Prosecutors revealed some of the details of the case in court Wednesday. They said they believe the veteran sheriff's deputy is not only guilty of assault, but also of threatening his victim, telling him, "I am a captain. I could have you arrested." Vincent Calvarese is, in fact, a lieutenant at the San Francisco Sheriff's Office and is now charged with three misdemeanor counts related to what is being called a "domestic violence incident involving a former romantic partner."
Calvarese is accused of domestic violence, battery, assault, and false imprisonment related to an incident last Thursday at the Gold's Gym in the Castro District. Prosecutors say Calvarese ran into someone he had dated from January to March of 2012, got into an argument with that man, followed him into the locker room, and pushed and punched him until other people went to the victim's rescue.
Calvarese has been with the sheriff's office since 1994. On Wednesday, he pled not guilty to the charges. This case comes just months after Calvarese's boss Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi was removed from his job amidst domestic violence allegations. "Our office policy's very clear," San Francisco District Attorney George Gascone said. "We have zero tolerance for domestic violence. It does not matter who the defendant is or who the victim is. We will prosecute this case if the evidence is there to prosecute the case."
The judge Wednesday ordered Calvarese to stay away from his alleged victim, the victim's home, and the Gold's Gym where the assault allegedly took place. Calvarese is openly gay and was profiled in the 2009 documentary "The Butch Factor." He is on paid administrative leave during the criminal proceedings. His attorney, Judy Overt, told the judge that her position will be that Calvarese was assaulted first. She declined to comment publically on the case.
Calvarese will be back in court on August 14.
