Deputy Faces Weapons, Porn Charges

An East Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing assault weapons and child pornography.

Richard Dario Comoe, 44, of Canyon Country is being held in lieu of $1-million bail pending arraignment today in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Comoe faces five felony counts of possessing illegal weapons, among them a machine gun, assault weapons and a short-barreled shotgun. He also is charged with misdemeanor counts of child annoying and possession of child pornography.

District attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison said an investigation of Comoe was opened after he allegedly sent sexually suggestive e-mail to a 15-year-old female member of the Sheriff’s Department Explorers post. The girl confided to another Explorer that she was disturbed by the e-mail and authorities were notified.

Deputies serving a search warrant at Comoe’s home this month found a safe containing the weapons and a computer disk containing child pornography, Robison said.

Sheriff’s officials declined to comment on Comoe’s arrest. They said the 21-year department veteran is on administrative leave, but did not say if he is being paid.

If convicted, Comoe could be sentenced to five years and eight months in prison, officials said.