Garden Grove police officer facing charges for alleged sexual relationship with 16-year-old volunteer

A Garden Grove police officer was charged with five felonies in connection with an alleged sexual relationship he had with a 16-year-old volunteer of the department, prosecutors said.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, 32-year-old Roberto Machuca is facing three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor more than three years younger than him, one felony count of sexual penetration by a foreign object of a minor, and one felony count of oral copulation with a minor.

The Riverside resident was an employee of Garden Grove PD starting in 2019 and at one point served as an advisor for the department's Explorer Program. The program provides people between 14 and 21 a chance to work as a volunteer with the PD, gaining experience in law enforcement.

The alleged victim was a 16-year-old volunteer with the Explorer Program, police said. 

"Law enforcement officers occupy a position of immense trust, and he exploited that trust to take advantage of a child for his own sexual gratification," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. "That conduct will never be tolerated among the ranks of those sworn to protect and serve, and justice will be pursued to the fullest extent."  

The department was made aware of the alleged relationship between Machuca and the girl, which is believed to have started in May, on June 26. The next day, Machuca was arrested and placed on leave. He has since been fired.

Machuca has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His bail was set at $100,000 and he was ordered to surrender his firearms and passport.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.

Garden Grove PD said it did not have a comment on the charges when asked by CBS LA.