Mesa officer indicted on sexual assault, molestation charges

A Mesa police officer has been indicted on charges of sexual assault and child molestation for acts that allegedly occurred on the job, authorities said.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office released a statement late Friday saying that Justin Cherry, 34, self-surrendered Friday afternoon and was booked into jail on two counts of sexual assault and one count of molestation of a child. He is being held without bond, according to the statement.

Cherry is accused of engaging in sexual contact with two women without their consent and molesting a child under the age of 15 while conducting investigations, the statement said. Mesa police say the accusers allege that Cherry touched them during searches while they were detained.

Cherry has been on administrative leave from the Mesa Police Department since the allegations surfaced in August 2013, according to a police statement issued late Friday. An internal investigation is also being conducted, according to Detective Steve Berry, a Mesa Police spokesman.

Police said detectives conducted a criminal investigation and sent the case to the County Attorney's Office. Prosecutors took the case before a grand jury, which indicted Cherry on Thursday.

A warrant was issued for Cherry on Friday, and through his attorney, he agreed to turn himself in at the Mesa Police headquarters. Police said Cherry arrived with his attorney and was taken into custody without incident.

"This is a unfortunate event for the community, as well as the police department," the police statement said. "We believe that this is an isolated event and immediately placed Cherry on administrative leave upon the initial complaint.

"...There is nothing more important than the trust of the citizens and community we serve. Remaining transparent, we want the community to understand that we do hold ourselves to the highest standard and will not tolerate acts of this nature."

County Attorney Bill Montgomery said, "The alleged conduct of this defendant is not representative of the high degree of professionalism and integrity with which the Mesa Police Department carries out its duties."

Montgomery added that his office "will not hesitate to prosecute sworn peace officers when sufficient evidence exists to support charges of criminal conduct. Those we entrust with enforcing the law will be equally held to account when they violate it."