Ex-San Diego Mayor Filner charged with false imprisonment, battery

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Bob Filner enters the San Diego council chambers to announce that he is resigning as mayor as his supporters applaud in the background. He was publicly accused of sexual harassment by many women. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

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In the San Diego City Council chambers Bob Filner announces he is resigning as mayor. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

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As Bob Filner addresses the City Council, the official San Diego city statement is projected on a screen. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

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San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria, right, listens to public comment about Mayor Bob Filner during a special meeting in the council chambers. Later in the afternoon, Filner appeared and announced his resignation, with Gloria appointed interim mayor. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

By Tony Perry

Oct. 15, 2013 9:22 AM PT

SAN DIEGO — Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who left office in a scandal over allegations of sexual harassment, has been charged with one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor counts of battery, San Diego Superior Court officials said Tuesday.

The charges, filed by the state attorney general’s office, relate to three alleged victims, identified as Jane Doe 1, 2 and 3.

A hearing is set for 10 a.m. in Superior Court.

Filner, 71, the city’s first Democratic mayor in 20 years, resigned Aug. 30 after cutting a deal with the City Council for the city to defend him against a sexual-harassment lawsuit filed by an ex-staffer.

The council also agreed to pay up to $98,000 to Filner’s private attorneys. All nine council members had called for his resignation.

In six weeks, 19 women had gone public with allegations that Filner had made sexual advances, including lewd comments and unwanted touching. Many of the women had gone to Filner when he was mayor or a member of Congress to ask for his help in public issues.

Filner tried without success to defuse calls for his resignation by admitting he had been abusive toward women, promising to undergo behavioral therapy and talking of his plans to be “the best mayor I can.”

The state attorney general’s office began a criminal investigation after Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis said she had a conflict of interest because she had run against Filner for mayor and been eliminated in the primary.

The felony count involves allegations of false imprisonment by violence, fraud, menace and deceit.

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