BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
A former spokesman for the San Mateo County Community College District pleaded guilty yesterday to lewd acts with two girls who were 14 and 15 years old.
Richard Rojo, 54, of Stockton, faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months on May 26.
Rojo admitted that he met a 15-year-old girl on a dating app, and then paid her and her 14-year-old friend to exchange nude photos.
Rojo met up with the girls in a hotel at Santana Row in San Jose, gave them alcohol and raped them, the girls told police.
Milpitas police were alerted on Dec. 27, 2020, after one of the victims tried to kill herself by overdosing on melatonin pills.
Rojo was the interim director of public affairs for the district, sending out press releases and responding to media inquiries. His salary was $149,656 in 2019, according to public salary tracker Transparent California.
Part of Rojo’s job was to respond to questions about former Chancellor Ron Galatolo, who allegedly took bribes from contractors.
Rojo has been out on bail since his arrest.