A former San Diego County sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty Wednesday to child sexual abuse and possession of material depicting child sexual abuse.
Jose Apolonio Soto Jr., 52, who worked as a sheriff’s deputy for nearly 25 years, was arrested earlier this year after a search warrant was served at his Chula Vista home.
In May, he was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material based on what a prosecutor said was “a report” that led to the search warrant.
On Wednesday, he also pleaded guilty to two felony counts related to sexual abuse of a child and faces nearly 22 years to life in prison at his Jan. 8 sentencing hearing, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Soto began working for the department as a detentions and court-services deputy in March 1998, according to sheriff’s officials. He retired in January of last year, then was re-hired by the agency on a part-time basis in September.
Soto was fired from his part-time law enforcement job the same day of his arrest, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
