Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : COURTS : Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Child Molesting

Doyle John Craig, an 11-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, appeared in North Orange County Municipal Court last week to answer charges that he had molested young boys in his Anaheim home.

Craig, 34, is charged with nine counts of molestation, and many of the youths involved he allegedly met while on duty. His attorney says he is innocent and was only attempting to help the youths escape the inner city environment.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregg L. Prickett said in court that Craig had “befriended” 45 to 50 boys while working as a police officer and had invited some of them to his home. Prickett said Craig and one of the youths had slept in the same bed.

The Los Angeles Police Department has been conducting an internal investigation since a parent filed a complaint in August. Craig was relieved of duties and assigned to his home, with pay, during the investigation.

Under other circumstances, Craig, who entered a not guilty plea Wednesday, “might be commended rather than prosecuted,” defense attorney Paul J. Wallin said. Wallin argued that only three of five felony charges against the police officer actually allege physical contact and the worst involves brief contact during a shower.