ExStallion Springs officer booked into Lerdo Jail on child sex abuse charges
Oct 29, 2024
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A former Stallion Springs police officer accused of sexually abusing a child has been booked into Lerdo Jail after being transported from Maine to California.
James Best Jr., 53, was booked into jail late Monday, according to inmate records. He's due in court Wednesday.
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Prosecutors filed charges in July, and Best was arrested Aug. 19 in Maine.
The alleged victim, now an adult, came forward last year and told authorities Best sexually abused her from the ages of 9 to 16, according to reports filed by sheriff’s investigators in Superior Court.
In a pretext phone call, Best admitted to sexual misconduct but said he couldn't remember some things, according to the reports.
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In 2021, Best and his wife were sentenced to felony probation after pleading no contest to stealing from Stallion Springs’ Police Activities League, which Best was in charge of from 2017 to 2019. He resigned from the department in 2019.