The
Long Beach police officer, who is being investigated for allegedly soliciting
graphic images via text from a teenager he met while on duty, had previously
sued the city.
Long
Beach police officer, Noe Yanez, 40, who was arrested for possession of child
pornography Thursday, was released on bond the following day, according to the
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Lisa
Massacani, LB police public information officer, told Patch that he was being
held in lieu of $150,000 bail. However, the Los Angeles Times, which cited the
sheriff's department as a source, reported the bail amount to be $20,000. In
some cases, a judge may reduce the bail amount depending on the circumstances.
Yanez,
a nine-year veteran, was arrested following an internal investigation by the
Long Beach Police Department. At this time, it is unclear where the officer was
stationed.
Police
allege that Yanez first came into contact with the teenager during the course
of his employment with the department and began contacting the minor via text
messages.
As
the communication between the two progressed, police allege that Yanez
solicited inappropriate photographs of the victim. Sometime in April, the
victim reported the incident to a school resource officer and LB police began
an immediate investigation.
According
to officials, significant resources--including multiple search warrants--were
utilized to uncover the extent of contact between Yanez and the victim.
Sources
familiar with case have told the Los Angeles Times that LB police detective
have not ruled out the possibility of more victims. Department Investigators
have gathered phone records and are attemptinging to identify the extent of
Yanez’s activity, reported the LA Times.
The
officer has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the criminal and
internal affairs investigation.
Yanez
is also listed in a class action lawsuit filed by Long Beach police officers
against the city in 2009, according to court documents given to the Long Beach
Press-Telegram by City Attorney Bob Shannon three years ago. The officer was
one of 56 others who filed a class-action lawsuit against the city in 2009.
The
suit sought compensation for unpaid time while performing routine tasks, such
as shaving, shining their boots or walking to debriefings, and was settled
after the city agreed to pay 47 vacation hours to around 900 former and current
officers, and pay $300,000 in attorney fees, according to the Press-Telegram.
The
case cost the city more than $1 million in fees and other costs, according to a
2009 report by the Press-Telegram. Yanez had requested compensation for
shaving.
Last
year, an LB police officer was arrested after his wife found him having sex
with a minor, reported the LA Times. Detective Erik Alvarez of Upland resigned
and was convicted, receiving a two-year prison sentence for having a sexual
relationship with the minor, who was 15-years-old when their relations began,
the LA Times reported.
The
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Justice System Integrity Division
will handle the criminal prosecution against Yanez, said officials.