawsuit states.

Bianco allegedly responded to Gonzalez by saying, “Yes, I know,” or words to that effect, according to the complaint.

Bianco, reached by The Desert Sun on Saturday, said in an email:

"I haven’t read [the lawsuit] but I’m sure it’s as fictional as most of her social media posts after the event.  If she hadn’t been supporting these groups, she wouldn’t have to spend so much time in damage control for showing up at their protest.  Maybe she should spend more time representing the residents of Riverside as a councilwoman instead of an activist."

He added: "This is nothing more than a typical politician trying to gain media attention to further her political career.  I’m sure she thinks the more she keeps her name in the media fighting the 'evil sheriff' she will garner more votes from activists in her assembly run.  Fortunately for Riverside County, only activists think that.   Even more of a reason she should not be in politics.  There is a place for activists and a place for community representatives; she is showing where she belongs."

Cervantes’ lawyer, reached by The Desert Sun on Saturday, declined to comment further on the suit. The attorney also requested a written retraction from Bianco in early August, the week after his social media post.

“Despite the utter lack of supporting evidence in Bianco’s possession before the publications, the conversation with Chief Gonzalez, and plaintiff’s demand for retraction, Bianco refused to publish a statement correcting or retracting his false accusations,” the lawsuit states.

Cervantes, who was elected to the Riverside City Council last year, has received support from several residents during recent council meetings.

However, the council declined a request from Cervantes last month to issue a statement that she did not support or take part in vandalism of the courthouse, instead opting to wait for release of police body camera footage of Cervantes at the scene. A police spokesperson has said that video shows she did not take part in the protest or vandalism, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

“Cervantes has suffered immense harm to her reputation, both personally and in her capacity as a Councilperson, and has suffered emotional distress and fear for herself and her family because of Bianco’s false and defamatory statements and their foreseeable republication by others,” the lawsuit states.

Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com or on Twitter @tomcoulter_.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside councilwoman files libel suit against Sheriff Chad Bianco