Former Owensboro police officer is accused of sexually assaulting a homeless woman while on duty

OWENSBORO, Ky. (FOX 56) – A former Owensboro police officer was charged Tuesday with alleged crimes related to a 2023 Kentucky State Police investigation.

Kentucky State Police said 35-year-old Aleph G. Zavala was charged with first-degree sodomy, first-degree strangulation and first-degree sexual abuse.

A news release from KSP said police began the investigation on Dec. 9, 2023, after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against an on-duty Owensboro police officer.

KSP said Owensboro police received a burglary alarm at U-Haul Storage in the 2800 block of West Parrish Avenue, where they found a homeless woman staying in a storage unit with the business owner’s permission.

According to a news release, the woman reported that Zavala returned and sexually assaulted her.

Zavala was also charged with possession of marijuana after officers found a small bag of marijuana labeled “Sour Patch Kids” in his pocket while serving the warrant, according to arrest records.

The officer was arrested and lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 18.

The case remains under investigation by Kentucky State Police.