Santa Clara Sheriff's Deputy Arrested For Child Molestation
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) -- A Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy arrested Monday on suspicion of molesting a child four years ago in East San Jose has been placed on leave, police and sheriff's officials said Tuesday.
Anthony Felix Diaz, 33, of Santa Clara, was arrested on suspicion of a sexual act with a child under 10 years old and child abuse, police said.
Diaz, a correctional deputy with the sheriff's office, allegedly abused a 9-year-old girl multiple times while he lived with the child and her mother in the 100 block of Cedar Lane during the spring of 2012, police said.
On Monday, the Police Department's sexual assaults investigation unit learned about the allegations, according to police.
Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Diaz, who was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail, police said.
Diaz has been placed unpaid administrative leave from the sheriff's office in response to the alleged sexual abuse, which happened while he was off-duty, sheriff's officials said.
"The sheriff's office has high expectations of every correctional deputy's conduct, both on and off duty," Sheriff Laurie Smith said in a statement Tuesday.
"The allegations are deeply disturbing. If they are true, this correctional deputy did not meet the standards of our office and he must be held accountable for his actions," Smith said.
As is standard protocol, the sheriff's office will conduct an internal investigation into the allegations.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police Detective Sgt. Hutchings or Detective Ancelet at (408) 277-4102. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-7867.
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