MILWAUKEE, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A Milwaukee police officer has been charged with raping a woman while on duty and could face a life sentence in prison if convicted, officials say.
Ladmarald Cates was fired from the force after he claimed he had consensual sex with the woman, whose name was not released, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday.
Federal charges were brought against Cates Tuesday, for allegedly violating the woman's civil rights while acting under the color of law and using a firearm in the commission of an act of violence.
Cates had previously faced allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic violence during his tenure as a police officer.
"Each of those agencies (the police department and the District Attorney's office) knew the officer had committed acts of sexual misconduct with women and did nothing," the alleged victim's attorney Robin Shellow said. "Had they done something, my client would not have been raped."
The victim alleges Cates raped her after he responded to her home for a complaint she made about teenagers trying to break in. The woman said she was held in jail for 12 hours as she begged to be taken to a hospital.
