Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy arrested for child molestation

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested on Friday for child molestation, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Sean Jerome Essex, 51, was taken into custody around 11AM on Friday morning. He was reportedly released on $100,000 bail around 4PM the same day.

According to the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Essex was arrested “on suspicion of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old, and committing oral copulation with a child under the age of 14.”

KTLA reports an internal investigation into Essex was carried out by the Department’s Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Special Victims Bureau after the Los Angeles County Suspected Child Abuse Report system received a complaint.

The LA Sheriff’s Department said in a statement, “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department expects all of its members to hold themselves to the highest ethical and professional standards at all times. Department members who engage in misconduct, especially criminal misconduct that preys on a vulnerable population, will not be tolerated and will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Essex is expected to appear in court on April 12.