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California officer allegedly stole nude photos during arrest

California Highway Patrol officer Sean Harrington on desk duty while he's being investigated for allegedly stealing nude photos of suspect.

By Danielle Haynes

MARTINEZ, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A California Highway Patrol officer is being investigated for allegedly sending nude photos of a DUI suspect from her cell phone to his personal phone.

The Contra Costa, Calif., district attorney's office is investigating Sean Harrington, 35, of Martinez, for a possible felony computer theft charge.

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Harrington is suspected of sending himself six photos of a 23-year-old San Ramon, Calif., woman in a state of undress while she was being booked into Martinez County Jail in August. He allegedly found the photos stored on her iPhone.

"We've been investigating this for quite some time, the investigation is coming to a conclusion and we expect to make a charging decision this week," deputy district attorney Barry Grove told the Contra Costa Times.

Harrington was placed on desk duty during the investigation and his cell phone was seized.

"We think it's a horrendous breach of the public trust," the alleged victim's attorney, Rick Madsen, told the Times. "We believe Officer Harrington committed a clandestine and illegal intrusion into her privacy which is unspeakable considering his sworn duty to protect the public. My client remains understandably distraught as we await further information about who else may possess the photos and what further investigation may uncover."

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Harrington pulled over the woman for making an unsafe lane change on I-680 in San Ramon. She allegedly failed field sobriety tests and was booked into jail.

While using her iPad, which was synced to her phone, the alleged victim later discovered six photos had been sent from her phone to a cell phone number she didn't recognize.

Authorities believe Harrington tried to delete evidence he sent the photos on her phone, not realizing there would still be evidence of the act on the iPad.

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