A Maricopa County sheriff’s deputy accused of unlawful sexual conduct reportedly admitted to having sex with the victim of an assault and domestic violence case that he was investigating, according to court documents. 

Deputy Gary Kaplan was arrested Sunday on suspicion of committing two counts of unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer, said Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, a sheriff’s office spokesperson.

Kaplan was assigned to investigate a case of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence that occurred in Mesa, according to the probable cause report filed by police in Maricopa County Superior Court.

On Sept. 15, the victim’s estranged ex-boyfriend reported to the sheriff’s office that his ex-girlfriend was raped by an unknown detective at her residence sometime in August, the report stated.

When police contacted the victim Friday, she stated in an interview that Kaplan drove her from a court building in Mesa to her residence in his unmarked sheriff’s vehicle on July 22.

Kaplan allegedly returned to the victim’s residence later that day asking to see her dog, the victim said in the report. This was the first incident of unprotected sexual contact Kaplan had with the victim.

The report stated that Kaplan and the victim arranged to meet at her residence again sometime in mid-August, when the second incident of unprotected sexual contact occurred. 

After Kaplan was arrested and questioned, he confessed to engaging in two acts of unprotected sexual contact with the victim while he was investigating her case. The police report confirmed the case was cleared on August 17, revealing the sexual incidents occurred while the investigation was still ongoing. 

Kaplan has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, Vanegas said.

Reach breaking news reporter Brooke Newman at [email protected] or on Twitter @brookerae17.

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