An early morning arrest on Tuesday, Sept. 26 came following an investigation into reported sexual abuse of a minor by a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Authorities said Deputy Matthew Dessert, 40, of Oakdale was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday by Stanislaus Sheriff’s detectives. He was arrested for several penal code violations, including continual sexual abuse of a child; lewd and lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years of age; penetration with a foreign object of a victim under the age of 18; sexual battery; and physical abuse of a child.

Sheriff’s detectives were contacted by a school counselor at approximately 8:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 25 regarding a student that had disclosed sexual abuse. Detectives responded to the school to investigate. The teenaged victim knew Dessert and explained to detectives that the abuse began at the age of nine years old.

Dessert voluntarily came to the Sheriff’s Office for an interview and was subsequently arrested and booked into jail with bail set at $425,000. He posted bail and was released a few hours after being booked.

Dessert has been employed as a patrol deputy for the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office since 2014. He has been placed on paid administrative leave and his peace officer powers have been revoked. The investigation is ongoing and if anyone has information regarding this case, they can contact Detective J. Wall at 209-525-7038 or jwall@stansheriff.com.

Due to victim confidentiality, the name of the school will not be released.