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Defense attorney Russell Humphrey talks to a judge Friday as Michael O'Riley, seated, is arraigned on felony charges of domestic abuse. Humphrey was filling in for O'Riley's attorney. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
Lodi inmate counselor charged with five felonies relating to alleged abuse of wife
A Lodi correctional counselor and firearms instructor was charged Friday with five felonies relating to the alleged abuse of the woman he married in China four years ago.
Michael Patrick O'Riley, 60, is being held on $950,000 bail. Police who arrested him also seized more than $20,000 in cash and 12 firearms.
His 44-year-old wife allegedly told police that O'Riley had threatened to kill her and had abused her for the past 22 months, since she moved from China to the United States.
The case brought television cameras to town, with initial stories about the woman being held captive for two years at her home in the 300 block of West Lodi Avenue. Police, however, said they found nothing in the home that showed she was physically held against her will, and that she had no visible injuries. Prosecutors did not file false imprisonment charges.
In the past two weeks, police have been called 10 times to the home. Four of those calls were for disturbances, with the woman saying they were only "arguing," Cpl. Dale Eubanks said. In the six other calls, the woman was home alone and did not report any abuse, Eubanks said.
O'Riley's arrest stunned long-time neighbors, who said they never suspected anything was wrong, and that his nicely-dressed wife never appeared to be under duress.
When police arrived at the home Thursday afternoon, though, officers said the woman was sobbing, feared for her life and tried to jump into a police car window to escape.
Lodi police ultimately arrested O'Riley at gunpoint, initially seized nine firearms and also seized more than $20,000 in cash, which police said they found on him, said Sgt. Fernando Martinez. On Friday, investigators seized three more guns and a computer from the home.
O'Riley has been employed for more than 18 years as an inmate counselor at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove. He was placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest, said Sacramento County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran.
Michael O'Riley holds documents in a Lodi courtroom on Friday. He is charged with five felony counts. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
O'Riley had previously worked as an Alameda police officer, Lodi Police Cpl. Dale Eubanks said.
Police were sent Thursday afternoon to the couple's home, after receiving a 9-1-1 call. The line was open but nobody was talking, so dispatchers sent two patrol cars to check the home.
The home is located in a business section of town, next to a beauty shop. O'Riley's firearms instructor business card is taped to the front of the business, and white paper covers the inside of the windows. City zoning in that area allows both homes and businesses.
O'Riley has lived in the rear portion of the building for more than 10 years, according to employees next door. City records show his business license has been valid since January 1997.
Officer Heather Metcalf arrived first on Thursday and drove into an alley behind the house, where she saw a woman outside.
"She was standing in the alley and was just streaming tears. When she saw me, she just charged at me," Metcalf said.
"I've seen a lot of scared people, but I've never seen anyone that terrified," the officer said.
Metcalf's windows were down in her patrol car — her usual practice so she can hear more things — and the woman tried to open the locked passenger door, then tried climbing through the window.
"I said, 'Slow down, what's going on?' She said, 'My husband's going to kill me. He has guns. He's putting them in his truck,'" Metcalf said.
Then Metcalf heard something, looked up and saw a man exiting the home, carrying several long gun cases.
"He had way more guns than I have," Metcalf said.
The officer, still in her car, drew her gun and unlocked the passenger door so the frantic woman could get inside. Metcalf drove in reverse down the alley to get some distance from the man with guns, then stepped partially out of the car and drew her gun on the man.
A backup officer had arrived by then, also drew his gun, and ordered the man to stop and put his hands up. The man, later identified by police as O'Riley, initially kept walking toward his truck but ultimately stopped and was detained without incident.
O'Riley apparently met the woman online, and he traveled to China four times to meet her, police said. The two married in China four years ago, O'Riley returned to the U.S., and the woman moved here 22 months ago, according to Lodi police. They do not have children together.
The woman told police that O'Riley had left Tuesday night and said he wasn't returning. Then he returned Thursday and made comments that made the woman fear for her life, police said.
Employees at Image Hair and Facial Studio, next to O'Riley's door, were stunned by the allegations.
"They look like a happy couple," said Mary Coker, who said she never saw any signs of abuse. "We don't know what happened inside, but outside he was just as cordial as could be."
