SBCO Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Not Guilty In Sex With Minor Charge

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy entered a not guilty plea Wednesday morning against charges that he had sex with a minor girl who was in the department's Explorer Scout program.

Beaumont resident Anthony Benjamin, 30, is accused of oral copulation with a person under 18 and sex with a foreign object with a person under 18. He is accused of assaulting a 17-year-old female who was an Explorer at the Victorville station.

While not currently in custody, Benjamin was ordered by San Bernardino County Superior Court judge Lynn Poncin to return to court July 14.

Benjamin's arrest in May was the second in connection with alleged sexual encounters with underage Explorer members while on a ride-along with deputies.

Sheriff Rod Hoops suspended that portion of the Explorer Scout program immediately after Benjamin's arrest to review procedures. The 60-day suspension has been extended, the department announced Tuesday.

The rest of the Explorer program is continuing without the ride-alongs.

Former Deputy Nathan James Gastineau, 31, who supervised the Explorer program at the Highland station, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and three counts of illegal sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old Redlands girl.

Jason Henry Anguiano, 27, of Rialto, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object on a minor and one count of illegal intercourse with a minor – with the same Redlands girl.