WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:10.919 In early twenty twenty, a tip submitted through a crime 2 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:15.119 reporting system triggered an investigation that would shake a southern 3 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:20.280 California law enforcement agency. The report pointed to a San 4 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:24.719 Diego sheriff deputy and allegations that he had been communicating 5 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:30.239 with and soliciting sex with minors online. As detectives began 6 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:35.119 digging into the case, Dan covered disturbing evidence involving social media, 7 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:42.159 hidden identities, and multiple victims. The investigation would ultimately lead 8 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:45.520 to that deputy's arrest in a case that raised serious 9 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:51.759 questions about trust and accountability. This is the story of 10 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:55.000 the child predator named Jalen Devon Flear. 11 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:00.479 My name's Ben, I'm Nicole, and you're listening to Wicked 12 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:04.840 and Grim, a true crime podcast. Warning. 13 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:13.599 The following podcast material in more mature audience listener discretion. 14 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:36.400 I'm excited for our walk tomorrow, are you? I am. 15 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:38.879 It's been a while since we visited the tree, the 16 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:40.640 Wicked and Grim Tree. 17 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:43.079 Yes, so, you guys, you know our logo. You're probably 18 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:45.359 listening to this podcast and you're familiar with our logo, 19 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:47.840 the tree and everything. Yeah, it's a real tree about 20 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.200 a few kilometers from where we live. And we're gonna go. 21 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:53.719 We're gonna go see it tomorrow where we used to live. Yeah, well, 22 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:55.959 I mean it's in the same city. Yeah, just on 23 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:57.159 the other end of the city now yeah. 24 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.120 Yeah, it used to be very close, but now it's 25 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:02.040 a little bit further away. But yeah, it's a legit tree. 26 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.879 It is. We're gonna go take the dogs, go for 27 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.439 a stroll, and yeah, it's gonna bean. He probably take 28 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:08.599 a selfie and post it on social media, because why not. 29 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:12.639 But well, I don't think Honey's ever been there, just Ripley, Really, 30 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.120 I'm pretty Oh. 31 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:17.840 I'm sure she's been there, hasn't She don't think she has. 32 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.120 Oh okay, well it's gonna be her first time at 33 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:21.039 the wickeding Grim Tree. 34 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:22.719 We'll introduce her to the tree. 35 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:26.039 She'll be like, cool, Yeah, it's a tree. She might 36 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:29.360 even pee on it, who knows. But I'm stoked. It's 37 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.800 kind of gonna be a nice, little, uh, I don't know, visit. 38 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.240 I feel like that tree has a personality for us, 39 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:35.759 you know what I mean? 40 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:37.639 Yeah, nice little family owning. 41 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:43.360 Yeah. Speaking of family, this is not exactly the most 42 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:46.719 family friendly episode we're covering today, because this is involving 43 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.879 miners and a sexual predator targeting said miners. So heads 44 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:52.400 up on that. 45 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:56.360 Yeah, no kidding, and shout out it's gonna be a 46 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:56.879 bit rough. 47 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:00.319 It's rough, for sure, but shout out to her. Paid. 48 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:03.319 We have a little feed, a little chat where they 49 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:05.800 recommend cases all the time, and this one comes from 50 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:06.199 in there. 51 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:08.719 So it's awesome to have that they have our back. 52 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:10.919 They do. Once in a while, I'm like, oh, I 53 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:13.360 just can't find anything, and then I go scrolling through 54 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.960 their recommendations and it's I usually find something pretty quick 55 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:17.639 because they got some good cases. 56 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.280 They sure do. 57 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:20.319 So are you ready for this one? 58 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:21.840 Though, Yeah, let's do it. 59 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:24.080 Just dive right into it, I think. So okay, well, 60 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:26.199 let's get on with this case. And like I said, 61 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:31.560 trigger warning, you've been warned. You ready, Okay. So, from 62 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.080 a young age, many of us are taught the same lesson. 