Former Los Rios Community College Officer Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Women While On Duty

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Officer Noah Winchester spent years in Sacramento working in the Los Rios Community College District and Sacramento Police Department.

The allegations came to light in October 2015, while Winchester worked for the San Mateo Police Department, and he was arrested at his Stockton home Thursday morning.

"These are horrific charges", said Mitchel Benson, spokesman for the Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento.

Benson just learned of the charges against Winchester on Thursday.

"We are very concerned about our students and our reputation if the allegations are really true," Benson added.

Winchester is facing almost two-dozen charges, including kidnapping with intent to commit rape, sexual penetration and oral copulation under color of authority.

Winchester was a Los Rios officer from January of 2009 to January of 2015 when he transferred to the San Mateo Police Department.

According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, between 2013 and 2015, Winchester sexually assaulted five women while working as a police officer.

In an open letter written by San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer, she says "SMPD immediately placed the officer on indefinite leave, suspending his police powers and authority and protecting the public against any further contact," as the investigation continued.

Winchester resigned in February.

CBS 13 also learned Winchester was also a police officer for the Sacramento Police Department from 2006 until 2007. A spokesperson says Winchester was released before his probationary period was over, but wouldn't say why,

Winchester was also investigated by Sacramento police in 2013 while working at the Los Rios Community College District.

Benson says the district will be launching a separate investigation to determine what the allegations against Winchester were while he was a police officer at Los Rios.

Winchester is now in custody at the San Mateo County Jail and is being held on $3.1 million bail.

He is expected to make his first court appearance in San Mateo County next week.