A psychologist with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was charged Monday in connection with the sexual assault of a young boy and girl, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.
Michael Dane Ward, 41, was arrested Thursday after detectives investigated allegations of sexual abuse, according to the sheriff's department.
He appeared in court Monday and was charged with a total of 10 felonies, including various counts of lewd acts on a child and sodomy and oral copulation on a child 10 years old or younger, the district attorney's office said.
His bail was set at $2.6 million.
Investigators said the boy was 9 years old and the girl was 10 during the time of the alleged incidents.
"We find these allegations deeply troubling," the sheriff's department said in a statement.
Ward was not a sworn employee and the department said the allegations were not a result of contacts he made within the scope of his work at the sheriff's department.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Ward was relieved of duty Thursday pending the outcome of the investigation.
His next court appearance was set for May 19.
