PHOENIX — A former Phoenix police officer has been arrested for sexually abusing a girl when she was in kindergarten, and he was in high school, according to police.

Michael Steven Mason, 28, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly admitting to the now 17-year-old victim’s mother that he inappropriately touched the girl while babysitting her in his mother’s apartment.

According to court documents, the victim had been attending counseling sessions when she told her therapist that Mason had sexual contact with her in the 2007 incident.

Her therapist reported the incident to DCS, who then reported it to Phoenix police.

Police on Thursday said that Mason had been employed as a Phoenix officer for about three years, but resigned prior to being booked into jail.

“I am shocked and appalled to hear the details of this investigation," Phoenix police Chief Jeri Williams said in a Thursday statement. "I am confident in the investigative process, as well as the current stringent hiring and background investigation process under my watch as Police Chief. It is incumbent upon our organization to review these processes to ensure we are making every effort to detect and address these types of incidents.”

Mason was booked for one count of sexual conduct with a minor and is being held on a $35,000 bond.

