Lewd details surface in ex-Denver cop's sex-assault case
Rocky Mountain News
Published June 4, 2008 at 3:07 p.m.
Joseph Bini
The checkered life of Joseph Bini has taken a serious turn for the worse.
The former Denver policeman, who has weathered suspension from the force, accusations of petty theft and two bouts with cancer, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting at least one juvenile girl in the downtown nutrition store owned by his wife.
According to the arrest affidavit released Wednesday, the alleged crime took place on May 21.
Two underage female runaways entered the GNC store in the Denver Pavilions and began talking to Bini, 39, who was working there, the affidavit says.
They told police that Bini offered them $20 if they would perform a sex act in front of him. When the girls agreed, Bini "took them in the back room and went out front and locked the front door," the affidavit says.
At one point, the girls told police, they noticed Bini was masturbating. When they became scared and told Bini they wanted to leave, they said he replied, "What you all got to remember is I got the keys just for one more minute."
After the girls performed for the additional minute, Bini allegedly said, "It's not worth 20 dollars," but gave them the money and let them out.
Bini was subsequently picked out of a photo lineup by one of the girls.
The embattled cop first made headlines in 1999 when he signed a search warrant that launched a no-knock drug raid at a Denver rooming house. The warrant, however, contained the wrong address, resulting in the death of Ismael Mena, a Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrant who thought the police were thieves and reached for his gun. Police said they shot him in self-defense.
Bini said the wrong address was the result of an error on the printout, not carelessness on his part. He was allowed to plea bargain a felony perjury charge down to a misdemeanor and was punished with a year of probation, community service and three-month suspension.
Although there was an outcry from segments of the community, Bini returned to the force.
Shortly after returning, he was diagnosed with cancer. He overcame the disease and went on to become a competitive bodybuilder. Over the years, he divorced and remarried Marina Lopez, another bodybuilder.
Bini's comeback from cancer made him something of a poster child for the police department. Police Chief Gerald Whitman appointed him to run a support program for officers who were injured or seriously ill.
Efforts to reach Bini for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Bini is free on a $75,000 bond. His first court appearance is set for June 16.
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June 4, 2008
3:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
His poor wife
June 4, 2008
3:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ashley writes:
That doesn't even begin to describe it. What a sick freak.
June 4, 2008
3:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
freedomfighter1 writes:
Capitalism = exploitation
June 4, 2008
3:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Who_Me writes:
Because the girls didn't get a tip, or they didn't collect taxes? Petty, very petty indeed.
June 4, 2008
3:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
Ashley - I agree with you. There is so much WRONG with this story and this guy. I coulnd't wrap my brain around it, so the first thing that popped into my head was "poor wife"...
June 4, 2008
3:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
freedomfighter1 writes:
I am sure that these two girls were in need of some cash (since they were homeless). Officer Perv exploited them instead of helping them. He motivated them to provide a service for him so that they may have the basic necessities for the day.
June 4, 2008
3:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
J_Phil writes:
I like how the girls put on the show, collected the money and then filed a report...
Such poor innocent victims.
June 4, 2008
4:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
anthony1979 writes:
agreed J_Phil
June 4, 2008
4:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
So, J_Phil, by your account, then the girls aren't victims because they're runaways and were trying to get money to eat?
They're still juveniles and he's a sick S.O.B. luring kids.
June 4, 2008
4:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
There's no difference in what he did to someone enticing small children into their car with candy. Sick is sick whether the girls are homeless or not.
June 4, 2008
4:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
J_Phil writes:
Yeah, I'm sure they would have gone hungry without performing that sex act for a whopping $20 Darling... Poor poor girls.
June 4, 2008
4:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
I believe the point of the girls pressing charges is that he locked them into the store and wouldn't let them out.
Regardless of why they were there, that's false imprisonment...
There's no way around it - this guy is a sick SOB and needs a nice, comfy cell with a big, strapping roommate.
June 4, 2008
4:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
And following your logic J-Phil, you'd be ok with 2 6-year olds in the same circumstances because the guy offered them 10 licorice sticks but only gave them 3? They deserved it because they were selling themselves for the licorice?
The girls are KIDS. Period.
And he's sick.
June 4, 2008
4:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
J_Phil writes:
Yeah, for the record, I'm not condoning the guy's actions... He obviously can't be trusted around children & needs some help-- But I don't exactly classify the girls as "victims" either... A victim would have recognized that performing sex for money is illegal.
In my opinion, the girls should also be punished. Obviously not as harshly as mr. false imprisonment-- But a slap on the wrist is in order I believe.
June 4, 2008
4:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
I'm not sure about punishing the girls. If they are punished, wouldn't that deter others who find themselves in a similar situation from pressing charges themselves? Also, if others don't press charges, then we have sickos like this getting away with this type of crap because the kids are too scared to press charges?
June 4, 2008
4:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
J_Phil writes:
Well, on the other hand, it might also deter girls from accepting money for sex in the first place and placing themselves in harm's way... There's something to be said for their neglegence.
June 4, 2008
4:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darling writes:
They're runaways - they placed themselves in harm's way long before this act.
June 4, 2008
4:44 p.m.
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J_Phil writes:
Yes, they certainly did, which furthers their poor judgement in my opinion... To me, these girls are like burglars who get stuck in the heater duct trying to break in and then call the cops. I'm just having a hard time drumming up any sympathy for them.
June 4, 2008
4:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
HOOK writes:
This dumb a** has beat going to jail already, watch him do it again. Gotta love the system!
