A former Garden Grove police officer has been charged with having sex with a 16-year-old police explorer, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Roberto Machuca, 33, of Riverside, was charged Tuesday with three counts of sex with a minor, and one count of sexual penetration of a minor and oral copulation of a minor, all felonies.
When Machuca was arrested earlier this month he was placed on administrative leave. He posted $20,000 bail and was released from jail, according to court records.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday in the West Justice Center in Westminster. He was next due in court for a pretrial and bail review hearing Aug. 4.
Machuca’s bail was tentatively set at $100,000, but it will be reviewed at the Aug. 4 hearing and he was allowed to remain free on his current bail.
Machuca’s attorney, Alan Castillo, declined comment.
Machuca worked for the Garden Grove Police Department since 2019 and served as an advisor for the agency’s Explorer Program for youths 14 to 21 interested in law enforcement careers.
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