63 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:37.960 When something's wrong, find a police officer. They are the 64 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.080 ones meant to help and the ones who are meant 65 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:43.360 to protect. Authorities carry a very powerful weight because of 66 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.319 that trust. They have a badge, a uniform, and a 67 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:50.400 position of responsibility that signals safety and it tells the 68 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.280 public that the person wearing it has been entrusted with 69 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:58.639 protecting the community, but trust can be exploited, and there 70 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.360 are also some of us who taught a different lesson 71 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:06.280 that even authorities and officers can be corrupt. Because in 72 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:10.000 the modern world, predators can be anywhere, and they don't 73 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.280 always hide in dark alleys or abandoned places. Many now 74 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:17.160 operate from behind the scenes, may be using social media 75 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.480 and messaging apps to try and reach out into people's homes, 76 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:25.000 their phones, and even their lives. Platforms designed for connection 77 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.720 can also become a tool for manipulation, especially when those 78 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:33.439 using them know exactly how to gain someone's trust. And 79 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:37.439 sometimes the people hiding behind those screens, well, sometimes they're 80 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:40.839 not strangers at all. Sometimes they are the people who 81 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:45.279 hold positions of authority, people the public have been taught 82 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:50.160 to trust without question. When that happens, the betrayal runs 83 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:53.279 deeper than a single crime. It shatters the sense of 84 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:57.800 safety that authority is supposed to represent, and in this case, 85 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.920 that trust was broken in one of the most disturbing 86 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:08.600 and unimaginable ways. Jalen Devon Fleer was born in nineteen 87 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:12.040 ninety three and he grew up in Sante California, which 88 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.879 is a suburban community in San Diego County. From everything 89 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:19.319 I could find online, his early life appeared fairly typical. 90 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:22.199 By the time he reached high school, he had developed 91 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:25.040 a reputation as a strong athlete with a future that 92 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:28.639 seemed to be heading in a positive direction. He attended 93 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:32.399 Santana High School, graduating in twenty eleven, and during his 94 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:36.279 time there he stood out on the baseball field. Standing 95 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:38.920 at six foot four inches tall, he had a physical 96 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.160 build of a natural athlete and was known amongst classmates 97 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.879 as someone heavily involved in sports. Now he played both 98 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:49.800 baseball and football, but baseball in particular will it appeared 99 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:53.120 to be where he showed the most promise as a pitcher. 100 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:58.079 Jalen competed in the San Diego Storm, a local baseball organization, 101 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:02.519 and later continued playing that sport at Grossman College. For 102 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:05.040 a time, it looked like baseball might remain a major 103 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:07.279 part of his life. But no matter how you look 104 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:11.160 at his youth or analyze his upbringing, nothing that we 105 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:14.240 know of his early years suggested that Jalen would be 106 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:18.360 well one day a predator at the center of a 107 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:23.720 criminal investigation that would draw national attention to the people 108 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.759 around him he was just a typical young man from 109 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:31.120 a southern California suburb, someone that followed a path built 110 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.879 around sports, school, and community. But at some point after 111 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:39.839 his time playing baseball, Jalen stopped continuing down the athletic 112 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:43.160 route and he chose a career that placed him in 113 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:46.959 a position of authority as he decided to pursue law enforcement. 114 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:50.639 It was in June of twenty fifteen when he joined 115 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:54.000 the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. He was beginning what 116 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:56.240 appeared to be a stable path in law enforcement, and 117 00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:00.439 Jalen was assigned to the Department of Detention Services Bureau, 118 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:04.800 where he worked primarily inside the county's jail system. His 119 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:08.000 duties placed him in the San Diego Central Jail, one 120 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:10.600 of the main detention facilities in the region, and as 121 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:16.079 a correctional deputy, his responsibility involved supervising inmates, maintaining order 122 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:19.480 inside the facility, and working within the jail and court 123 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:23.160 services units that handled detainees moving through the county's criminal 124 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:28.399 justice system. For the next several years, Jalen continued working 125 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:31.759 within that role. Now. Records show he remained with the 126 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:35.399 Sheriff's Department for just over five years building a career 127 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:40.040 within that system. By twenty nineteen, compensation records indicated that 128 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:44.000 he earned roughly one hundred and sixteen thousand in total 129 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:47.040 pay and benefits, with a base salary of about sixty 130 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.560 five thousand. By all accounts, Jalen held a position that 131 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:54.160 carried public trust and authority, and there were no widely 132 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.720 reported issues tied to his work. To those around him, 133 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.000 former classmates, coworkers, and members of the community, Jayleen now 134 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:05.120 in