TRIAL BEGINS IN LAWMAN'S SEX CASE

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Is Accused Of Having A
Relationship With A 16-Year-Old Boy

FONTANA -- Gustavo Ulloa has been a law enforcement officer half his life.
He has worked as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer and as a
coordinator for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Explorer
Scouts program. According to his attorney, he was a role model for about
5,000 young adults and children.

But his relationship with one particular juvenile, a 16-year-old neighbor,
has landed him in court, charged with four counts of criminal sexual
behavior involving a minor. Each count carries a maximum sentence of a year
in jail.

In opening statements Monday at Ulloa's trial in San Bernardino County
Superior Court, Deputy Dist. Atty. Briye McCann told the jury that Ulloa
had a sexual relationship with the boy. She said that, on one occasion, the
boy's roommate witnessed sexual activity between the pair. The roommate, a
16-year-old friend of the boy, moved in after being kicked out of his own
home and shared a room with the teen.

Defense attorney Michael Abzug said that Ulloa acted as a father figure to
the boy, took him on family trips, went to dinner and movies with him and
often drove him to work and brought him home.

But "no good deed goes unpunished," Abzug said.

Ulloa has three children, including a son about the same age as his
accuser, Abzug said. Ulloa met the boy because he and his son knew each
other, Abzug said.

"He was regarded as a good neighbor, a loving father and a dedicated public
servant," Abzug said. "He is not the type of person to take advantage of a
kid."

In his opening statement, Abzug introduced some transcripts of instant
message conversations he expected the prosecution to present.

The two were joking around, Abzug contended, when they made sexually
explicit statements.

McCann objected repeatedly and Abzug's presentation was ultimately curtailed.

The boy's mother took the stand Monday afternoon and testified that she
learned of a possible relationship between her son and a principal for a
school for the deaf in Orange County when she intercepted a letter meant
for her son last June.

She said that after talking with the roommate, she learned of a sexual
relationship with Ulloa, which McCann said went back to January 2000.

Ulloa has been placed on administrative leave.

Testimony will continue today.