[Archived] Bjerke Indicted for 2016 Rape of Lifeguard

For Immediate release: February 12, 2019

On February 11, 2019, Jesse Bjerke, a 37-year-old Arlington County resident, was charged in an indictment related to the September 3, 2016, sexual assault of a woman. The assault occurred at a pool located in a condominium complex located on South Pickett Street in the City. The victim was a lifeguard at the pool and was not acquainted with her assailant.

Bjerke was charged with 6 felonies: Rape, Object Sexual Penetration, Abduction with the Intent to Defile and three counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. The Rape, Object Sexual Penetration and Abduction charges each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The firearms charges carry a total mandatory minimum sentence of 13 years in prison.

Rule 3.6 of the Virginia State Bar's Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys states, in pertinent part: "A lawyer participating in or associated with the… prosecution … of a criminal matter that may be tried to a jury shall not make or participate in making an extrajudicial statement… that the lawyer knows or should know, will have a substantial likelihood of interfering with the fairness of a trial by jury." Therefore, the Commonwealth is prohibited from discussing the evidence, its trial strategy or its work product prior to trial.

Bjerke is presently incarcerated in the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center awaiting trial.