Former California sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to having sex with 13-year-old girl

Former California deputy admits to sex with girl

AUBURN, Calif. — A former Northern California deputy has pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Thirty-nine-year-old Eric Cephus apologized in Placer County Superior Court on Monday, saying he has destroyed his own life and ruined the lives of others.

A judge sentenced him to 18 years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender.

Cephus was laid off from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department in July and was doing contract work for the parks district when he met the girl last month.

Authorities say he drove the girl to a hotel after his shift and they had sex.

Cephus was arrested March 3 at his San Jose home and charged with one felony count each of lewd acts with a child and transporting a person for a sex act.