his new career, was just another part of law enforcement, 135 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:08.560 moving on doing better in his life, and nothing about 136 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.920 his public image at the time suggested that his true 137 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:16.120 self would surface. In fact, it was in the spring 138 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:22.399 of twenty twenty that everything began to unravel. According to 139 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:25.920 court records and investigators, the core of the case against 140 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:30.439 Jayleen Fleer centered around a short but extremely troubling period 141 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:34.919 of time. The crimes occurred between March twenty seventh and 142 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:38.360 April eighth of twenty twenty, a window of just under 143 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:42.399 two weeks long. Now. During that time, prosecutors say Jayalen 144 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:46.919 was communicating with multiple miners through social media and messaging platforms, 145 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:52.519 primarily using Snapchat. Because you know, Snapchat has that function 146 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.679 of things get deleted. Right. 147 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:58.720 Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of Snapchat. I never 148 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.600 really have been. Its one app that I have used 149 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:04.279 very briefly. 150 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:06.320 I would say I'm the same. I've had a few 151 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:09.279 friends I've talked with on there, but it's not something 152 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:11.879 I've used much. I've probably sent like under one hundred 153 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:15.919 messages on there in total. And like Snapchat, it has 154 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.360 a bad rap because because of being able to have 155 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:23.559 those messages deleted, it's a positive thing. You're notified if 156 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:27.759 someone takes a screenshot of the conversation. Photos disappear after 157 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:31.360 you look at them immediately, however, so do the records 158 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:34.320 of what's sent. Don't get me wrong on this. I 159 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:37.200 didn't research the exact Snapchat stuff, so this is kind 160 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:38.919 of off the top of my head. I could be wrong, 161 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:43.240 but I believe Snapchat actually permanently deletes things. I think 162 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.799 within twenty four days of the image being sent, so 163 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:49.559 even authorities can't go back and look upon these things. 164 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:51.320 Oh jez, that doesn't seem good. 165 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:53.679 Again, don't quote me on that. I think it's somewhere 166 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:56.000 around that vicinity, but I'm not certain, because. 167 00:09:55.799 --> 00:10:00.399 Yeah, you're notified if a photo is someone taken a 168 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:01.519 screenshot of a photo. 169 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:04.240 As far as I know, anything in the snap I believe, 170 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:07.200 whether it's photos or the conversation or anything. 171 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:09.960 I think it's just photos. Oh maybe, but I remember 172 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:12.440 it always just stressing me out too, because everyone's all, 173 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:15.399 you know, you don't break our streak or whatever where 174 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:17.519 you have to send a photo every day or photo 175 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.879 yeah this twenty four hours or I don't even know, 176 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:22.600 and that always stressed me out. Well, I think that's 177 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:24.080 another reason I didn't like the app. 178 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.399 That was how I mostly used it. I messaged a 179 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.240 couple friends here and there, and then yeah, I turned 180 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.000 into the streak and then we're like a few weeks 181 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.159 streak and it's like we're not even messaging each other. 182 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.279 We just hit like a period or an exclamation mark, 183 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:38.440 or just send a random photo just for the streak numbers. Yeah. 184 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:38.840 Yeah. 185 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:41.440 For me, snapchat is not something I'm really going to 186 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.240 have in my life, but many people use it, and 187 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:47.000 it does get a bad rap and a good rap 188 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:50.840 for the same reasons. Now, through these conversations that Jalen 189 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.519 was having on there, investigators later determined that he was 190 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:58.000 attempting to arrange in person meetings and encourage the girls 191 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.039 to meet with him privately. The criminal complaint would eventually 192 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:05.600 identify four victims, all of which who were between the 193 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.360 ages of twelve and fourteen years old. 194 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.440 Oh that is young. 195 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:13.279 In court documents, their identities were protected, and rightfully so, 196 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.279 they were referred to simply as Jane Doe one, Jane 197 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:21.240 Do two, Jane Do three, and Jane Doe four. Investigators 198 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.799 also determined that the girls did not know each other, 199 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:27.600 suggesting Jalen had contacted them separately rather than through a 200 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.639 single shared social circle. 201 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:32.039 How the hell, well, you're probably going to get into this, 202 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.080 but how the hell would he even find these young girls. 