The case against a retired Fresno judge will continue after Federal Judge Kirk E. Sherriff denied a motion by Judge Adolfo Corona’s attorneys to dismiss during a Monday morning hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown Fresno.

The federal criminal indictment alleges Corona sexually assaulted a court employee in a stairwell at the main Fresno County Superior Court on M Street on March 14, 2024, and assaulted another court employee in his office at an earlier date.

Initially charged in state court, the case was moved to federal court after the five-count grand jury indictment was issued in 2025.

The federal government accused Corona of one count of deprivation of rights through “color of law” — abusing his authority as a judge — three counts of making false statements, and one count of attempting to alter documents.

Sherriff found that the government met its responsibility in properly charging Corona. As for the validity of the charges, he said defense arguments were better suited “for another day.”

Corona appeared in court with his defense attorneys, Scott Quinlan and Michael Aed, along with his wife and several supporters. He sat at the defense table, taking notes diligently, but did not speak during the proceeding.

He served as a Fresno County judge for more than 20 years before retiring in May 2024 — months before the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against him in September 2024.

Corona pleaded not guilty in both state and federal court. He remains free on bail.

If convicted, Corona could face a maximum penalty of 40 years on the civil rights charge and up to 20 years on each of the obstruction-related charges.

No Standalone Sexual Assault Charges by Feds

Corona is not charged in federal court with sexual assault against the two victims mentioned in the indictment.

Sarah Howard, the lead prosecutor for the federal government in the case, would not explain why there are no standalone sexual assault charges, or why the case is being prosecuted in federal court.

She referred GV Wire to a U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson who did not immediately provide answers.

The case is being prosecuted by the civil rights division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Howard is listed as a Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney. Three other prosecutors are from the Fresno office.

Corona’s attorneys also declined to make a statement about the proceeding. Aed said it would be “inappropriate to litigate the facts and circumstances of this case outside of court.”

“The nature of the allegations is serious and significant, and we don’t want to compromise the integrity of the trial or the potential jury pool by litigating this in the press,” Aed said.

As to the lack of a standalone sexual assault charge, Aed said, “We’re not the deciders in terms of what charge to file.”

Corona was charged with two counts of sexual battery in state court. That case was dismissed when the federal government took over the prosecution.

He did not make a comment on advice of his attorneys.

Defense: Actions Not Under Color of Law

Quinlan argued that the federal government did not properly charge Corona.

Corona did not act under color of law, Quinlan argued, because the interaction with the court employee was a private encounter. The indictment alleges Corona met the unnamed employee to give her a gift, then assaulted her.

Quinlan said the court worker was not directly employed by Corona.

“They were two people working in the building. It was a personal matter,” Quinlan argued.

Quinlan said that if Corona had acted under color of law, he would not have needed to create a “ruse” of offering a gift to meet in the stairwell.

Sherriff rejected that argument.

“Color does not require an employer-employee relationship,” he said, noting the alleged incident took place at the courthouse.

During an interview with administrative investigators after the March 2024 allegations involving the first victim, Corona allegedly lied about the incident, saying the victim grabbed his phone to enter her cellphone number. He also allegedly lied to FBI investigators later that year.

Prosecutors, in the charging documents, said there was a second victim whom Corona assaulted and later lied about during interviews. Corona allegedly called a motorcycle dealership to persuade an employee to falsify records that would show he was picking up a motorcycle at the time of the alleged assault.

Quinlan also argued that the three counts of making false statements did not meet the legal definition of the charges. One alleged false statement occurred before a formal criminal investigation began, he said.

Making a false statement to an FBI agent does not constitute persuading another person to hinder an investigation, Quinlan argued.

Again, Sherriff disagreed, saying arguments about whether the charges are legally sufficient should be made before a jury.

“Whether the government can prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt is not before me today,” Sherriff said.

The defense did not directly deny that Corona made false statements to investigators. Quinlan declined to comment after the hearing.

Case Returns in April

With the motion to dismiss denied, the case returns to federal court for an April 8 status hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean.

Gov. Gray Davis appointed Corona in 2003. He previously worked in private practice and was an elected trustee for the State Center Community College District.

Gov. Gavin Newsom filled the Corona vacancy in 2025, appointing Melissa Baloian to the bench.