12:55pm | The Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office announced today that a jury has convicted Avadhut Chaudhari of sexual battery after a 3-day jury trial. Chaudhari, a 26-year old male, was ordered remanded into custody immediately by Superior Court Judge Jesse Rodriguez as soon as the verdict was read in court.
“I am pleased with the outcome of this case,” said Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert. “The public needs to be protected from sexual predators like Mr. Chaudhari.”
Chaudhari’s conviction stems from an attack on a female victim in December 2009 where Chaudhari entered a public bus near Cal State University at Long Beach and sat down next to a female rider. Chaudhari began touching the female victim then fondled her breast. When the shocked victim began to scream at him, Chaudhari exited the bus and fled.
The case was filed 6 months later after Chaudhari was identified by a Long Beach Police Detective working with CSULB police after other women reported Chaudhari had attempted to fondle them on a school shuttle bus. The case was handled by Deputy City Prosecutor Chad Salzman.
Chaudhari’s sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2011, in the Long Beach Courthouse. His conviction for sexual battery will require Chaudhari to register as a sex offender. He could be sentenced to up to six months in county jail and ordered to pay court fines and assessments.