203 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:37.200 I don't even know how a person would begin to 204 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:37.600 do that. 205 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:41.000 I'm not too certain. That's something I'm not aware of. 206 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.679 Certain things come out in court for various reasons. That's 207 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:49.159 something that never came out through the investigation or court records. 208 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.519 Yeah, but I mean also to what's the saying, If 209 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.480 there's a will, there's. 210 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:56.039 A way, right, I guess so now. Prosecutors later stated 211 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.720 that Jalen attempted to persuade some of these girls to 212 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.519 meet him by offering them money. In fact, if you 213 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:04.759 read the messages which some can be found online if 214 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:07.360 you dig deep enough, though I do not advise it. 215 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.759 He is situating himself as quote, a sugar daddy to 216 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:14.759 these young girls. Okay, now, he talked to them about 217 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:17.559 meeting up in secret offering them money, money in which 218 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:20.679 was the clear driving force in encouraging these young girls 219 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:25.240 to sleep with him. And yes, for the record, these conversations, 220 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:29.039 there is clear indication of age in one message. In fact, 221 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:32.000 he asked one of the Jane does how old she 222 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.799 was and if she was a virgin, and she said, yes, 223 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:38.720 she's twelve and she's a virgin. And his response, I 224 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:41.159 quote that is so fucking hot. 225 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:43.639 Oh my gosh, that is so disturbing. 226 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:44.200 I know. 227 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:47.759 And so when they were meeting up with him for money, 228 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:51.919 they were aware of what the meetup was, correct, that 229 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.960 it was for sex. 230 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:57.080 Correct, Hence why he's the sugar daddy and they're meeting 231 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:01.759 up for sexual favor sexual as this is very much 232 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:04.519 so solicitation of sex with a minor. 233 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.399 Yeah, well they're so young like that, that's not something 234 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:12.120 they can you know, decide exactly. 235 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:16.480 But for them, the prospect of money is large. So 236 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:19.240 there's even if you go into these conversations again, I 237 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:22.240 do not advise it. But he's offering them a couple 238 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.639 hundred bucks and they're like, oh my god, that's so 239 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:26.600 much money. I can buy so many things. So they're 240 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:30.679 just looking at the dollar figure and not realizing what's 241 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.879 really going on, what they're really getting themselves into. 242 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.840 Well, yeah, in their mind, okay, say it's two hundred bucks. 243 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:39.679 They can go to Claire's and get like a basket 244 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:40.360 full of shit. 245 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.480 Yeah, they can go on twelve year old like a 246 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:47.519 shopping spree. Okay, many girls at age too. They start 247 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.399 learning about name brands and stuff, and it's like how 248 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:52.759 many pairs of Lulu Lemon can I buy myself? That 249 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.399 sort of stuff goes through their head. 250 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:56.759 Gosh, my blood is already boiling. 251 00:13:57.080 --> 00:14:01.639 Fair enough, this is a disgusting case, to say the least. Now, 252 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:05.039 with these conversations Jalen is having with these underage girls, 253 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.360 these very young girls, he's not only trying to encourage 254 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:13.240 them to well, he's not trying to only solicit them 255 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:16.879 in some conversations. He also encouraged them to bring their friends, 256 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:20.240 attempting to arrange situations where he could meet multiple miners 257 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.000 at once. Now, what made the situation Even more disturbing 258 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.240 to investigators was that Jalen did not appear to hide 259 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:32.879 his identity in these conversations. According to prosecutors, he openly 260 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:35.120 told some of the girls that he was, in fact 261 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:38.600 law enforcement, and in certain cases, he even sent photos 262 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:43.360 of himself wearing the sheriff's uniform. Now, for young victims, 263 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.039 think twelve fourteen year old girls, that revelation created an 264 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:51.399 additional layer of fear in this situation. One, Yeah, realizing 265 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.679 you're speaking with someone who's a deputy sheriff, it made 266 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:58.039 them hesitant to tell any one of what's happening because 267 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:01.039 of the power that someone in that position would That 268 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.080 is scary. 269 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.879 He's using that to his advantage. 