She said O'Riley would head to work and his wife would walk toward Downtown, sometimes with friends. When his wife first moved to Lodi, he introduced her to the women at the salon.
"They seemed really happy all the time," said beautician Judi Ito. "I would think, since we're Asian, she would have come to us and asked for help."
O'Riley's wife was taken to an undisclosed location for her own safety, police said, and she was listed only as "Jane Doe" in court files. Judge Bob McNatt signed a criminal protective order Friday barring O'Riley from having any contact with the woman.
O'Riley retained Stockton attorney Roger Moore, who was unavailable for comment Friday, and had another attorney fill in for him during the brief arraignment.
O'Riley, who in court expressed concern Friday about medication for his high blood pressure, is being held in the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp. He is charged with one count of making criminal threats, two counts of sexual penetration by force and two counts of forced oral copulation, all felonies.
Though O'Riley apparently publicizes himself as a firearms instructor, no such license could be found on the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services' Web site. Calls to the agency were not returned Friday, which was an unpaid furlough day for state employees.
Curran said O'Riley does not carry a gun at work, and that his job duties do not include firearm training.
A phone number listed for O'Riley's business, called Monterey Peninsula Institute For Defense, had been disconnected.
Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.
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IMO wrote on Sep 10, 2009 4:23 PM:
pooreastside wrote on Sep 10, 2009 8:19 AM:
pooreastside wrote on Sep 10, 2009 8:13 AM:
contentado wrote on Sep 9, 2009 8:35 AM:
sooziesdad wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:58 PM:
Lodian wrote on Sep 7, 2009 5:53 PM:
Mrs. S. wrote on Sep 7, 2009 4:33 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Sep 7, 2009 3:04 PM:
dogbark wrote on Sep 7, 2009 11:20 AM:
dogbark wrote on Sep 7, 2009 11:15 AM:
Lets see, she drew a gun while still in the car, then drew a gun after stepping out of the car. No mention of reholstering. Hmmm, so, did officer sixshooter draw two guns on the man with guns, er, ah, I mean gun-cases?
LNS note: not a well written sentence. "
country wrote on Sep 7, 2009 9:27 AM:
are referring to HER.....believe me,
that sweet talk ain't the real HIM!! "
T & C wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:32 AM:
" Do you people honestly think they are going to publish their evidence in the newspaper? They still have to get a non-biased jury."
I have NEVER asked much of Lodi, and have given countless hours to help Lodi look nice! Please Lodi, just this "ONCE" grant me this one request: "Put me on your Jury List"! "
T & C wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:28 AM:
T & C wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:24 AM:
There is absolutely NO PROOF HERE of a crime, no criminal history either! She KNEW he had money and wants 50%! The prosecutor here, as often times is the case.... "Will cost the city as much money as he can in order to make a "REP"for himself! We have seen this in the past many many times. Just another way of showing Lodi is "Wasting" our money! "
dogbark wrote on Sep 6, 2009 11:26 PM:
But then the statement above makes me question; isn't this still America?
(I too have the right to bear arms, as many as I care to purchase. Which to date is none.)
Also of concern to any citizen facing charges, is that he doesn't seem to have been contacted after any of the previous 911 calls. He said, she said.
As for "I have never seen a person so scared." Didn't we have an incident a few years back where LPD "saw evidence of rats and rat droppings" at a residence which allowed them to remove the kids; such evidence later could not be verified by a pest control inspection? "
gray cloud wrote on Sep 6, 2009 7:48 PM:
Godfather wrote on Sep 6, 2009 1:04 PM:
pd2care wrote on Sep 6, 2009 11:34 AM:
wmckellips wrote on Sep 6, 2009 10:08 AM:
Godfather wrote on Sep 6, 2009 9:28 AM:
T & C wrote on Sep 6, 2009 8:17 AM:
edukater wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:10 PM:
T & C wrote on Sep 5, 2009 5:30 PM:
Galtguy wrote on Sep 5, 2009 4:50 PM:
A quote from the Officer HERSELF, "they found nothing in the home that showed she was physically held against her will, and that she had no visible injuries"
If he was ABUSING her in ANY way, why didn't she just leave? Answer that ladies. WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST LEAVE?
