Los Angeles Child Abuse Investigator Arrested For Statutory Rape

A child abuse investigator for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services was facing possible disciplinary action after being arrested for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Rod Lautrec Carter, a 45-year-old resident of Highland, was arrested by San Bernardino police and spent several hours in jail on suspicion of statutory rape before being released on bail.

Police said they found him and the girl having sex in a parked car in a residential area. They believe he met the girl that night, and they are investigating whether she was a prostitute.

Carter works as a child abuse investigator assigned to the department's command post, which investigates urgent allegations of abuse or neglect that arrive through the department's hotline after-hours or on weekends. The victim in the incident has never been involved with Los Angeles County's child welfare system.

Once the department was notified of the alleged crime, county officials launched an independent inquiry that might lead to him being fired.

In any situation in which the allegations raise concerns about the safety of the children and families they serve, The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services will immediately place the employee in question on administrative desk duty pending completion of criminal and internal investigations. Employees on desk duty are not permitted to have contact with children.

The arrest is the latest issue for the department, which has come under scrutiny over the deaths of several children under the county's oversight. A Los Angeles Times series last years highlighted some of the deaths as well as the county's long struggle to improve the way the agency handles abuse and neglect.

The Los Angeles Times  also reported on the case of a 2-year-old Long Beach boy who was found dead over the weekend. Nearly two months before his death, the county received a tip that abuse was taking place in the Long Beach home where Joseph Byrd lived.

At the time of his death, social workers had yet to determine if Joseph was at risk. Authorities are investigating the case as a possible homicide.

If you have been arrested or under investigation for statutory rape in Los Angeles county or San Fernando Valley, you will need to consult a qualified sex crime criminal lawyer. Once you have been accused of a sexual crime, your reputation is at stake. At Goldstein Law Group, we are Los Angeles statutory rape attorneys who have defended clients all types of sex crimes for many years. We are always committed to defending your rights and fighting your sex crime charges with determination. Sit down with us to discuss your charges with an experienced and skilled Los Angeles sex crimes attorney who will explore all possible measures to ensure you are not convicted of your statutory rape charges.

Your freedom is in jeopardy. Contact a Los Angeles statutory rape and sex crime lawyer at Goldstein Law Group to learn how we can assist you against your charges! All consultations are free, available 24/7, and strictly confidential.