At least 11 Los Angeles County juvenile probation officers have been
convicted of crimes or disciplined in recent years for inappropriate
conduct involving current or former probationers, including several
cases of molesting or beating youths in their care, a Times
investigation has found.
Additionally, two other officers are the focus of internal affairs investigations for allegedly having sex with probationers.
The Times identified the cases through court documents, law enforcement
records and department sources. Probation officials said they were
prohibited by law from discussing the details of officers’ misconduct.
Among the incidents:
* A probation officer had sex with three youths in the detention hall
where she worked — in laundry, supply and interview rooms. She was
sentenced last year to four years in prison after pleading guilty to
five counts of felony sexual abuse.
* A probation officer caught on tape beating a youth in a juvenile hall
recreation room was convicted last year of battery and sentenced to 24
months’ probation.
* A probation officer was sentenced to a year in jail last year for
directing five teenagers under her care to beat another youngster who
she mistakenly believed had stolen her cellphone.