Man pleads guilty to having sex with underage Explorer

SAN BERNARDINO – A man accused of having sex with an underage volunteer with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful sexual intercourse, which is a felony.

Jason Henry Anguiano, 27, of Rialto, will be sentenced to three years probation and 180 days in county jail. San Bernardino County District Attorney spokesman Chris Lee said Wednesday that Anguiano must also register as a sex offender, complete a sex offender treatment program and submit to HIV testing.

Anguiano had also been accused of two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object on a minor before accepting his plea deal on July 7, Lee said.

His plea came before Judge Michael Dest. Official sentencing will take place on Aug. 4.

The case against Anguiano came about after former sheriff’s Deputy Nathan James Gastineau, of Redlands was arrested for having sex with the same minor, who was 16 years old at the time.

Gastineau, the Highland coordinator of the department’s Explorer Program, which educates youths about law enforcement, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, along with three counts of illegal sexual intercourse with a minor.

Anguiano became linked with the female victim through another program, dubbed Ghostbusters, that Gastineau was a part of.

Both men were arrested in April when Gastineau was placed on administrative leave. He has since been separated from the sheriff’s department, though it has not been made clear whether he was terminated or resigned.

Reports said it was Gastineau who, after admitting his involvement with the victim to investigators, participated in implicating Anguiano in the crime.

Sheriff Rod Hoops originally suspended the Explorer ride-along program for 60 days, but has yet to re-establish it due to another case involving a Victorville deputy who has also pleaded not guilty to sex with an underage Explorer.

In that case, Deputy Anthony Benjamin has pleaded not guilty to two counts of oral copulation with a minor.

Anguiano, who is not connected with the sheriff’s department, should be released some time in January, said Lee. Anguiano will be involved in a work release and sex offender treatment program, he said.

The victim in the Anguiano-Gastineau case is being represented by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, who appeared at the San Bernardino County courthouse last month when the deputy entered his plea.

Jason Anguiano, 27, of Rialto,accused of having sex with a teenage girl, has pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse. He and a former Highland Deputy were accused of having a sexual relationship with the same teen. Credit Inland Empire Ghostbusters