By Jorge Casuso
October 18, 2018 -- A Santa Monica City employee was arrested Thursday morning for lewd acts with a minor dating back to the 1990s, when he was a volunteer with the local Police Activities League (PAL).
Eric Uller -- a systems analyst for the Information Services Department -- was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’ Special Victims Unit for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, according to Sheriffs officials.
The special victims unit launched the investigation in June at the request of the Santa Monica Police Department, according to Deputy Armando Viera Jr.
In a statement issued Thursday, City officials said they were "deeply disturbed by the allegations that led to the arrest."
Uller -- who works in the public safety facility -- has been placed on administrative leave, pending resolution of the charges, said Constance Farrell the City's public information officer.
Uller earned $197,150 in salary an benefits last year, according to Transparent California, a political watchdog group.
As the City's Lead Public Safety Systems Analyst in 2009, Uller helped launch the City's crime mapping system, which made data available for crimes reported within the last 90 days.
The system does not include information about sex-related crimes due to the "unique and sensitive issues" surrounding those crimes," according to the press release that listed Uller as the contact.
Uller is the second person associated with Santa Monica PAL arrested for child molestation.
Donald Condon, a former PAL employee, was arrested in 2014 and charged with five counts of child molestation.
He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to three years probation and required to register as a sex offender.
The Santa Monica PAL is a City staffed nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe and supervised place for young people ages 6 through 17.
"The City will continue to take all steps to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of youth enrolled in City-sponsored programs," City officials said in their statement.
"The City has and will continue to cooperate fully with the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office as the matter proceeds."
The investigation of Uller is ongoing. Bail for Uller has been set at $2 million, Viera said.
His next court date is October 22, 2018.
Anyone with information related Uller's investigation should call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at (877) 710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.
