Detectives: CHP Officer Suspected Of Distributing Child Porn While Off-Duty

AUBURN (CBS13) - California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Cooney's arrest on child porn charges comes after a two-week investigation by Placer County Sheriff's deputies and Sacramento Valley High-Tech Crimes detectives.

Deputies say they found multiple electronic devices containing child pornography inside Cooney's Auburn home on Monday.

"I saw a lot of police here yesterday, I have never seen this many here before," said Rima Danun, who was home Monday afternoon when Placer County Sheriff's deputies went to arrest Cooney at his Auburn home.

Danun lives right next door to Cooney and describes him as a very private man, saying she seldom sees Cooney coming and going from his home.

"The house is very quiet," Danun added.

Danun says Cooney would have two young boys over his house a few times a month, who she says she believes are his sons.

Deputies wouldn't confirm their relationship with Cooney, but said the boys were 11 and 12 years old.

According to the CHP, which is conducting its own investigation, Cooney was distributing child pornography while he was off-duty.

Placer County Sheriff's Lieutenant Troy Sander says deputies served two search warrants at Cooney's home over the last two week. And on Monday, Sander says deputies seized multiple electronic devices from Cooney's home which they believe contain evidence of child pornography.

"We have several devices we have to look through, and we have to examine the evidence and see where it takes us in the investigation," Sander said.

Cooney posted bail on Monday, just a few hours after he was arrested. CBS13 went to Cooney's home Tuesday afternoon but no one came to the door.

CHP Chief Janice Mulanix released a statement responding to Cooney's arrest, saying "CHP is conducting its own investigation into the allegations", and that Cooney "has been placed on administrative leave and his peace officer powers have been revoked."

Cooney's first court appearance will be on Oct. 24 at the Placer County Superior Court in Roseville, where he will be arraigned.