270 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:08.480 One hundred percent. Now, at the time of these communications 271 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.399 and when they were taking place, these were during those 272 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.320 two weeks, and however, no formal report was yet to 273 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:18.480 be made by police. This was just occurring at this time, 274 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:22.799 but that would soon change. On April ninth, twenty twenty, 275 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:26.879 the San Diego County Sheriff's Crime Stopper Program received two 276 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:32.879 separate tips. Both reports described an unidentified adult male who 277 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:38.159 had allegedly been engaging in inappropriate activity with a juvenile now, 278 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:41.360 crime stoppers tips are often the starting point for investigations 279 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:44.919 as they allow people to report potential crimes without revealing 280 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:48.840 their identity, which can encourage witnesses or concerned individuals to 281 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:51.879 come forward when they might otherwise stay silent. And in 282 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:55.240 this case, the information provided in the tips was serious 283 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.320 enough that the matter was quickly forwarded to the Chula 284 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:03.240 Vista Police Department for further investigation. Now, at that point, 285 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:07.679 investigators knew very little of the situation. They had reports 286 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.799 of an adult man and a juvenile victim, but the 287 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:14.480 suspect had not yet been publicly identified, and detectives would 288 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:17.480 have to determine whether the claims were credible, and, if so, 289 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:22.159 who the suspect actually was. So, as investigators started reviewing 290 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:26.240 the details and the provided tips, they began examining online 291 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:31.080 communities and digital evidence connected to the alleged interactions. Through 292 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.639 this process, they were able to identify individuals who may 293 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:39.120 have been involved and began speaking with potential victims. Before long, 294 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:43.600 the scope of the situation started to grow. Detectives initially 295 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:46.440 believed the case involved a single victim, but as they 296 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:50.600 continued their investigation, they discovered additional underage girls who had 297 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.000 also been contacted, and they determined that the case involved 298 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:58.120 multiple victims, including at least three girls who had communicated 299 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:03.039 with the suspect. Further investigation would later confirm that four 300 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:06.960 victims in total were connected to the case. So as 301 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.000 detectives pieced together the communications and accounts from the victims, 302 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:15.319 the clear picture of the suspect began to emerge. The 303 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:19.440 man behind the messages was, in fact, Jalen Devon Fleer, 304 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:25.640 a deputy sheriff working for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Now, 305 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:30.119 the discovery immediately raised the stakes for the investigation, because 306 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.279 a suspect was someone who held a position of authority 307 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:37.440 in the community, someone entrusted with enforcing the law. Now, 308 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.000 at the time, Jalen Fleer had been working at that 309 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:42.200 Central Jail, where he had spent much of his career 310 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.720 supervising inmates as part of the department's Detention Service operations, 311 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:52.400 and as the investigation intensified, detectives arranged to question Jalen directly. Now, 312 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.200 the interview took place at the San Diego Central Jail 313 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:58.720 where he worked, and investigators made it very clear from 314 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:01.200 the beginning that the common conversation that they were having 315 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:05.680 with Jalen was voluntary. Before the questions began, Jalen was 316 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.920 informed that he was not under arrest. He was free 317 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.720 to leave at any time. They pointed out the exits 318 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:14.200 in the room where they were talking to him, everything 319 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.559 The doors were unlocked. Detectives explained he could refuse to 320 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:22.960 answer any questions and the interview you name it. After 321 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.079 acknowledging those conditions and signing a form confirming he understood them, 322 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:32.759 the interrogation officially began. Now it's important to say he 323 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:36.440 agreed to all of this because of the approach in 324 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:41.880 which he was interviewed. The detectives employed the classic good cop, 325 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:46.880 bad cop routine. So two of them walked in. One 326 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:49.400 sat back, almost like they were annoyed that they were 327 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:53.559 even having to be there, very brash, abrupt, not saying much, 328 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:59.720 not really engaging, while the other detective walked in smiling, friendly, 329 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.960 down playing the reason that they were even there. They 330 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.920 were just there in order to get, you know, finish 331 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.000 off some files and clean up some paperwork on a 332 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:08.240 call that was that was called in. They just need 333 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:10.759 to talk just because it's formality, that's about. 