Santa Ana Veteran Deputy Charged on Suspicion of Illegal Records Research

SANTA ANA, CA—An Orange County Sheriff's deputy of 16 years was charged yesterday by the district attorney's office for viewing criminal histories, in an unauthorized way.

Angel Lora Guerrero, a 57-year-old Santa Ana resident was charged on Aug. 8 with two misdemeanor counts of receiving unauthorized privileged information for personal reasons. If convicted, Guerrero faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.

"Between Oct. 31, 2014, and Nov. 1, 2015, Guerrero is accused of accessing a law enforcement criminal history database to view the privileged records and criminal histories of two individuals for purposes unrelated to his duties," Deputy District Attorney's Office, public affairs officer Rebecca Moss stated in release.

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 6, 2016.

"At the time of the crimes, Guerrero was employed as an OCSD deputy for approximately 16 years," she stated. "The Orange County Sheriff's Department investigated the case, and Deputy District Attorney Gautam Sood of the Special Prosecutions Unit is acting as prosecutor."

According to OCSD public information officer Lt. Mark Stichter stated that Guerrero is still employed with the Sheriff's Department during its ongoing internal administrative investigation.

More information will be made available as it is released. Please refresh this story for further information.