Former San Diego Mayor Pleads Guilty to 3 Criminal Counts of Sexual Misconduct

Bob Filner was accused of inappropriate behavior by numerous women who worked for him

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Gregory Bull, File / AP

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner speaks after agreeing to resign at a city council meeting in San Diego.

Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has pleaded guilty to state felony charges stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct by numerous women while he was in office.

At a Superior Court hearing in San Diego on Tuesday, Filner made the guilty plea to one count of felony violent false imprisonment, and two counts of misdemeanor battery against three unnamed women, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. He submitted the pleas before Judge Robert Trentacosta, who ordered him to report for sentencing on Dec. 9.

Filner, 71, left office earlier this year after being dogged for months by allegations of groping, fondling and other inappropriate behavior toward as many as 20 women he worked with. He had served as mayor for nine months, after spending 20 years in Congress. But the accusations became so numerous that the county sheriff set up a special hotline to field the calls, Democratic leaders sought his resignation, and he eventually stepped down Aug. 30. A special election to replace Filner will be held Nov. 19.

A grand jury had been called earlier to hear evidence of criminal charges against Filner, who had previously denied that his behavior ever went beyond playful. But a guilty plea in this case means that a coming grand jury hearing may have given the basis for working out a plea deal, the Union-Tribune reports.

[San Diego Union-Tribune]