June 4, 2008
4:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
bira44 writes:
I would bet this is not the first time beanie boy has done this type of thing. These are the actions of one who is used to using power, be it with a gun or a badge or a yuppie food stamp.
I say no more bail, no more slaps on the wrists, no more atta boys for coming back from illness. I want to see his mug in the DOC inmate locator system.
June 4, 2008
4:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
HOOK writes:
J_Phil "these girls" is the key part of the statement. They were GIRLS (not women), he is a man (by age only), and former cop (disgrace to the name cop). Am I saying that they were completely innocent, no, absolutely not, but who is the real predator here, this dingbat moron who is still collecting a check from the city? Its not rocket science, adults are supposed to use a little more common sense, responsibility, and decision making, which he has, did, and will continue not to do until has locked up.
June 4, 2008
5:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
AKuser writes:
J_Phil you really come across as pathetic. I am sure in your world view these kids are suburban brats that ran away because mama would not by them a new iphone and deserve anything that happens to them. Believe it or not some runaways are fleeing a situation of sexual or physical abuse and often thrown into a world where this type of abuse continues. As you say 'for the record I am not condoning the actions', no you are just trying to place the blame on the victims. Maybe you should press the DA to press some entrapment charges on these opportunistic young ladies...
June 4, 2008
5:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Bini is a jerk-off.
June 4, 2008
5:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
ou8one2 writes:
Joe just needs to find a liberal judge. Then he can get this type of sex declared consitutional. I am sure it is in there, sandwiched between the right to abortion, the right to gay marriage, and no praying allowed in school that our founding fathers so wisely put in there so long ago.
June 4, 2008
5:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
clyde writes:
Where's our resident Analytical Proctologist, Wechesa, to blast the Police in general and rant his demented rant?
June 4, 2008
5:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Vector049 writes:
So, what's the scoop on our two little innocent virgin chippies?
June 4, 2008
7:10 p.m.
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breckrider writes:
D.P.D. the finest in the nation. this schmuck was responsible for the death of an innocent man by commiting fraud and forgery, was allowed to stay on the force, and surely did things like this while he was a cop. P.O.S., like most of denver p.d.
June 4, 2008
7:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
windbourne writes:
Re: ou8one2,
And yet, all I read about are the pub judges, congressman, and preachers that are raping children, preaching against gays while doing drugs and other men.
The man does not need a liberal judge because he MAY let him off. He needs a pub judge so that he can bribe him and KNOW that he will get off.
June 4, 2008
8:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Houstongolfnut writes:
To Freedomfighter:
No Capitalism = Living in a cave and surviving on nuts and berries. Go for it!
June 4, 2008
10:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
CyberHostage writes:
If only I had a $20 bill for every time I was locked in a GNC store while the clerk pleasured herself ... no wonder online shopping is taking off.
June 5, 2008
12:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
politwriter writes:
I don't understand why the Denver Police authorities re-admitted a convicted perjuror to their force.
June 5, 2008
5:33 a.m.
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OGG writes:
What are two homeless girls doing in a GNC store in the first place. Did they turn over the $20 as evidence?My guess is NO. Did you catch the words alledged and suspicion in the article.
June 5, 2008
7:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
DahmersCookbook writes:
Some like to watch.
June 5, 2008
9:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Classof80 writes:
The article states the girls were underage but not their ages so one can assume they were under 18. If there runaways when they turned Bini in were they detainded as well? This guy is a disgrace to any law enforcement officer current or former. But somethings not right here, were missing part of the story. He broke the law and maybe this time he'll be punished.
June 5, 2008
10 a.m.
Suggest removal
HE5t writes:
If they were broke, why were they shopping?
June 5, 2008
10:06 a.m.
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momof5 writes:
The guy is sick. The girls need help to either go home or go to a foster home or group home where they will be safe. The guy deserves to go to jail. For crying out loud, he was a cop. He should know what he did was illegal. Put him in jail already.
June 5, 2008
11:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
J_Phil writes:
Akuser, if I come across as pathetic, you come across as clueless...
As I have said, I'm not condoning the guy's actions, he was in the wrong, he deserves to be punished-- He clearly isn't to be trusted around minors... By no means am I asserting his innocence.
But in my worldy view-- Homeless, psycologically abused runaways aren't shooping for vitamins and supplements at a GNC. And, hypothetically, even if they were abused, that still doesn't condone prostitution. Lots of people have tough lives and find a way to cope without breaking existing laws.
Sure, that's insensitive, and I should learn more about their lives before I judge them blah blah blah... But the bottom line is they accepted money for sex, then when things weren't as easy as they anticipated, they decided to play the victim card.
June 21, 2008
6:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
MsAnthrope writes:
All sorts of things are missing from this story. Going back to the incident in 1999 is not going back far enough. Joseph Bini was corrupt BEFORE he came a police officer in 1993. Ask his FIRST wife. There were complaints issued against him shortly after he was inducted as a member of the police force.
Joseph Bini has a long history of compromised ethical practices and a haughty disdain for abiding by the laws he's supposed to be upholding and enforcing. I can't believe it took child prostitution to bring it to light. It wasn't enough that someone had to DIE in 1999 and he was just suspended and it wasn't enough that he stole something from the Tivioli. Maybe this will finally be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
I think the Denver Police department needs to REVIEW it's procedures on how they rank someone as worthy of becoming a police officer. I'm sure Joe Bini is not the first and he won't be the last.
Where's that story?