334 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:13.400 It, Almost like their colleagues right exactly. 335 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.920 Yeah, So she maintained a very calm, friendly tone, did 336 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.200 a very good job of building a rapport with Jalen. 337 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.279 She asked about his background. She's like, I want to 338 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:23.559 know who I'm talking to, So I asked about his background, 339 00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:27.039 his time playing baseball in school. She even like, oh, 340 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:29.160 well you were a picture. How's your arm holding up? 341 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.200 Did you ice it? And stuff like that, like, oh 342 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:34.519 that's awesome, good for you, those sorts of things, and 343 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:37.400 even his personal life, these things she was going on 344 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:41.000 about recent marriages. He was having a child soon, his wife, 345 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.599 he was married not too long ago. 346 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.880 Are you shitting me? 347 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:49.039 These conversations often drifted into casual territory, creating the impression 348 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:51.839 that the interview was routine and that the detective was 349 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:56.400 sympathetic of him, realizing he was likely, you know, innocent, 350 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:59.839 even though they knew otherwise. Yeah, but yes, he was 351 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.279 married and having a kid. 352 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:05.039 Okay, well we'll touch on that more because that's fucked. 353 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.119 Yeah. 354 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:09.279 But also this is almost like an art to it, 355 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:12.240 or like a science to some degree, right, Like they're 356 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:15.359 you know, they're they're acting in a way, yes, get 357 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.759 what they need and stuff. So I like it's incredible. 358 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:20.200 I don't think I would be very good at that. 359 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:23.359 This interrogation is easily found on YouTube, and I highly 360 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:26.400 recommend you look it up because it is well done. 361 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:30.680 It is picture perfect. They couldn't have done any better. 362 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:34.880 Because you also have to think too, how freaking disappointing 363 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:38.519 is that to them? Right? Like they're that they're one 364 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:42.839 of them? Is you know, the freaking suspect. I don't know. 365 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:45.440 I just can't imagine being in that situation and how 366 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:48.359 just shocking and upsetting that is. I know that it 367 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:51.480 would be for anyone, but that it's like a law 368 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.880 enforcement person, like. 369 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:55.759 Uh for sure. Now, one of the cool things that 370 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:59.160 she did while she was interrogating the good cop, she 371 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:02.200 said she made it seem like he was almost in 372 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.519 a position of power because there's one thing she said 373 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:07.839 about how I might need your help getting out of 374 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:11.400 here later because this I've never been here before. Oh, 375 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.400 almost like putting him like he's going to show her 376 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.440 how to get out of here and she's relying on him. 377 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:19.279 Holy moly, well done. 378 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:22.640 She's so well done. Now she worked to make Jalen 379 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:26.559 very comfortable the questions that he had already answered. You 380 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:29.400 know about high school, All those sort of things began 381 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:33.119 to be explored more things he already answered to, so 382 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:36.160 things they already came out of his mouth. Then they 383 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:40.200 started poking deeper at those things, so he couldn't lie 384 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:43.599 anymore because he already answered them, right. And there were 385 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:47.799 things about social media accounts, and he voluntarily mentioned his 386 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:50.920 Snapchat that he of course hasn't used for a long time. 387 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:55.920 But investigators they believe that the inappropriate communications were taking 388 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.960 place with that Snapchat, and gradually detectives introduced the evidence 389 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.079 that they had already gathered. They showed Jalen a portrait 390 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:08.160 photograph that had been linked to a Snapchat account associated 391 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:11.079 with his name, email address, and explained that that image 392 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:14.240 had been sent to a younger female. Now, for the record, 393 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:18.160 this photo that they discuss in this interview, it's just 394 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:22.720 a portrait photo. Nothing wrong with this image, okay. However, 395 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:26.440 the implications of this is did you send this completely 396 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:29.839 normal photo to a girl? Would then mean well, that's 397 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:33.160 your account because you also sent genital photos and sexual suggests. 398 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:37.720 It goes deeper, right, okay, But even just a normal 399 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.880 photo from a grown ass man sent to a child, 400 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.960 isn't you know? 401 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.799