Authorities say the 13-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Station was arrested on suspicion of trying to send an explicit document to him to a teenage girl and own indecent material depicting a minor.
Mark Lugo, 35, was arrested Monday by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigation.
The investigation began when detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit provided a search warrant in Bakersfield.
Investigators of tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said Instagram users had exchanged explicit messages with a 15-year-old South Carolina girl.
Authorities say the account is linked to Lugo, and records obtained from Instagram showed that he encouraged the girl to send him explicit material.
Lugo was booked into a prison where he was charged with multiple charges, including contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offence. Possession of indecent material depicting a minor. Use or possession of indecent sexual material, including minors.
The Bakersfield District Attorney’s Office said it has not yet received a lawsuit from investigators.
The Bakersfield Police Department said Lugo was placed on administrative leave after his arrest.
“The allegations against Detective Lugo are deeply intrusive and do not reflect the values of our department or the expectations of our community,” the department said in a statement. “We are a department that takes great pride in our professionalism and honorable service to our community. The trust our community has in us is at our core. That hasn’t changed.”
The department said it had cooperated with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation and launched an administrative review at the Bakersfield Police Department.
He was released from custody after posting bail Monday, authorities said.
The case is under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110.
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