San Bernardino County deputy arrested for alleged sex with teen Explorer Scout

 

REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) --

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputy has been arrested for allegedly having an unlawful sexual relationship with a teenage member of the agency's Explorer program.

David Israel Ceballos, 34, was taken into custody Friday evening and booked on charges of sexual intercourse with a minor and sexual penetration with a foreign object on a minor, according to a news release. His bail was set at $100,000.

"This case came to light from other Explorer Scouts who did the right thing by reporting the conduct to a Deputy who was an Explorer Advisor," the sheriff's statement said.

An investigation indicated Ceballos, a 14-year sheriff's department veteran assigned to the Fontana station, initially developed an off-duty relationship with the female victim when she was 17, authorities said.

The victim, now 18, was not assigned to the same station as the suspect, whom she met at an Explorer Scouts event in mid-2016, according to the news release. Ceballos was an Explorer Coordinator.

There were no other known victims, the statement said, adding that the criminal investigation was ongoing.

Ceballos has been placed on leave pending a separate administrative investigation, in accordance with state law, the department said.

In a statement, Sheriff Jim McMahon described the Explorer program as an opportunity for "young people across the county to examine Law Enforcement as a potential career."

"It is unfortunate that the actions of a few over the last decade have cast a negative light on a program many deputies and explorers work hard to make a premier youth program in our county," McMahaon said. "It is my expectation that we thoroughly investigate and swiftly take action in cases like this so as to not deter the positive motivation of those involved in the program."