Former Detective Has No Memory Of Brutal Rape

Posted on June 21, 2012 | Written By: iadminlaw

An Iraq war veteran and former Westminster police detective convicted of kidnapping and rape broke down on the witness stand Wednesday, claiming that he had no memory of the attack because he was taking Zoloft.

Anthony Orban told jurors in a San Bernardino County courthouse that he couldn’t imagine kidnapping and raping another person.

English: frhde hdres (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Orban hoped to persuade the jury that he was legally insane when he abducted a waitress from a parking lot at Ontario Mills and then raped her near a self-storage lot in Fontana.

The prosecutor was relentless in her cross-examination as she attempted to cast doubt on Orban’s claim that Zoloft made him do it.

San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Debbie Ploghaus also asked him about the victim’s testimony in which she said that Orban put his service weapon into her mouth and had taken pictures of her with his mobile phone as he brutally raped her.

Orban responded that he wasn’t denying her testimony. He just didn’t remember. Who knew that Zoloft could make you forget about raping a woman?

The defense, who has the burden of proof in the sanity phase of the trial, argued that Orban couldn’t tell the difference between right and wrong because of the effects of Zoloft. As a result, Orban is not responsible for his actions.

The convicted rapist was prescribed Zoloft as he struggled to come to terms with his depression, financial problems and failing marriage. He stopped taking Zoloft for about a month and then resumed taking his medication less than a week before he raped his victim.

After he stopped taking his medication, he heard voices in his head. He also contemplated killing himself, his wife and his dog.

The jury summoned with the task of ruling on Orban’s sanity is the same one that dismissed his claims that Zoloft was to blame for his actions last week when they found him guilty. Now it is up to the jury to decide if Orban was insane. If the jury finds that he was insane, Orban would be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment. If the jury finds that he was sane, Orban could face life in prison.

Is Orban insane? Probably. Only an insane person would come up with such a ridiculous explanation to excuse his criminal behavior. Should Orban face life in prison? Under normal circumstances, it would depend on a variety of factors. In this case, Orban should face life in prison because he is a danger to society.

Orban is responsible for his actions regardless of whether or not he could tell the difference between right and wrong. There is no way that an antidepressant drug would ever force Orban to rape his victim. Drugs like Zoloft, however, can cause serious birth defects. If you or someone you love was taking Zoloft while pregnant and the child was born with a birth defect, you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. A competent and reputable injury lawyer can help you collect the compensation you deserve.