LAPD officer arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting 13-year-old girl

A Los Angeles police officer has been accused of assaulting another officer’s 13-year-old daughter in her bedroom while staying in their home, officials said.

Kenneth Louis Collard, 51, was charged with three counts of committing a lewd act upon a child and one count of sexual penetration by a foreign object, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The alleged assault occurred at Collard’s friend’s home, where he was staying April 4 after an evening of socializing.

At the end of the night, Collard was encouraged not to drive back to his Riverside home and to instead stay with the friend — also an LAPD officer — in Torrance, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.

In the middle of the night, prosecutors said, Collard entered the girl’s bedroom and assaulted her. Torrance police launched an investigation, which included the analysis of forensic evidence.

In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Protective League board of directors said it was “sickened by the repugnant� allegations.

“If they are true he should be prosecuted as forcefully as possible,� the board said. “As police officers, we are sworn to protect the innocent, not to exploit them. There is absolutely no room in law enforcement or society for anyone who commits such acts, especially on a child.�

The LAPD also issued a statement after Collard’s arrest, saying the department “is aware of this arrest� and has begun a personnel investigation.

“If the accusations are true, this officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and will face severe repercussions in regards to his employment as well.�

Prosecutors are recommending Collard’s bail be set at $400,000.

Collard is a 20-plus-year officer who was assigned to the West L.A. station. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of 32 years in state prison.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

9:20 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the LAPD.

5:05 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the Los Angeles Police Protective League board of directors and additional details about the investigation.

4:05 p.m.: This article was updated with more details about the allegations.

This article was originally published at 3:40 p.m.