As seen below, deputies in both the Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties sheriff’s departments are now facing allegations of committing sex acts with underage girls. In the Los Angeles County case, the alleged victim is a 16-year-old relative of the deputy. In San Bernardino County, two deputies are accused of having sex with a 17-year-old Explorer Scout:
Statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office:
LONG BEACH – A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy accused of engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl is expected to be arraigned this afternoon, the District Attorney’s Office announced.Deputy District Attorney Deborah Escobar of the Justice System Integrity Division said Orlando Denison, 34 (dob 8/16/76), is charged with two felony counts of oral copulation of a person under 18.Denison is expected to appear for arraignment in Department J of Long Beach Superior Court. The defendant was charged on May 5 in case No. NA088848 in a felony complaint for arrest warrant.Officers of the Long Beach Police Department arrested Denison without incident at his residence yesterday afternoon. The alleged offenses, which occurred in July 2010, involve a female relative who was 16 at the time.If convicted as charged, Denison faces a maximum sentence of three years, eight months in state prison. Bail for the defendant is recommended at $100,000.
From our counterparts at the San Bernardino Sun:
VICTORVILLE — Another San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of committing sex acts with a child in the department’s explorer program, officials announced today.Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Benjamin, 30, a supervisor of the program in Victorville, was arrested late Wednesday and posted $100,000 bail this morning, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.Investigators suspect the sex acts occurred while the victim, a 17-year-old girl, was on ride-alongs with the deputy.Sheriff Rod Hoops said the explorer ride-along program will be suspended for 60 days and the entire program will be fully reviewed and overhauled.Benjamin is the second deputy in less than two weeks to be arrested on suspicion of having sex with a child in the program.Deputy Nathan Gastineau, 30, based at the sheriff’s Highland station, was arrested in late April on suspicion of committing lewd acts with a child. Jason Anguiano, 27, of Rialto, suspected of having sex with the same girl, also was arrested.
Reminds me of the Frank Runninghorse case in Contra Costa County where the then 51 year old was convicted of unlawful sexual relations with a 14 year old girl. And he is a “campus organizer” of some thirty years.