Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 12 for a former Rohnert Park police officer charged in a federal extortion case tied to that of a disgraced former sergeant who still awaits sentencing more than two years after his conviction.
If all goes according to schedule Joseph Huffaker’s jury trial will begin Sept. 16 and last about 10 to 12 days, according to United States District Court records.
The trial, in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, will be overseen by Judge Maxine Chesney.
Huffaker, who was employed by the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety from 2012 to 2019, was indicted in 2021 on federal charges of conspiracy to commit extortion and extortion under color of law — meaning he is alleged to have used his authority as a police officer to carry out the crimes.
He’s accused of illegally seizing cannabis from drivers during traffic stops and falsifying records to cover up his actions.
The former sergeant, Brendan “Jacy” Tatum, was indicted in September 2021 and accused of leading the operation. He pleaded guilty in December 2021 to federal extortion charges in his role as a peace officer, falsifying police reports and tax evasion.