Officer accused of sexual misconduct with minors

A Kern County police officer was arrested in his hometown of Bakersfield on Friday for 12 counts of sexual misconduct with minors occurring over a four-year period in Lemoore, according to police officials. Garry Snap Ferguson, 30, was booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of lewd acts with a child through the use of force, unlawful sex with a minor under 16 years of age, oral copulation with a child under 16 years of age, forcible rape and a special circumstance of penetration.

Lemoore Police Cmdr. Jeff Laws says that additional charges will be filed against Ferguson in Bakersfield, where a separate police case identified the officer for similar crimes.

"We did some detective work and brought him in on a warrant," Laws said. "Bakersfield was conducting an investigation at the same time and we apparently just beat them to the guy. We both put out warrants for him at about the same time."

When contacted to comment on the story, the Bakersfield Police Department indicated that Ferguson is an officer with the Maricopa City Police Department and referred all questions to them. However, repeated calls for comment to the Maricopa offices this morning were not immediately returned.

Ferguson is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(May 5, 2008)