WESTWOOD—A student official for the UCLA Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) was arraigned for charges of sexual battery on April 4.
Omar Arce, 21, was arrested on April 2 after UCLA Police received reports from a female student that she was the victim of sexual battery over the course of several months, according to a news release from UCLA Police. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Arce, who was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s West Hollywood station on the same day. He was released from custody on April 5 after posting bond.
An official with UCLA Police told Canyon News that Arce was arraigned in court on April 4, where he was officially charged with one count of false imprisonment, one count of battery and three counts of sexual battery. If he is convicted on all counts, Arce could face a total of four and a half years in jail.
Arce immigrated to the United States from Mexico at the age of 12, according to his biography on the USAC website. In addition to acting as the Community Service Commissioner, he also tutored children through the school’s Amigo de UCLA since his freshman year.
John Joanino, President of USAC, released a statement on April 2 that attempted to distance the organization from Arce’s actions while confirming the arrest.
“The Undergraduate Students Association Office of the President will work with the leadership and staff of the Community Service Commission (CSC) as needed to ensure that the office continues to run smoothly and that this incident does not affect or jeopardize the tireless work of the CSC’s staff members,” he wrote. “The USAC Office of the President urges all students not to conflate the individual in question nor questions of character with the work and morale of the office.”