One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Sheriff's Deputy to Appear in Court on Charges of Sex With Minor Girl
Photo by denisetaylor☼ via the LAist Featured Photos pool
A San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff who is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl will appear in a San Bernadino court today, according to a statement released by the girl's lawyer, superstar attorney Gloria Allred. Nathan Gastineau, 30, is accused of lewd acts and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. The girl, who was 16 at the time, was part of the Explorers program, which was designed to introduce young people to careers in law enforcement. Gastineau allegedly also encouraged her to join a Ghost Busters fan club that he ran.
Allred will make a statement following the court proceedings but is keeping her client's identity protected, since the girl is still a minor.
Gastineau is a ten year veteran of the Highland department.
Another man, 27-year-old Jason Henry Anguiano, recently plead guilty to having sexual intercourse with the same girl at around the same time. And a second deputy who also helped to run the Explorer's program has been accused of having unlawful intercourse with a different underage girl during a ride-along associated with the program.
Talking to reporters at the time of Gastineau's arrest, the girl's father had this to say:
"He's a sheriff's deputy of San Bernardino County, he's sworn to uphold the law and be honest and have integrity," the victim's father said. "This was just a way for him to get my daughter into bed."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
