Ex-LAPD officer at center of cadet scandal pleads to weapons charges

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A former Los Angeles Police Department officer accused of having sex with an underage cadet entered a not guilty plea to felony weapons charges.

Robert Cain appeared in a Rancho Cucamonga courtroom on Friday in handcuffs.

Prosecutors have filed charges against the 31-year-old including the illegal possession and manufacturing of assault rifles.

Authorities seized a cache of nearly 100 illegal weapons from his Rancho Cucamonga home in June. The weapons included illegally modified assault rifles and other restricted firearms.

Cain initially came to the attention of authorities amid an investigation into the LAPD's cadet program. The probe was triggered by the theft of police cruisers and other equipment by juveniles in the program.

MORE: 4 more LAPD cadets arrested after theft of police vehicles

Investigators arrested Cain for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old female cadet and discovered the weapons after searching his residence in connection with that case.

Cain was believed to have been involved in helping the cadets check out the equipment from the department. The 10-year veteran officer worked as an equipment room operator.

The teen cadet with whom Cain was suspected of having a sexual relationship was among the group of cadets arrested in connection with the police cruiser theft, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.

In a show of his seriousness in rooting out the source of the trouble, Beck personally put the cuffs on Cain when he was first arrested in June.

Cain's bail was set at $250,000. His next court appearance was set for Aug. 15.