Deputy Pleads No Contest to Lewd Act with 15-Year-Old Girl

Just as his trial was set to begin today, a veteran Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy pleaded no contest to a lewd act with a 15-year-old girl whose family he knew socially.

John Augustus Rose II, 44, is facing three years in state prison, with sentencing set for Nov. 26. He is also expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Rose pleaded no contest to one felony count each of committing a lewd act on a child and possession of matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct. Eleven other sex-related charges against him are expected to be dismissed when he is sentenced next month.

Rose, who’s been with the sherifff’s department for more than two decades, was relieved of duty in September 2013 and was placed at home without pay the following month. The charges were filed about a year ago against Rose, who met the 15-year-old girl through her family, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

At a hearing last year, Rose’s attorney told a judge that Rose was a “hero to the community” who had received many awards. His honors include a Medal of Valor for rescuing a woman trapped in her cabin by the 2002 Curve fire in San Gabriel Canyon.

He was last assigned to the Community Oriented Policing Services Bureau, L.A. County sheriff’s officials said.

--City News Service

PHOTO Image via Shutterstock.

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