MARTINEZ – Martinez police say a veteran Contra Costa County prosecutor who handled sex crimes in court has been arrested on rape charges.

Michael Gressett, who ran unsuccessfully for district attorney three times, was arrested Thursday in an alleged attack that police say happened several months ago but only was reported late last week. Police said in a statement that Gressett was jailed on suspicion of committing rape, oral copulation, sodomy and penetration with a foreign object, all felonies.

His defense lawyer, Michael Cardoza, says the 51-year-old Gressett is innocent and will fight the allegations.

District Attorney Robert Kochly called Gressett's arrest “devastating to the office” and “antithetical to what we're about.”

Kochly says he will ask the state attorney general to decide whether charges are warranted to avoid a conflict of interest.

Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, www.sfgate.com/chronicle