DETROIT – A Wayne County deputy was charged with criminal sexual conduct Thursday as he faced a judge for the first time since police said he admitted to molesting a child.
Sgt. Thomas Pedersen, 48, walked into the Dearborn Police Department on Monday and told officers that he had done something terrible, authorities said. Prosecutors said Pedersen engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a girl younger than 13 for nearly six years.
Pedersen was charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in an arraignment that lasted about 20 minutes.
Investigators said Pedersen was involved in some kind of criminal sexual conduct. Pedersen admitted to sexually molesting the girl, according to officials.
Pedersen's attorney said that Pedersen is not a flight risk, and that he understands that he should not have any contact with the victim. The judge agreed and imposed him on a $250,000 bond.
The prosecutor said Pedersen made some "pretty damning admissions" during the investigation.
The prosecutors filed a motion to close the courtroom to the media to protect the privacy of the victim during future court proceedings in the case.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office issued this statement on Thursday, saying that Pedersen has been suspended without pay:
"Pedersen was suspended without pay, his police powers have been suspended and his security clearance to enter any Wayne County Sheriff’s Office facility has been revoked. In order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, Pedersen will not be housed in the Wayne County Jail pending his next court appearance or the posting of bond; rather, he will be held in the Oakland County Jail.
"Pedersen may be subject to future disciplinary action predicated on the outcome of his trial and a review of the investigation conducted by the Brownstown Police Department.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and her family. Pedersen has been employed by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office since September of 1995, and he was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2012."
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