You know why. It wasn't the plan. The plan was to dupe this guy into bringing her into the US and then cut him lose.
Mrs S-
Did you not read my comment concerning why he was loading his guns? He was putting them into a vehicle IN CASES. Which is legal. He was LEAVING with his possessions. Isn't that what all you women want. If he wanted her dead, she'd be dead.
You ladies wanna bet on the outcome of this case? He walks after pleading to a misdeameanor for some trumped up charge of threatening. THAT'S IT. "
Mrs. S. wrote on Sep 5, 2009 4:06 PM:
I don't think the police are finished gathering evidence. The fact that Mr. O'Reilly was loading lots of guns into his car, verifying part of what his wife alleged, and the fact that he didn't stop immediately when ordered by the police might turn out to support her story. I, for one, will stay tuned. "
LongLivetheione4 wrote on Sep 5, 2009 3:47 PM:
wtf wrote on Sep 5, 2009 3:12 PM:
That said, the first thought that went through my mind when I saw the preview article yesterday was how there is little difference between the crooks behind bars and those on the outside doing the guarding. LOL!
I have to say, too, that I find those who automatically assume the woman is lying are the very same who are so gung-ho to lock up "terrorists" because they "might" do something.
Ver-r-r-y interesting. ;) "
dogs4you wrote on Sep 5, 2009 1:55 PM:
pooreastside wrote on Sep 5, 2009 12:43 PM:
Last time I checked verbal abuse was not a felony. Mr. O'Riley is charged with 5 alleged felonies. Come on people, where is the proof? This man may be hung out to dry because wifie didn't get the new shoes. "
LodiJoe wrote on Sep 5, 2009 12:28 PM:
America. When I was in the military, it happened a lot. I am not saying some of them didn't work but most failed after a while and the woman got what she wanted. Who knows why he was mad,,,but I can imagin why. "
wtf wrote on Sep 5, 2009 11:54 AM:
It's true what the men said regarding mail order brides; however, a lot of men who "purchase" these women then think they "own" them like they do their cars or houses, and can do what they want with them.
There is also a thing called *verbal abuse* of which, I think, O'Riley being a councilor, would know something about....and verbal abuse never leaves physical marks. "
swim mom wrote on Sep 5, 2009 10:41 AM:
saoirse wrote on Sep 5, 2009 10:32 AM:
pooreastside wrote on Sep 5, 2009 9:45 AM:
Absolutely no evidence in this case. What the heck. "
T & C wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:50 AM:
LodiJoe wrote on Sep 5, 2009 6:01 AM:
Galtguy wrote on Sep 5, 2009 3:33 AM:
What exactly did he do that you can prove? There is no evidence whatsoever. It's obvious the reason he came back for his guns was so that she wouldn't sell them. That's the first thing a guy who's leaving does. He grabs his tools and his guns. LPD even stated they were in a case.
You heard it here first folks. This has plead to a misdemeanor all over it. She will get everything she set out to get, which is legal residence in the US. And this poor Sap will get no jail time (other than waiting to make bail) and a huge bill from his attorney. Which by the way he will have to pay because he has a decent job.
Mr. O'Riley you sir have my sympathy. You were taken, happens to the best. Good Luck. "
Galtguy wrote on Sep 5, 2009 3:23 AM:
2-"They look like a happy couple," said Mary Coker, who said she never saw any signs of abuse"
3-"they found nothing in the home that showed she was physically held against her will, and that she had no visible injuries"
4-"with the woman saying they were only "arguing,"
"after receiving a 9-1-1 call. The line was open but nobody was talking, so dispatchers sent two patrol cars to check the home" (to make Officers respond in a agressive manner, not knowing what they faced)
"criminal threats, two counts of sexual penetration by force and two counts of forced oral copulation" (Can you say, He said-She said)
So LPD and the DA, besides the statements of a dubious "victim" what exactly are you going to use as evidence?
No physical signs of abuse. No evidence whatsoever of holding her against her will. No corroborating witnesses. The dubious claim that he raped her, try proving that one, they were married and one would assume had "relations".
Tell me why again you even arrested him in the first place? "
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