Capt. Joseph Stephen of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s station has become the focus of an investigation amid accusations of sexual misconduct with a female deputy, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
Two other officials are under investigation as well — retired Chief Ronnie Williams and Capt. Anthony Ward.
Stephen denied the charges and said the deputy is “trying to save her own skin.”
The Times reported that Stephen and Ward would resign immediately, though The Malibu Times has yet to confirm this. Ward, Stephen and Williams could not be reached for comment by The Malibu Times and a watch commander at the station did not wish to comment on the investigation.
Sources said the deputy who made the allegations had been the focus of another internal misconduct investigation, according to the Los Angeles Times. She has charges of felony vandalism and misdemeanor battery pending against her.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said his office took the allegations seriously. The deputy who made the allegations is the daughter of one of Baca’s aides.
“I will find out what did or did not happen,” Baca said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
Stephen did not disclose whether he had a sexual relationship with the female deputy, while Willams called her a “partial friend.” Neither supervised the deputy directly.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this post incorrectly referred to the unnamed female deputy as the daughter of one of Stephen’s aides. She is the daughter of an aide to Baca. Additionally, Ward and Williams were referred to as having worked at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station.