SAN JOSE, Calif. - A San Benito County Probation officer has been charged with possessing sexually explicit images of a minor.
Damon Jon Luecke, 53, of Gilroy, was arraigned on three felony counts and a misdemeanor. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 28 to enter a plea.
"There are child predators lurking online," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a press release. "The fact that this defendant was working in law enforcement — with children at one point — is deeply disturbing."
What we know:
According to investigators, the victim's mother contacted the Gilroy Police Department on July 28 after discovering online communication between her son and Luecke.
The victim, in those conversations on TikTok, disclosed that he was 13. Luecke, despite knowing the victim’s age, continued engaging in sexually explicit conversations with him, discussing photographs and meeting in person.
"She was in court this afternoon," Deputy District Attorney David Shabaglian said. "It is the mother, I believe on the 28th of July, who came forward with this information, and the investigation proceeded."
Shabaglian condemned the alleged actions, noting the betrayal of the public trust.
"Despite being in that position, they exploited a 13-year-old boy, sexually," Shabaglian said. "And that is egregious, and we take that conduct very seriously."
Dig deeper:
Investigators obtained search warrants for the victim’s cell phone and online accounts, and recovered evidence that included sexually explicit images of the victim.
Luecke was taken into custody at his home in Gilroy on Aug. 7, without incident.
Prosecutors are heavily scrutinizing his background, given his extensive history working with youth and the justice system.
Authorities say Luecke was working as an IT analyst for the San Benito County Probation Department at the time of his arrest. Prior to taking that position, he spent 16 years with the San Mateo County Probation Department, during which time he worked as a juvenile corrections officer at the local Boys Ranch.
"We're really just digging through as much data as we can, really to understand the depth of what we're facing," Gilroy Police Chief Brandon Sanchez said. "Because of the positions he's held, we're taking it very seriously, and we're really seeking any information that may lead us in the direction of where more victims might have been affected by him."
Investigators fear there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information Lregardinguecke's activities to contact local law enforcement.
The Source: Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office