A Fresno County sheriff’s deputy faces a felony sex crime charge involving a minor, as well as a misdemeanor count, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday.

Francisco “Frank” Perez, 42, has been charged with the felony of contacting a minor with intent to commit a sex crime and a misdemeanor of annoying a minor.

“Our office has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and any allegations of it are treated as a top priority,” said Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni in a news release. “You have our department’s full commitment to continue this mission and I encourage everyone to report any concerns to us you may have right away.”

After being booked into jail, Perez posted $20,000 bail.

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On Paid Administrative Leave

Perez has been on paid administrative leave since March 30, when the sheriff’s office began an investigation after a report was made against him.

It is alleged that in late 2022, Perez engaged in inappropriate behavior with a female under the age of 18.

“Due to this being a private, sensitive matter, we are not revealing specific details as to what occurred,” sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said. “However, we can say there is no evidence to show anything physical took place between Perez and the teenager.”

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Detectives Seek Tips on This Case

Anyone with tips about this case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (559) 600-3111 or Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.