Busted by his colleagues

A weeks-long undercover investigation by the offices of Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey and Sheriff Jerry Smith ended last Friday (May 11) with the arrest of one of Smith’s deputies, a lawman who faces allegations he intended to engage in lewd acts with a minor.

According to the DA’s office, Earl Klapperich, 27, responded to investigators posing as a 14-year-old girl with text messages containing sexual content. Klapperich (pictured) then agreed to meet up with the girl at a location in Chico, where he was arrested by investigators. He contends he was meeting the girl to counsel her, not to have sex with her.

A complaint last month that Klapperich had acted inappropriately toward the same girl and a 16-year-old girl who had been reported as runaways is what prompted the investigation. Klapperich was taken to Glenn County Jail, but has since posted bail. He will appear at Butte County Superior Court on June 1.