Federal grand jury indictment charges ex-fire captain with child exploitation
A former South Lake Tahoe fire captain has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of minors.
Mark McLeod Wygant, 44, was arrested Jan. 29, accused of receiving child pornography, following an investigation by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. A federal grand jury on Thursday returned a six-count indictment against him, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.
Wygant has been in custody since his arrest and is to be arraigned Friday before U.S. District Judge Carolyn K. Delaney.
Wygant was arrested after city officials received an internal tip of a potential crime regarding a city employee, and an investigation was launched by federal and local law enforcement agencies. He initially was placed on paid administrative leave, but resigned from the fire department Feb. 4 after the city completed an internal investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office news release identifies Wygant as a Chico resident.
Call The Bee’s Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 4:09 PM.