Ex-dc Police Officer Tears up during Guilty Plea for Sex Crimes

WUSA
October 23, 2015

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/10/22/ex-dc-police-officer-tears-up-during-guilty-plea-sex-crimes/74426828/

[with video]

A former D.C. police officer and pastor teared up in court Thursday while pleading guilty to multiple sex crimes.

Darrell Best, 46, is expected to spend the next 18 years in jail after pleading guilty to one count of producing child pornography, one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

The charges stem from incidents involving two female minors who knew him through the Southeast D.C. church where he served as head pastor. Prosecutors say one incident happened on December 3, 2014, at Metropolitan Police Department headquarters and another happened inside the church on February 14, 2015.

In both cases, Best was wearing his MPD uniform.

On March 14, 2015, one of Best's victims told her parents about the abuse. MPD began investigating the incident and arrested Best two days later. He has been in custody since his arrest.

After obtaining a search warrant, investigators found seven images of child pornography on Best's phone that he produced using one of the victims.

Should Best's guilty plea be approved, his sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2016. Best will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.