An awarded Presidio of Monterey police officer was arrested on suspicion of sodomizing a child younger than 10 years and a slew of other alleged sexual acts, some forced, with a child nearly two decades ago, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office and other official sources.

Assistant District Attorney Steve Moore said Barney Joseph Ramnauth, 48, is a police officer at the Army installation. Ramnauth won Monterey County Peace Officers Association Officer of the Year award in 2014 for his work as a corporal at the Presidio Police Department, according to the March 2015 edition of Lawman, a publication by the Officers Association.

Ramnauth was arrested on suspicion of sexual acts with a child 10 years old or younger; forced acts with a child younger than 14; and aggravated assault-child sexual acts, according to Superior Court records.

All acts are linked to one date: Aug. 20, 1998.

A Superior Court judge issued a warrant in the case Dec. 1. The date of Ramnauth’s arrest is not available in court documents or an online inmate locator.

He will face seven felony charges, which merit up to life imprisonment, according to the California Penal Code.

Sgt. Chris Clark, spokesman of Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, said the agency is investigating.