A California Highway Patrol officer assigned to the Morongo Basin station was arrested Friday, accused of multiple counts of child molestation. According to a Sheriff’s report, detectives began investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and child molestation by Robert Stephano, 44, of Joshua Tree, in May. Stephano, a CHP officer for 12 years, was assigned to the Morongo Basin at the time of the alleged crimes. He also volunteered as an assistant softball coach for a Morongo Basin recreational league, and assisted youth groups for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Stephano is accused of soliciting underage victims for various sexual acts dating back to July 2010. On Friday, December 7, the district attorney’s office filed charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child between 14 and 15 years old, communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime, and arranging to meet with a minor to commit a sex crime. Detectives then arrested Robert Stephano on those charges in Twentynine Palms, booked him into the Central Detention Center, with his bail set at $250,000. Stephano was released Saturday (12/8/18) on a $25,000 bail bond.
