Police Officer Charged With Sending Teen Girl Explicit Messages

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A Manhattan Beach police officer was charged with sending explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl he met when she was at the police station to report a crime, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office Wednesday.

John Cheatham, 33, is scheduled to be arraigned on June 24 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Cheatham was charged on Feb. 25 with two felony counts of contacting a minor for a sexual offense and one misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child, according to the district attorney's office.

“Instead of providing assistance and support to the victim, this officer is alleged to have abused his authority when she was most vulnerable,” District Attorney Gascón said in a statement. “If officers break the law they were sworn to uphold, they will be held accountable for their actions by my office.”

Between November 2019 and June 2020, the defendant is accused of sending numerous sexually explicit messages through social media sites to the victim, officials said.

The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate.

The city of Manhattan Beach released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

"The Manhattan Beach Police Department remains committed to uncompromised integrity in all our actions and ensuring public trust is maintained with the community. Our Department is fully cooperating with the independent investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA County District Attorney’s Office,” said Police Chief Derrick Abell. “MBPD will always act swiftly to take appropriate action to address the conduct of any member of this organization."

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 4:14 p.m. with a statement from the city of Manhattan Beach.