Victor Jesus Valenzuela, a former Nogales police officer has been sentenced to two months in jail and three years’ probation a sexual relationship he had with an underaged girl. Valenzuela also must register as a sex offender.
Valenzuela, age 25, who was arrested last year, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual conduct with a minor last month. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department office was notified of the alleged conduct from the classmates of the Nogales High School student, who allegedly told them she was having an affair with the officer.
According the Nogales International, officials at the girl’s school learned of the affair after the pair broke up and told police. Valenzuela was arrested for having sex with the 17 year old girl 13 times.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said the “relationship” started after some sort of “domestic incident” in which Officer Valenzuela came into contact with the 17 year old. According to various sources the two may have lived together for a short time.
At the time of his arrest, Sheriff Estrada said the Nogales Police Department was going to have to rethink its hiring practices. Valenzuela’s arrest was the second arrest in the year. Officer Mariano Garibay was arrested in May of 2010 after authorities learned about his relationship with a 16-year-old member of the Nogales Police Department’s Explorers program.
Garibay was sentenced to 25 months in prison after pleading to 11 counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
At his sentencing Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge James A. Soto considered Valenzuela’s remorse and lack of a record in deciding his sentence. The Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office filed the charges against Valenzuela.