Bail was set at $800,000 Wednesday for a sheriff’s deputy who is accused of molesting three girls in the South Bay.
Jaylen Devon Fleer, 27, appeared in a jail uniform from a room at the Vista Detention Facility. His retained attorney, David Shapiro, and Deputy District Attorney Jalyn Wang also appeared remotely.
Fleer pleaded not guilty to 18 felonies and two misdemeanor charges before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle, who was wearing a mask.
Most of the audio of the hearing was live streamed on the YouTube Channel from the Superior Court website because the courts are mostly closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Shapiro asked the judge if he and Wang could discuss the argument for bail in chambers and away from the live streaming because there was information about the charges that was not yet public.
“There are three victims who don’t know each other,” said Shapiro, who said he didn’t want information to influence them.
Haehnle agreed and excluded a TV newscast and turned off the live streaming for about six minutes. When they returned, Haehnle announced the $800,000 bail figure.
The complaint alleges the misconduct occurred from March 27 to April 8, 2020. A preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 19, a date that may change, said Shapiro.
Fleer was arrested July 23 by Chula Vista Police.
The charges have “nothing to do with Fleer’s duties as a deputy,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s department. He began working in June, 2015 and his last assignment was at the central jail.
The department said once they learned of the investigation, Fleer was placed on administrative assignment where he had no contact with the public.
“The sheriff’s department takes allegations of illegal activity by its employees very seriously,” the statement reads and it added that it has “fully cooperated” with Chula Vista police.
An internal affairs investigation was started after the allegations emerged against Fleer.
“We hold all our deputies to the highest standards and will hold deputies who violate the law accountable,” concluded the statement.
