Monterey Co. Sheriff’s Office employee arrested on charges related to alleged sexual assault

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said it has arrested one of its own employees because he is a suspect in an alleged sexual assault.

The suspect, 27-year-old Johnny Joe Mallobox, was a recruit trainee and is currently attending the police academy.

The Sheriff's Office said the incident happened in mid-April, but it was not reported until late July. Officials said the crime was reported after he was hired, and at the time of the incident, he was not a Sheriff's Office employee.

According to investigators, the victim, who is not underage, was a childhood friend of the suspect. She said they met up in Salinas to go out and drove to an isolated area where the alleged assault happened.

When the sexual assault was reported, detectives interviewed Mallobox. Based on the interview and other information, Mallobox was booked into the Monterey County Jail on forced oral copulation and kidnapping charges.

The Sheriff's Office said Mallobox had a clean record up to this point and appeared "detached" emotionally when he was arrested.

"The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office takes our oath seriously to protect all people in our communities, even if it means we have to arrest one of our own. Fortunately, we were able to terminate the employment with this individual before he could interact with the public in an official capacity," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Anyone with information or any potential victims are asked to call Det. Rosy Silva at 831-755-3818 or Det. Sgt. Bryan Hoskins at 831-755-3773.