Ex-CHP officer surrenders at jail over nude cellphone photo scandal

MARTINEZ, Calif. -- He's already surrendered his career, now former CHP Officer Sean Harrington has turned himself into the Contra Costa County Jail.

The 35-year-old Harrington is charged with stealing semi-nude photos from at least one woman's cellphone, a woman he arrested for DUI, and sending those photos to other officers.

With his attorney at his side, Harrington surrendered at the Contra Costa County Main Jail in Martinez. He is charged with two felony counts.

"This is a horrendous invasion of privacy, but also because he's a law enforcement officer, it really undermines the public trust in the whole justice system. This whole thing works because the public trusts us," said prosecutor Barry Grove.

Grove told ABC7 News, the District Attorney's office may have to review dozens of cases Harrington was involved in and may have to throw some out after these charges.

"If there was evidence that there was wrongdoing then we'll handle them according. But right now, we only have evidence of wrongdoing in the cases we have charged," said Grove.

Harrington promptly bailed out and made his first court appearance a couple of hours later with his wife at his side, a show of support for her husband.

Harrington's attorney Michael Rains asked the judge to postpone formal arraignment for a couple of weeks. He added, Harrington is not disputing the charges against him.

"What would an officer want to throw away his career over that for? That's a good question. What was he thinking? And the honest answer is he wasn't thinking. He used the word 'game' and I've said this before and I'll say it again as his lawyer, this was no game," said Rains.

Harrington will be back in court November 14.

If convicted, he faces several years in prison.