A former Florissant police officer who admitted in federal court to secretly taking intimate photos and videos from the phones of 20 women during traffic stops is set to learn his punishment Wednesday. Ex-officer Julian Alcala pleaded guilty to 20 counts of depriving people of their civil rights and remains free on bond as victims press ahead with federal lawsuits. The case has sparked outrage across north St. Louis County and reignited debate over how much access officers should have to civilians' phones during routine traffic stops.
What prosecutors say happened on the roadside
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, prosecutors say Alcala pulled over the women between Feb. 6 and May 18, 2024, while in uniform and driving a marked patrol car. They say he took the women's phones back to his cruiser and searched them without a warrant, then used his personal phone to photograph intimate images he found and forwarded a video from one victim. A court-authorized search of his phone and cloud storage later turned up files tied to 20 victims. The release states that Alcala pleaded guilty in December to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Sentencing stakes in federal court
Alcala is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in federal court. Prosecutors note that each count carries a potential penalty of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. CBS News reports that as part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop a separate obstruction charge and that whatever sentence the judge hands down is expected to shape how the related civil lawsuits move forward. Plaintiffs' attorneys and advocates plan to watch closely, since Alcala's criminal record could be used as evidence in those civil cases.
Victims' lawsuits and long-term fallout
Nearly two dozen women have filed federal civil-rights lawsuits against Alcala and the City of Florissant. Those cases have been consolidated and temporarily put on hold while the criminal case proceeds, according to Justia. Victim advocates say the harm does not end with the traffic stop. “It feels like a crime that keeps repeating because victims never know when or where those images could surface,” Safe Connections director Heidi Suguitan told KSDK. Lawyers for the women say Alcala's guilty plea will be front and center in the civil suits once judges lift the current stays.
Florissant police response and what comes next
The Florissant Police Department has said it only learned of the accusations after the FBI reached out to the agency and that it cooperated with federal investigators, a response first reported by The Associated Press. The U.S. Attorney's Office says the FBI investigated the case and that Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is leading the prosecution. Wednesday's hearing will give a federal judge the chance to decide Alcala's punishment while the women suing him and the city wait to see when their civil claims can finally move ahead.
