Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that a Manhattan Beach police officer has been charged with sending explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl.

“Instead of providing assistance and support to the victim, this officer is alleged to have abused his authority when she was most vulnerable,” District Attorney Gascón said. “If officers break the law they were sworn to uphold, they will be held accountable for their actions by my office.”

John Cheatham (dob 9/28/87) was charged on February 25 in case BA493554 with two felony counts of contacting a minor for a sexual offense and one misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child.

His arraignment is scheduled for June 24 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Between November 2019 and June 2020, the defendant is accused of sending numerous sexually explicit messages through social media sites to the victim. The two had initially met when the girl was at the police station to report a crime.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

MBPD Statement

The Manhattan Beach Police Department released the following statement yesterday afternoon: 

This morning, the Los Angeles County District Attorney issued [a] press release announcing that a Manhattan Beach police officer has been charged with sending explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl.

Upon the officer’s arrest on February 21, the officer was placed on administrative leave. His arraignment is scheduled for June 24.

“The Manhattan Beach Police Department remains committed to uncompromised integrity in all our actions and ensuring public trust is maintained with the community. Our Department is fully cooperating with the independent investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA County District Attorney’s Office,” said Police Chief Derrick Abell. “MBPD will always act swiftly to take appropriate action to address the conduct of any member of this organization.”