Former Deputy Held to Answer Charges

Sheriff's investigators testified during a preliminary hearing Thursday that they seized photos and videos of a former San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy and an underage girl in sexual situations.

Superior Court Judge James Dorr heard enough testimony to bind the former deputy, Nathan Gastineau, 31, of Redlands, for a full trial.

Gastineau was based in the sheriff's Highland station, and was in charge of the explorers program at the station. The girl was a member of the program.

Two deputies from the crimes against children took the stand as prosecutors made their case for a full trial.

Detective Julie Brumm testified that the girl, now 16, said during interviews that her and Gastineau had sex about twice a week after she turned 16, and had done so about six times before that.

According to Brumm, the girl said most of the incidents happened on Saturdays before heading out to activities with the Inland Empire Ghostbusters, a nonprofit group that attends charity events dressed up and acting like characters from the 1984 film. Both were members of that group.

During their interview, Brumm testified that the victim said that the she and Gastineau had sexual contact in his patrol car twice, including once while parked on Alabama Street during last year's storms that caused damage to some Highland roads.

During cross-examination, Gastineau's attorney, Andrew Haynal, tried to punch holes in the girl's story, questioning the detective about how her story may have changed from the first interview April 22, and a second interview April 25. According to Brumm, the girl first denied a relationship, fearing she would be in trouble.

The defense also tried to get Judge Dorr to rule that a tearful confession that Gastineau gave to Detective Tyson Niles would be tainted due to him giving it before being read his Miranda Rights.

"Prior to the Miranda, he admitted the relationship was sexual and consensual," Niles said on the stand in response to a question from Dorr. "When he first admitted to it, he had fallen to the floor sobbing. After he regained his composure, then he was read his Miranda Rights."

Niles also said on the stand that Gastineau had told him about the pictures and video on his computer, including one that would show the victim groping her breast.

The victim's identity is being protected because she is a minor.

Gastineau was arrested in April and faces three counts of lewd acts upon a child and three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, according to San Bernardino County District Attorney’s officials.

Haynal tried to get the charges reduced to only one count, but his motion was denied.

The arrest of Gastineau and one other deputy caused the Sheriff's Department to suspend ride alongs as part of the Explorers program earlier this year. New guidelines were put in place in September in an effort to better protect the youth involved.

Gastineau is due back in court for a full arraignment Dec. 22.