BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that Bakersfield police detective Marc Lugo, who is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, can be released from custody on a personal recognizance bond.
Lugo, who appeared with long hair to his shoulder and wearing an orange jumpsuit, was escorted inside the courtroom by two U.S. Marshal officers and seated beside his defense attorney, David Torres.
Background
Lugo, who was 35 at the time of his arrest in May, is accused of contacting a 15-year-old girl from South Carolina on Instagram to commit a sexual offense.
The case was initially handled by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office but was handed off to federal prosecutors last month.
What the prosecution said
A United States prosecutor argued that Lugo should stay in custody due to the nature of the evidence that has been presented in the case. He used examples of explicit text messages, reportedly exchanged by Lugo and a 15-year-old, to try to prove his point…