| For Immediate Release Case # 06HF0372
December 11, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
RETIRED CHP LIEUTENANT FACES TRIAL FOR ATTEMPTING TO MEET FAKE 13-YEAR-OLD FOR
SEX AFTER MEETING AND EXCHANGING
EXPLICIT SEXUAL MESSAGES ONLINE
SANTA ANA – A now-retired Lieutenant for the California Highway Patrol faces trial Monday for attempting to commit unlawful sexual acts with a fake 13-year-old girl, whom he believed was real, after meeting the girl online and engaging in explicit sexual conversations. Stephen Robert Deck, 54, Carlsbad, is charged with one felony count of attempted lewd acts on a child under 14 and faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison if convicted. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. in Department C-39, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Beginning Feb. 12, 2006, Deck is accused of initiating contact and engaging in sexually explicit conversations over the Internet with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. The defendant was actually communicating with an adult citizen volunteer from Perverted-Justice.com, a non-profit organization aimed at protecting children from Internet sexual predators. Over several days, Deck is accused of having numerous online and phone conversations with a woman who told him she was a 13-year-old girl. He is accused of inquiring if the girl liked older men, making graphic sexual statements and sexually suggestive comments about eating pie, and arranging to meet the “victim” in Laguna Beach.
On Feb. 18, 2006, Deck is accused of driving from San Diego County to Laguna Beach with the intention of committing unlawful sexual acts with the fake 13-year-old. When Deck arrived at the prearranged location, he is accused of being in possession of several condoms, a digital camera, and key lime pie. Deck was arrested upon arrival.
Deck, along with 12 other men, was arrested as a result of a law enforcement sting targeting Internet sexual predators in February 2006. The sting was conducted by the Laguna Beach Police Department, Orange County Department of Probation, and Orange County District Attorney’s Office, with help from Perverted-Justice.com. The status of the other 11 defendants is as follows. The occupation and city of residence for each defendant is based on their status at the time of arrest.
A warrant was issued in July 2006 for Norindra Say, 37, Tustin, engineer, who fled after making several court appearances. Say is featured as one of the 10 Most Wanted fugitives on the Orange County District Attorney’s website at www.orangecountyda.com.
Robert Carlos Alarcia, 32, Los Angeles, was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 180 days in jail and sex offender registration.