Redlands Deputy Accused of Sex with Teen Explorer Pleads Not Guilty, Deputy From Beaumont to be Arraigned July 6

A former San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage Explorer trainee pleaded not guilty today in San Bernardino.

Nathan J. Gastineau, 31, of Redlands, appeared for his arraignment Tuesday morning before San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael Dest.

Another San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy, from Beaumont, also accused of having sex with a teen member of the same Explorer program, is scheduled to be arraigned July 6.

Anthony J. Benjamin, 30, of Beaumont, was taken into custody May 4 and faces two counts of oral copulation of a person under 18.

On Tuesday in San Bernardino, the young woman who accused Gastineau of sexually molesting her was in the courtroom. She was escorted by high-profile Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred and her mother.

The court proceeding was over in a few minutes. Gastineau posted $150,000 bail and was released. His next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 2.

Allred addressed reporters outside the San Bernardino Courthouse after the arraignment. She told reporters the alleged victim is prepared to testify at Gastineau's trial.

"There is no justification or excuse for a sworn peace officer to have betrayed his position of trust and power," Allred said . "No law enforcement officer should ever victimize a minor whom he has a duty to protect."

Gastineau faces three counts of lewd acts upon a child and three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, according to San Bernardino County District Attorney's officials.

A second man, Jason Henry Anguiano, 27, of Rialto, is charged in the case and faces two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse, officials said.

Gastineau and Anguiano were arrested in April. Gastineau was placed on administrative leave by the Sheriff's Department. He had been coordinator of the sheriff's Explorer program at the sheriff's Highland Station. The girl had been a member of the program.

She had also been a member of the Inland Empire Ghostbusters, a nonprofit organization for fans of the movie. She reportedly met Anguiano through the group.

Benjamin, who worked out of the Victorville office, was arrested about two weeks after Gastineau. He is accused of having a sexual relationship with an Explorer trainee from July 1, 2010, when she was 17, through December 2010, shortly before she turned 18, authorities said.

Investigators said they received an anonymous tip that Benjamin was involved with a 17-year-old member of the Sheriff’s Explorer Program. Crimes Against Children investigators checked into the matter and gathered enough evidence to make the arrest.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops held a press conference May 5 to discuss the arrests of Benjamin and Gastineau. Hoops announced a full review of the Explorer program and suspended ride-alongs. The review of the Explorer program was expected to take 60 days.