Placer deputy pleads not guilty to multiple counts of felony rape, sodomy

A Placer Deputy who was arrested and charged with multiple counts of felony rape and sodomy plead not guilty at his arraignment on July 5, according to the Placer County Superior Court. According to a previous Gold Mountain News article titled, "Placer deputy arrested for forcible rape, sodomy," the sheriff's office began investigating two allegations of Deputy Wes Montz on March 14. The two alleged victims were confirmed to be dating Montz. Montz was arrested and booked into South Placer Jail on June 3 on 14 charges of felony rape and sodomy. He was placed on administrative leave after the first allegations and the Sheriff's Office submitted an investigation to the Placer County District Attorney. In a statement, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said, "There is absolutely no tolerance for misconduct from employees at the Sheriff's Office. This incident is not a representation of the culture we have worked so hard to maintain. We uphold our core values to the highest degree and any misconduct that meets the threshold for criminal prosecution will be dealt with as such." Woo also stated the Sheriff's Office reported its current findings to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training under Senate Bill 2. At his arraignment, Montz received two additional charges after an alleged third victim came forward. It is unknown whether the third alleged victim was dating Montz at the time. Montz's 16 felony charges spanned June 2014 to March 2021 and include counts of rape by drugs and intoxication, and sodomy. The next Early Status Conference hearing for the case will be July 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the Placer County Courthouse in Department 42 at 10820 Justice Center Drive.