Attorney: Antidepressants possible factor in officer's alleged kidnap, rape

Pictured (L-R): Orban and Jelinek.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - The attorney for a Westminster police detective accused of kidnapping a woman at Ontario Mills and raping her at gunpoint said today that toxicology tests of his client may "be a factor" in the case.

Anthony Nicholas Orban, 30, may have been medicated on antidepressants during the alleged April 3 sexual assault, James E. Blatt, said in an interview at West Valley Superior Court.

In part because toxicology tests haven't been completed, a motion scheduled for this morning, in which Orban and his alleged accomplice were to ask for bail to be lowered from $2 million, was postponed to April 28.

"There may be a logical, honest explanation as to why these events occurred," Blatt said.

This morning's court hearing was also the first for newly hired attorneys for Orban's alleged accomplice - 31-year-old corrections officer Jeff Thomas Jelinek - and the attorneys were unprepared to argue for Jelinek's bail to be lowered, Blatt said.

Prosecutors accuse Orban, of Irvine, of kidnapping a 25-year-old waitress in an Ontario Mills parking lot following a full day of drinking with Jelinek, then sexually assaulting her for at least an hour in the parking lot of a Fontana shopping center.

The alleged victim told police Orban repeatedly punched and slapped her during the alleged assault, and took pictures of the incident with his cell phone, according to police reports.

Jelinek, a correction's officer assigned to the California Institution for Men in Chino, is accused of watching his friend kidnap the alleged victim, then helping Orban after the alleged assault.

Orban and Jelinek both wore green jail scrubs during their brief court appearance today, which indicate the men are being housed in protective custody. It appeared Orban hadn't shaved since his court appearance last week.

After attorneys in the case and Judge Michael R. Libutti had a brief conference at Libutti's bench, a new court date was scheduled.

Orban has worked for the Westminster Police Department for five years, and in the last year was promoted to detective, Blatt said.

"He was doing very well," Blatt said. "He was very well respected at the police department."

Before he became a police officer, Orban was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was part of group that initially invaded Iraq in 2003, and he was honorably discharged, Blatt said.

When asked whether Orban suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of his combat experience, Blatt said: "Whether that's an issue or not, that needs further development."

Blatt said he's "not indicating at this time that that's a reason for (Orban's) actions." The attorney said "further clinical analysis" would be needed to examine whether Orban suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Several family members and other supporters of Orban and Jelinek attended today's court hearing.

Afterward, one man who came in support of Jelinek said the Ontario resident was "a good guy. That's all I know." The men's other supporters declined to comment to reporters.

Jelinek's attorneys, Michael J. Muñoz and Ciprian Turcu, both declined to discuss the alleged assault.

Turcu said he hadn't received "discovery" in the case, such as police reports. Muñoz said only that the attorneys plan to "defend this aggressively."