A former Bakersfield police detective accused of sexually exploiting a minor and receiving child pornography has rejected a plea deal, according to a court filing, pushing his federal case toward a trial now scheduled for May 2027. Marc Lugo, who worked as a detective in the Bakersfield Police Department's Special Victims Unit when the alleged conduct began, pleaded not guilty to all charges after a federal grand jury indicted him in November 2025.
Lugo rejected the plea offer according to a court filing cited by KGET 17 News, though the filing does not disclose the terms of that offer. He attended a hearing in federal court in Fresno, where the court scheduled another hearing for February 10, 2027, and set a trial date for May 2027 at the request of defense counsel. Lugo is represented by attorneys David A. Torres and Alekxia Torres Stallings, KGET reports.
Allegations Center on Online Conversations With a South Carolina Teen
Lugo is accused of encouraging a girl who was then 15 and living in South Carolina to send him sexually explicit material, with the online conversations beginning in September 2023, according to KGET's reporting on the indictment. A court filing alleges he instructed her on how to pose and told her to hold pieces of paper stating her age along with derogatory comments. The interactions reportedly occurred while Lugo was still working as a detective in BPD's special victims unit.
According to BakersfieldNow, the alleged communications stretched from September 20, 2023, to April 19, 2025, and investigators allegedly traced multiple IP addresses linked to the social media accounts back to Lugo's home in Bakersfield. A search warrant was authorized on May 5, 2025, and electronics were seized during that search, the station reported. Lugo was ultimately taken into custody by the United States Marshal Service on October 30, 2025.
Judge Ordered Home Detention After His Arrest
Following his arrest, the same outlet reported that a judge placed Lugo on home detention with electronic or location monitoring and restrictions on contact with the alleged victim, despite prosecutors' objections. Separately, the Police Officer Standards and Training office temporarily suspended Lugo's law enforcement certification, according to Turnto23, meaning he cannot perform his duties or exercise the powers of a sworn officer during the suspension.
Lugo's employment status has been reported inconsistently. One KGET report stated that Lugo remained on paid administrative leave, while a later KGET report quoted a Bakersfield Police Department spokesperson saying he is no longer employed by the department. Neither version has been reconciled in available reporting.
Detective's Wife Files $8 Million Claim Against the City
The fallout has also spread into civil court. Heather Lugo, who is herself a Bakersfield Police Department detective, filed a claim against the city in September accusing local law enforcement agencies of violating her rights and sexually harassing her in retaliation for staying with her husband, according to KGET. She is seeking $8 million in compensation. The Bakersfield Police Department and the city have declined to comment on the pending litigation, KGET reported.
The criminal case against Marc Lugo remains pending, with no trial verdict or sentencing yet determined. The next scheduled court date is set for February 10, 2027, ahead of the May 2027 trial.
