BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 A Bakersfield police detective found himself on the other side of the law Thursday.<\/p>\n
Marc Lugo \u2014 a 13-year veteran with Bakersfield police \u2014 was arrested in May on suspicion of having explicit online communication with a 15-year-old girl from South Carolina.<\/p>\n
According to investigators, Instagram records revealed Lugo, 35, engaged in online communication encouraging the girl to send explicit material. He\u2019s now been charged federally, with one count of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.<\/p>\n
Victims\u2019 Rights March in Kern County set for Nov. 6 <\/a><\/p>\n 17 News was not allowed to film in federal court, but was able to sit in on the proceedings.<\/p>\n Two men in jackets with yellow lettering that read \u201cU.S. Marshall\u201d on their backs waited by the door to bring Lugo in.<\/p>\n Lugo had long curly black hair kept in a bun. He was in a blue and white-striped shirt and clean shaven.<\/p>\n Prosecutor Luke Baity represented the government while criminal defense attorney David Torres represented Lugo. Lugo pleaded not guilty to all charges.<\/p>\n The Bakersfield Police Department said Lugo is on paid administrative leave. Most recent payroll records show Lugo made $145,000 last year.<\/p>\n