Former Denver police officer Joseph Bini has been charged with four felonies in connection with allegations that he paid two juvenile girls to perform sex acts while he watched.
Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey today filed two counts of soliciting for child prostitution and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor against Bini, the focus of intense publicity nine years ago when he provided SWAT team officers the wrong address of a house where drugs were sold.
In the following no-knock raid on the wrong home, a man in the house, Mexican immigrant Ismael Mena, was shot and killed after he pointed a .22-caliber handgun at police.
A longtime police informant later said he was responsible for the mistake and had provided the wrong address to Bini.
Bini eventually entered an “Alford plea” to first-degree official misconduct, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation. The city settled a lawsuit with the Mena family for $400,000.
Soliciting for child prostitution is Class 3 felony. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a Class 4 felony.
In an affidavit filed in the case, investigators said the girls had gone to a store owned by Bini’s wife and were looking at a poster when Bini approached and began to talk to them.
He allegedly said that “what he would really like to see is two young girls” having sex together, the affidavit said.
The juveniles said Bini offered them $20 if they would have sex in front of him.
Later, the girls said they became scared and wanted to leave but Bini reminded them he had the key to the front door, which he had locked, and refused to let them leave. He said he wanted them to engage in sex for another minute before leaving.
When they asked for the $20, Bini allegedly responded, “Yeah, but it’s not worth $20.”
The girls said Bini gave them some money, but the affidavit didn’t indicate just how much.
Bini has been released from custody on a $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court on Monday to be advised of the charges.
A Class 3 felony can carry a prison term of up to 12 years on conviction.Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
