Officer accused of unlawful GPS use

The Orange County district attorney’s office filed charges Thursday against a former Costa Mesa police officer suspected of hiding a tracking device inside a woman’s vehicle, then showing up at places she would frequent, according to a news release.

Aaron Paul Parsons, 30, was charged with one misdemeanor count of unlawful use of an electronic tracking device. If convicted, he faces a maximum of six months in jail.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at the West Justice Center in Westminster.

Parsons is accused of hiding the GPS device March 18. The woman, 32, was not identified.

“He is accused of tracking her and showing up unexpectedly to places he did not frequent at the same time as the woman,� the news release said.

After several encounters, the woman became suspicious and checked her car, finding the device apparently belonging to the Costa Mesa Police Department. She immediately reported it to police.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kathleen Roberts is prosecuting the case.

Parsons resigned Tuesday, Lt. Bryan Glass said.

— Tom Ragan