Dominic Foppoli: 7 Women Move Forward With Sex-Assault Claims Against Healdsburg Winery Son

Remember Dominic Foppoli? Over the past few years, the heir to Healdsburg’s Christopher Creek Winery on Limerick Lane and disgraced ex-mayor of Windsor has been accused by over a dozen women of leveraging his status to get them into situations where he could sexually assault and abuse them. Last month, however, the California District Attorney decided there wasn’t enough evidence to file any charges against him. This announcement “marked, for now, the conclusion of the last publicly known ongoing criminal investigation into Foppoli, the once-politically ascendant scion of a wealthy local wine family,” the PD wrote at the time. But seven of his accusers reportedly just held a big press conference over the weekend to announce that they’re moving forward with civil action in Sonoma County Superior Court. Reality TV star Farrah Abraham, who claims Foppoli drugged and sexually assaulted her in Florida a few years ago, was one of the women who spoke to reporters Saturday. “I went through some of the darkest times in my life when this happened,” she said. “If nothing is done, a rapist will repeat their behavior.” More from the San Francisco Chronicle: “The Saturday news conference marked the first time that Foppoli’s accusers have appeared together publicly since first speaking out in several Chronicle investigations, a 2021 series that led to the criminal investigation and Foppoli’s ultimate resignation from Windsor’s top post. In the wake of the Chronicle reports, nine of the women filed three separate lawsuits in Sonoma County, which are all ongoing.” And according to the PD: “Also named as defendants are his family-owned Christopher Creek Winery, and the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, which the lawsuit alleges profited from Foppoli, ‘luring Plaintiffs to events held at or on behalf of’ the two institutions, then failing to investigate reports of sexual assault, according to the complaint.” While the D.A. won’t file charges for now, state prosecutors have emphasized that the “investigation remains open” — and they’re encouraging anyone else “who believes they may be a victim or who has evidence to come forward.” Foppoli, for his part, has continued to flat-out deny the allegations, and now calls the women “false accusers” who are “crying wolf” in statements to the press. Foppoli’s other accusers have included one of his young campaign volunteers and a former colleague on the Windsor Town Council, both of whom claim he raped them at parties. (Source: ABC7 & San Francisco Chronicle & Press Democrat)