A Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant is being accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a deputy he supervised.
According to the Sheriff's Department, the charges for Sgt. Michael Spina involve "alleged work-related criminal misconduct involving female employees." Court documents allege Spina told the deputy that she "owed" him for approving her time-off requests. According to the complaint, the sergeant ordered the deputy into his office and groped her as he fondled himself in July of 2016. The district attorney's memo says Spina also groped the female deputy's breasts in February of 2016.
The sergeant was placed on leave in August 2016 according to Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. She says sheriff's employees are expected to "hold themselves to the highest ethical and professional standards."
Spina is due in court next month.