The California Highway Patrol officer accused of stealing explicit photos from a young woman suspected of driving under the influence says it was all part of a CHP "game," court documents show.
Investigators say CHP officer Sean Harrington discovered and forwarded to himself six explicit photos while booking a 23-year-old San Ramon woman in August. The photos depict the woman, who is not being identified, in a bikini and in various states of undress.
Harrington says racy pictures were often stolen and shared with other cops, according to lawyer Rick Madsen, who confirmed that search warrant documents implicate more officers in the investigation.
According to the documents, several officers made vulgar and dehumanizing comments to each other about photos taken from the phones of arrestees.
Madsen said he believes the evidence shows a pattern and practice of stealing confidential pictures and unlawfully distributing them.
"This is the worst case scenario come true,” Madsen said. “This sworn police officer illegally obtained Jane Doe's personal photographs and illegally distributed them at her expense. It's dehumanizing and it's criminal and it warrants felony charges."
The Contra Costa District Attorney's Office is investigating, but so far nobody has been charged in the case.
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The CHP says the five-year veteran based in Dublin has been assigned to desk duties during the probe.
