BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 He told her she was cute and sexy. He said she made him happy.<\/p>\n
Bakersfield police Detective Marc Lugo paid those compliments to a 15-year-old girl whom he instructed how to pose and perform sexually explicit acts in videos and photos sent online, authorities say in court documents that recently became available.<\/p>\n
Lugo, 35 at the time of his arrest, was arraigned last week on federal charges alleging sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of child pornography. He remains in custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing Tuesday.<\/p>\n
If convicted, he faces decades in prison.<\/p>\n
The teen told investigators they never met in person, and the only image she received from Lugo\u2019s account was a picture of a man\u2019s abs \u2014 she wasn\u2019t sure if the person in the photo was actually Lugo \u2014 with a cat emoji covering his face.<\/p>\n
Kern County sheriff\u2019s officials say an investigation began in late April after they learned an Instagram account linked to Lugo was sending sexually explicit messages to an underage girl in South Carolina.<\/p>\n
They learned the girl had been encouraged to send sexually explicit material in online conversations that began in September 2023, officials said in the court filings.<\/p>\n
In the chats, the girl says she\u2019s 15 and in high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish I could see you,\u201d Lugo wrote according to the filings. \u201cI\u2019d have my way with you immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
For some videos the girl, at Lugo\u2019s instruction, held up a piece of paper with her age and lewd comments written on it, the filings say.<\/p>\n
She was later told to delete the messages.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want either of us to get in trouble and I have a lot of stuff going on right now,\u201d said a message sent to her in November 2023. \u201cI really like you but I want you to delete our messages and remove me. It\u2019s for the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
About a month passed before the girl was contacted again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a little break but you know what daddy wants to see,\u201d Lugo wrote according to the filings. \u201cSend me a video.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chats feature numerous sexually graphic messages.<\/p>\n
A warrant was served May 5 at Lugo\u2019s home in northwest Bakersfield. Two iPhones were seized, both of which had \u201chidden\u201d applications not immediately noticeable during a search, the filings say.<\/p>\n
Sexually explicit videos and images featuring the teen were found on both phones, according to the filings.<\/p>\n
In June, investigators interviewed the girl. She said she believed the person she was communicating with was in his 20s. They discussed meeting in person but never made \u201cserious plans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about the times she held up the paper with her age and obscene comments, the girl said she did it to get compliments, according to the filings.<\/p>\n
Afterward, she\u2019d feel bad, tear up the paper and flush the pieces down the toilet, she told investigators.<\/p>\n
As of last week, Lugo remained on administrative leave. He\u2019s a former K-9 handler and special victims unit detective.<\/p>\n
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