Nov. 22 (UPI) — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s sex-crimes investigator was charged Wednesday with tying up and raping a teen girl whose case he was investigating.
Neil David Kimball, 45, was charged with preventing or dissuading a witness from testifying in addition to the rape charge, which carries a special allegation of tying or binding the victim, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said.
Kimball pleaded not guilty.
Michael Schwartz, a chief assistant district attorney in Ventura County said the girl was 14 or 15 at the time of the incident in November 2017.
Kimball was arrested on Friday following a month-long investigation and was relieved of duty with pay on Saturday. He is being held on $2 million bond.
“The investigation and arrest resulted from information provided to the department by a member of the public,” the sheriff’s department said. “The alleged conduct occurred during the scope of the employee’s assignment with the Department’s Special Victims Bureau.”
Los Angeles County district attorney’s office launched a review of past criminal cases that may have relied on Kimball’s testimony. He was involved in 977 criminal cases, although it was unclear how many involved sex crimes.
Kimball, who was a 20-year veteran of the department, could face 19 years to life in prison if convicted of the crime.
