Stanislaus DA: Possible new allegations in L.A. County sheriff’s deputy lewd acts case
A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy accused of communicating with a 14-year-old Stanislaus County girl and attempting to arrange a sexual encounter had his preliminary hearing delayed Thursday. The action came after prosecutors said investigators uncovered information suggesting possible “more serious” conduct in Los Angeles County.
Darin Lee Van Arsdale II, 34, appeared out of custody Thursday in Stanislaus County Superior Court wearing a black button-down shirt and black pants as Judge Ruben Villalobos continued the preliminary hearing to Aug. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 2.
Van Arsdale waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 60 days and remains free on $300,000 bond, according to court records.
During the hearing, prosecutors referenced allegations of a “similar, but probably more serious nature” that could involve Los Angeles County.
After the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Vita Palazuelos told The Bee that investigators found information that “led us to believe that there are things happening in L.A. County,” adding that the defense requested the continuance to “explore that.”
A Stanislaus County court minute order filed Thursday also references a “possible other charge out of L.A. County.”
No additional charges have been announced.
Defense attorney Ryan Roth declined to comment on the allegations after the hearing. When asked about possible charges in Los Angeles County, Roth told The Bee, “Check with L.A. County.”
However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Friday that no case involving Van Arsdale has been presented to prosecutors there. “A case has not been presented to our office,” spokesperson Venusse Dunn said in an email to The Bee.
Van Arsdale is charged in Stanislaus County with attempted lewd acts with a minor, contacting a minor for a sexual offense and attempting to send harmful material to a minor.
According to prosecutors, the charges stem from alleged Snapchat communications between March 16 and March 18 involving a 14-year-old girl identified in court documents as Jane Doe.
Prosecutors allege Van Arsdale discussed meeting the girl in person, requested and received nude photographs, and proposed sexual acts.
At Van Arsdale’s March arraignment, prosecutors alleged investigators had evidence he communicated with “multiple minors,” though only one alleged victim was identified within Stanislaus County’s jurisdiction.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday that Van Arsdale has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
“The employee has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the criminal investigation,” the department said in a statement to The Bee.
The department said the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office is leading the criminal investigation and that LASD is “fully cooperating” with investigators.
Lt. Erich Layton, a spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, declined to release further details because of the ongoing investigation but said detectives “are, of course, going to follow up on any new evidence or potential charges.”
