Jackson Bell
Prosecutors filed charges Wednesday against a former Glendale Police
officer accused of trying to rendezvous with a 13-year-old girl he
met while chatting online.
Arthur George Crabtree, 43, of Santa Clarita made his first court
appearance Wednesday to face the charges, but a court commissioner
postponed his plea because Crabtree's attorneys wanted more time to
review the charges.
Crabtree was charged with seven counts, including attempted lewd
acts on a child, attempted felony child molesting and sending
"harmful matter" over the Internet, such as photos of his genitalia,
officials said.
Crabtree -- now a lawyer, specializing in family law -- sent a bus
ticket to an undercover agent posing as the girl and arranged a
rendezvous at the Greyhound bus station in downtown Los Angeles,
Deputy Dist. Atty. Tannaz Mokayef said. He was arrested by Los
Angeles County Sheriff's deputies at the station while waiting for
her.
Crabtree preyed on five victims during the past three years,
according to the complaint.
Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement, a multi-agency task force that
targets online sexual predators, ran the undercover sting. The
investigation is ongoing and Crabtree remains free on $100,000 bail.
Mokayef asked San Fernando Superior Court Commissioner Martin S.
Gladstein to raise Crabtree's bail to $220,000. She argued that he
could evade the criminal proceedings if free on bail, since he faces
a life sentence for the alleged crimes.
"The individual is a danger to the community and a danger to all
the children in the community," Mokayef said. "He is an attorney and
ex-cop, who knows what he is dealing with."
George Fogelman, Crabtree's defense attorney, requested that the
bail not be raised since he showed up in court. Fogelman also said
Crabtree did not physically contact any of the alleged victims.
Fogelman described Crabtree as a lifelong Santa Clarita resident,
who has "very strong community ties."
In addition, he said Crabtree is undergoing therapy with his wife,
who is a Glendale Police sergeant, and visits his 7-year-old son
every other day.
"There is no threat to the community in my client," he said. "God
forbid he steps out of line; he knows what will happen."
After hearing both sides, Gladstein decided not to raise
Crabtree's bail because he arrived in court Wednesday after already
having been free on bail. Gladstein postponed the arraignment to
March 23.
Crabtree, a Glendale Police officer for more than 15 years, left
the force on Feb. 29, 2000. Mokayef said he did not leave with "an
honorable record," but would not elaborate.
* JACKSON BELL covers public safety and courts. He may be reached
at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at jackson.bell@latimes.com.
