Merced County firefighter loses job amid sex crimes investigations

A 20-year-old Merced man was fired this week from the Merced County Fire Department following an investigation in Fresno County into possible inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with a minor, authorities have confirmed.

Kaydon R. Potter is under investigation by the Selma Police Department. The case has been referred to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office for review, Chief Greg Garner told the Merced Sun-Star.

“The investigation focused on what would constitute illegal behavior on social media, with a minor victim,” Garner said in an email.

Criminal charges have not been filed and Potter has not been arrested in connection with that case, Garner said.

Prosecutors in Fresno could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Potter was placed on administrative leave from the county Wednesday after the allegations in Selma came to light in a report by Fresno television station Channel 30 (KFSN). However, his employment was terminated late Thursday, county spokesman Mike North told the Sun-Star.

Efforts to reach Potter and his family were not immediately successful Friday.

The Fresno County case is at least the second time this year Potter has been investigated for sex crimes, the Sun-Star has learned.

Potter was arrested Feb. 1 by deputies from the Merced County Sheriff’s Department. He was booked into jail on suspicion of oral copulation with a minor, a felony, and a misdemeanor allegation of making harassing or obscene telephone calls, according to booking records.

The Merced County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges at the time, citing insufficient information in the case, according to Rob Carroll, chief deputy district attorney.

“We will be taking another look at that information given the recent developments,” Carroll told the Sun-Star on Friday.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Delray Shelton said deputies are continuing to investigate the Merced County case. Shelton said the investigation in Merced County is separate and unrelated to the Fresno County case. He declined to elaborate on the case, citing a need to protect the investigation.

Potter was hired as a paid on-call firefighter in September 2013. The position is essentially a part-time job that allows certain firefighters to respond to calls on a volunteer basis, according to North.

“It’s basically based on their availability. If they have the opportunity, they respond to the calls with the other (firefighters),” North said.

Potter was paid $9.47 per hour as a part-time firefighter for the county.

Merced County has a contract for fire services with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. However, the county also employees some part-time firefighters, North said.

North said Potter was employed by the county, but was supervised by Cal Fire at emergency scenes. “But, he was not a Cal Fire employee,” North explained.

This story was originally published June 12, 2015 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Merced County firefighter loses job amid sex crimes investigations."