Bailiff Jailed in Sexual Conduct Case

A sheriff’s deputy who works as a bailiff in Van Nuys Superior Court has been arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexual conduct with at least one inmate, authorities said Friday.

The district attorney’s office said it is reviewing the case against Larry Fraize, 43, who was taken into custody Thursday afternoon during the court’s lunch recess.

Fraize, the bailiff in Superior Court Judge John Fisher’s courtroom, “was arrested on a warrant alleging sexual conduct with inmates under his care,” Deputy Benita Hinojos said late Friday.

“The warrant was obtained by the sheriff’s department after an investigation by the sheriff’s department Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau,” the spokeswoman said.

Details in the case were sketchy. Citing an ongoing investigation, both investigators and prosecutors declined to discuss the case in detail.

“We’re aware of the case but cannot comment on it, because nothing has been filed in the case,” said Sandi Gibbons, a district attorney spokeswoman.

“The case is currently being reviewed by the Special Investigations unit of the district attorney’s office,” Hinojos said. Gibbons confirmed that this unit, which normally handles crimes by law enforcement officers, is looking into the matter.

Fraize’s supervisor, Deputy Ed Elder, refused to comment on the case. Fraize is an 11-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department.

Hinojos said Fraize was booked into county jail Thursday, and bail was set at $50,000.

Fraize was scheduled to appear in the felony arraignment department of the downtown Municipal Court on Friday, according to a court clerk there, but his case was transferred to the supervising criminal department in Superior Court.