Livingston government contractor arrested on suspicion of rape

A prominent government contractor and bar owner from Livingston has been arrested on suspicion of raping an 18-year-old girl during a job interview, the Merced Sun-Star has confirmed.

Wikki Verma, owner and CEO of Wine Country Commerce, a Livingston business that supplies computer hardware and software to defense, aerospace and intelligence agencies, was arrested Monday by the Livingston Police Department.

Verma, 39, told the Sun-Star there wasn’t much he could say regarding the arrest when contacted Wednesday morning.

“These are just allegations,” Verma said. “Nothing has been proven.”

According to the Livingston Police Department, Verma is also an owner of the Barcode Bar & Grill on F Street.

Lt. Chris Soria said the alleged victim told police she went to the bar for a job interview around 6 p.m. Sunday.

“She said he gave her drinks from the bar and, at some point later, he forced himself on her for sex without her consent,” Soria told the Sun-Star.

Police were called around 9:30 p.m. Sunday and located the girl in the bar parking lot. She was taken to a hospital for an examination, Soria said.

Investigators said the woman had several scratches on her right arm, but police declined to comment on any potential physical evidence.

Soria said police tried to investigate the scene but the bar was locked. Officers remained in the area and investigators returned the following morning with a search warrant. They found Verma inside, Soria said.

According to Merced County jail records, Verma was arrested just before noon Monday at the bar by police Detective Patrick Radke.

Verma declined to speak with detectives, invoking his right to remain silent, police said.

He was booked at the jail on suspicion of rape by force or fear and sexual penetration with a foreign object, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor allegations of sexual battery and two counts of providing alcohol to a minor. He posted a bail bond and was released from custody about six hours later, booking records show.

Police said they hope to send the casework to the District Attorney’s Office as soon as possible for review.

Soria said the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will be contacted as police believe Verma and the girl were drinking alcohol at the bar after it was already closed for the day.

Verma is a Livingston native whose success in the technology industry helped land his company a $2 million contract last year to provide computer supplies to a Nebraska-based Air Force base. The company also owns Livingston Technology Solutions, according to its website.

He is also listed as president of Ashki Inc., according to state records.

Verma first opened the company several years ago in Petaluma, but moved his business back to the Central Valley around 2012. He hoped to bring more jobs to his hometown, he told the Sun-Star in an interview in November 2014.

Verma also has a history of working with law enforcement anti-drug campaigns. In April last year, Verma met with officials to discuss the success of the community Drug Take Back Day. In an interview with the Sun-Star, Verma described prescription drug abuse as an epidemic.

He remains free on bail.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Livingston government contractor arrested on suspicion of rape."