Crime & Safety
Man Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Battery of Employee
Mouris M. Ghipriel of Murrieta pleaded not guilty to several sexually violent acts allegedly committed against a female employee of his at Duke's Steakhouse in Hemet.
A Murrieta man who is accused of sexually battering a female employee at his Hemet restaurant on multiple occasions pleaded not guilty today to 21 felony and misdemeanor charges.
Mouris M. Ghipriel, 55, could face life in prison if convicted of three counts each of kidnapping, assault with the intent to commit rape and indecent exposure, as well as seven counts of sexual battery and four counts of false imprisonment.
Ghipriel appeared before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Michael Rushton, who set a felony settlement conference in the case for April 6.
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The defendant is free on $250,000 bail.
Former employees of Duke's Steakhouse, located at 360 N. San Jacinto St., made allegations against the defendant in November, triggering a weeks- long investigation that culminated with Ghipriel's arrest by detectives outside his Murrieta home on Dec. 21, according to Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart.
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The criminal complaint against him lists one alleged victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, and states that the alleged assaults occurred between September and November.
