Some comment posters have questioned why the identity of the accuser has not been revealed. Detective Tom Dolter of the Albany Police Department has informed the Express that California Penal Code 293 allows victims of sexual assault — regardless of age — the option of remaining publicly anonymous. Here’s an excerpt from the code:
“Any employee of a law enforcement agency who personally receives a report from any person, alleging that the person making the report has been the victim of a sex offense, shall inform that person that his or her name will become a matter of public record unless he or she requests that it not become a matter of public record, pursuant to Section 6254 of the Government Code.”
In this case, the victim made such a request. You can read the full text of the code on the official Web site for California legislative information (scroll down to “293”).
I also asked Dolter why the police department issued a press release on Sorg’s arrest. Is it common to broadcast arrests? He indicated that the department often publicizes arrests involving sexual assault charges to find out if additional victims exist. “We just did one a week before on another sexual assault where we did have other victims come forward,” Dolter said. In Sorg’s case, the press release has yielded no other allegations.
When told of the support for Sorg posted on 92510 by people identifying themselves as former students, Dolter indicated that he wasn’t surprised. “Everyone I talked to during this investigation has said she was a very good teacher,” he said.
