California deputy arrested for sex crimes with teen

Cop faces allegations of sex crimes. Photo via Wiki Commons.

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was arrested on charges of sex crimes against a 16-year-old girl who was enrolled in a departmental program for teens. The Cerritos-Artesia Patch explains that Deputy Manuel Enrique Perallon, Jr., a 10-year veteran of the force, was arrested on a felony count of oral copulation with a person under 18 and a misdemeanor count of child molestation.

Perallon turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday at 1:15 PM and has been released on $70,000 bond.

Perallon, 36, oversaw the departments’ youth program called the Explorer program. The Explorer program allows teens to help out law enforcement with basic tasks and guides them in how to pursue a career in law enforcement in the future. The girl was enrolled in the program at the time of the alleged crimes.

KABC in Los Angeles reports that the alleged relationship began in February 2011 and persisted for about 3 months. An investigation was launched as soon as news of Perallon’s misconduct came to light. Perallon was relieved of duty with pay in August 2011. After being charged with a felony, Perallon was relieved from duty without pay accorded to the Los Angeles Times.

Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, told the LA Times, “All crimes are heinous, especially ones like this. Not only is it illegal, but it’s categorically unacceptable.”

Perallon is expected to be arraigned on May 16. He could face 4 years behind bars if found guilty.