Accused former Jura’s Pizza Parlor owner out on bail; arraignment set

The former Oakdale businessman arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting one of his employees bailed out of jail Tuesday. Jura Aghassi, 59, is scheduled to be arraigned Nov.20.

The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office has not filed charges against him, but the statute of limitations for two of the charges of which he is accused – forced oral copulation and forced sexual penetration with a foreign object – is 10 years, said Assistant District Attorney Carol Shipley.

Aghassi was arrested Monday in Turlock at the Jura’s Pizza Parlor his father named after him 35 years ago. His sister, Papiola Aghassi, is the sole owner of the Turlock business, but Jura Aghassi for about five months owned a Jura’s in Oakdale, where the assault is claimed to have occurred.

The Jura’s Pizza on Yosemite Avenue closed last month, shortly after Oakdale police detectives interviewed Aghassi about the incident.

Papiola Aghassi said the business’s closing was unrelated to the investigation. “Business was very slow,” she said. “It had nothing to do with the allegations.”

She said she will support her brother through any legal proceedings.

Papiola Aghassi said her brother retained an attorney the day after his interview with police. The family was aware of the investigation, but the arrest and the charges her brother faces weren’t “to any of our expectations.”

The alleged victim told police the assault occurred at the restaurant during business hours the evening of Sept.13.

On Sept.23, a woman filed for a restraining order against Jura Aghassi. The order included her 1-year-old daughter and 1-month-old son and required that Aghassi stay more than 100 yards away from them, her home, her place of employment, a child-care facility and her mother’s home.

A fee to file the restraining order was waved for the plaintiff because “the order is based on unlawful violence, a credible threat, or stalking,” according to court documents.

During an Oct.16 hearing, Judge John D. Freeland ordered that the temporary restraining order remain in place and continued the matter until Nov. 20, the same day as Aghassi’s arraignment.

Oakdale police said Monday’s arrest was made after a monthlong investigation that included interviews with other employees and a search of Aghassi’s Turlock home.

This story was originally published October 21, 2014 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Accused former Jura’s Pizza Parlor owner out on bail; arraignment set."