Prosecutors: California cop charged with sharing child porn

LOS ANGELES – Prosecutors say a California Highway Patrol officer has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office says in a statement that Robert Tamayo appeared in court Friday.

Prosecutors say Tamayo shared child pornography with a social media app. They say he’s also accused of having more than 600 illicit images on computers and cellphones.

Authorities say the investigation was launched after prosecutors received a tip about Tamayo from the FBI.

Highway patrol spokesman Sgt. Saul Gomez says Tamayo has been placed on administrative leave.

He says the highway patrol is co-operating with the investigation.

A telephone number listed for Tamayo in public records was not in service.

He did not enter a plea Friday and is due back in court in December.