San Jose official warned about councilmember’s alleged misconduct

A San Jose elected official was warned that Councilmember Omar Torres was involved in child sexual misconduct – more than a year before Torres became the target of a police investigation that rocked Silicon Valley.

In screenshots obtained by San José Spotlight, a tipster who used the pseudonym “John Wick” messaged one of Torres’ colleagues on the San Jose City Council with an alarming message: “I have information on Omar Torres. He has been touch (sic) on kids.”

The tipster claimed he had “proof” of the misconduct involving the powerful downtown councilman and children. But the tipster’s messages were dismissed. San José Spotlight is not naming the staffer or their council office for fear of retribution.

It’s unclear if “John Wick” or some other anonymous source tried to contact numerous councilmembers about Torres. A city hall employee who spoke to San José Spotlight on condition of anonymity assumed other councilmembers and the mayor were informed by the tipster. The staffer told San José Spotlight that Torres — who is openly gay — had faced backlash for supporting a drag queen event at a council meeting the month before, and staffers may have assumed any critical messages were related to that.

Spokespersons for Councilmembers Pam Foley, Sergio Jimenez, Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas, Bien Doan claimed they didn’t receive any such message. The offices of councilmembers Dev Davis, David Cohen and Arjun Batra didn’t respond.

Mayor Matt Mahan’s office also said he did not receive messages from anyone about Torres.

This news organization is seeking public records related to all councilmembers’ communications about Torres’ alleged misconduct.

A staffer from the office that received Wick’s message confronted Torres about the tipster’s claims, according to screenshots of texts reviewed by San José Spotlight. Torres immediately dismissed them as not credible and no other action was taken.

“Ugh he is my stalker,” Torres texted the staffer. “Block him.”

The staffer and their colleagues did not reply to the tipster or direct them to contact the police.

Last Thursday, police served Torres with a search warrant and detained him for questioning. Sources close to the investigation told San José Spotlight that Torres is being investigated for soliciting explicit pictures from a minor and sex with a minor. Police have not yet released documents related to the probe.

Torres has blasted the allegations as “baseless.” On the same night he was searched, he issued a statement on official city letterhead claiming the investigation is “retaliation” after he filed a police report against someone who was allegedly extorting and stalking him. He added that he was “wrongfully detained and questioned” by police detectives.

Torres said he cooperated with authorities and turned over passwords to his computer because he has nothing to hide.

His attorney, Nelson McElmurry, didn’t respond to requests for comment Monday.

Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X, formerly known as Twitter.