A 13-year veteran with the Bakersfield Police Division was arrested on suspicion of making an attempt to coerce a teenage woman to ship him express materials over Instagram and possessing obscene materials depicting a minor, in accordance with authorities.
Marc Lugo, 35, was arrested Monday by the Kern County Sheriff’s Workplace, in cooperation with the U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Safety Investigations.
The investigation started when detectives with the Sheriff’s Workplace Particular Victims Unit served a search warrant in Bakersfield based mostly on a tip about an individual who was in possession and used obscene materials involving an underage woman, authorities introduced in a information launch on Tuesday.
The tip investigators obtained from the Nationwide Heart for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters mentioned that an Instagram consumer had exchanged express messages with a 15-year-old woman from South Carolina.
The account was allegedly linked to Lugo, authorities mentioned, and information obtained from Instagram confirmed that he had inspired the woman to ship him express materials.
Lugo was booked into jail accused of a number of fees, together with contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense; possession of obscene materials depicting a minor; and use or possession of obscene sexual materials involving a minor.
The Bakersfield district legal professional’s workplace mentioned they haven’t but obtained the case from investigators.
The Bakersfield Police Division mentioned Lugo was positioned on administrative depart following the arrest.
“The allegations in opposition to Detective Lugo are deeply disturbing and don’t replicate the values of our division or the expectations of our group,” the division mentioned in a press release. “We’re a division that takes nice satisfaction in our professionalism and honorable service to our group. The belief our group locations in us stays on the core of who we’re – and that has not modified.”
The division mentioned they are going to cooperate with Kern County Sheriff’s Workplace of their investigation and have begun an administrative assessment on the Bakersfield Police Division.
He was launched from custody after posting bail on Monday, in accordance with authorities.
The case stays beneath investigation. Anybody with data is inspired to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Workplace at (661) 861-3110.