BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Bakersfield police detective found himself on the other side of the law Thursday.
Marc Lugo — a 13-year veteran with Bakersfield police — was arrested in May on suspicion of having explicit online communication with a 15-year-old girl from South Carolina.
According to investigators, Instagram records revealed Lugo, 35, engaged in online communication encouraging the girl to send explicit material. He’s now been charged federally, with one count of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.
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17 News was not allowed to film in federal court, but was able to sit in on the proceedings.
Two men in jackets with yellow lettering that read “U.S. Marshall” on their backs waited by the door to bring Lugo in.
Lugo had long curly black hair kept in a bun. He was in a blue and white-striped shirt and clean shaven.
Prosecutor Luke Baity represented the government while criminal defense attorney David Torres represented Lugo. Lugo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Bakersfield Police Department said Lugo is on paid administrative leave. Most recent payroll records show Lugo made $145,000 last year.
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17 News asked the District Attorney’s Office if these charges could hurt any cases in which Lugo investigated and testified. The DA’s Office said they are looking into it but couldn’t get back to us immediately.
Lugo was involved in a shooting in southwest Bakersfield back in December of 2020. Jonathan Brown, the suspect in that case, died. That shooting was ruled justified.
Lugo was ordered to stay in custody. A detention hearing has been set for Nov. 4.
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