BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A Kern County Probation Officer paid to have sex with a 17-year-old girl two to three times a week for about a year, according to a search warrant obtained by 23ABC.
According to Kern County Probation, the employee has been employed as a Juvenile Corrections Officer since 2008.
Kern County Probation said that as soon as they became aware of the allegations, they immediately contacted law enforcement.
According to the warrant, on February 26, the Bakersfield Police Department responded to Kern County Juvenile Hall for reports of a sexual battery. The alleged victim, a 17-year-old girl, told investigators she had been the victim of human trafficking.
The girl told investigators that she had recognized a Kern County Probation Officer as a client that paid to have sex with her.
According to the teen, the officer would make arrangements with an alleged pimp to have sex with her through the "Text Now" app. The alleged victim told investigators she first had sex with the officer around January 2018.
According to the teen, the officer was a regular client of hers, and the two would meet two to three times a week. The two would allegedly meet in motels throughout Bakersfield. On a few occasions, the teen told investigators the two would have sex in his vehicles.
According to the warrant, the alleged victim described the officer's vehicle, which matched his vehicle registration records. The teen also picked the officer's photo out of a lineup.
BPD seized the suspect's phone but found no evidence related to the statutory rape investigation.
Kern County Probation said that the officer was placed on paid administrative leave and has been on leave since February 26.
