Sheriff’s Deputy Held in Molestation Case

An eight-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department has been arrested on suspicion of child molestation, San Diego County Deputy Dist. Atty. Catherine Stephenson said Friday.

Deputy Van McClung was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of three counts of felony child molestation. He is scheduled to be arraigned April 22 in San Diego Municipal Court, Stephenson said.

McClung allegedly molested a minor under the age of 14 on three occasions over a period of three years, said Stephenson, who will be representing the minor in the case.

Authorities refused to divulge details about McClung’s arrest. He was released from custody Wednesday on his own recognizance, a sheriff’s official said.

Lt. Alan Fulmer, division commander of public affairs for the Sheriff’s Department, said the matter had been under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department internal affairs division for an undisclosed period of time and that the information was turned over to the district attorney’s office.

He said McClung, a vice investigator, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

The three counts of child molestation carry a wide variety of sentencing alternatives, Stephenson said, ranging from probation to a maximum of 12 years in prison.