SANTA ANA – A former police officer accused of defrauding clients while working as a private investigator surrendered to authorities Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear in court as promised for his arraignment.

Kevin Michael Sianez, 53, of Fountain Valley was charged last week in a 63-count criminal complaint that includes three misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit a sexual assault of an animal by posting ads on Craigslist to have women engage in bestiality with his dog.

He was arrested Thursday by investigators from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Investigators, but was transported to Western Medical Center after claiming to be suffering from a heart condition.

Sianez then did not show up for scheduled arraignment Monday. When he again failed to appear Tuesday morning, Superior Court Judge Erick Larsh issued the warrant for his arrest. Sianez was being held on $180,000 bail late Tuesday afternoon.

Prosecutors contend Sianez, a former Santa Ana and Stanton police officer, operated a private investigation service from November 2005 to June under several names, including KMS Investigations, Fore-Front Investigations and 4Front Investigations.

Sianez is accused of falsely identifying himself to clients as a licensed private investigator, posting false online reviews to increase his web presence and misleading people into thinking he operated a nationwide network of offices.

Instead, he had a small suite office in Fountain Valley with less than five employees, primarily family members, prosecutors said. He allegedly did little work on his cases, and defrauded properly licensed investigation firms by subcontracting work to them without paying.

Sianez is charged with 20 counts of grand theft by false pretense, 12 counts of fraudulently using an access card, two counts of second-degree commercial burglary, five counts of possession of a firearm by a felon due to a 1998 conviction for stalking, four counts of theft with a prior conviction, four counts of obtaining electricity services through false representation and one count each of identity theft, perjury, computer access and fraud and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

He is also facing misdemeanor charges, including three counts of conspiracy to commit sexual assault upon an animal, two counts of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, three counts of obtaining electricity services through false representation and one count each of criminal threats, unlawful representation as a private investigator, engaging in the business of private investigation and doing business without a valid license.

Sianez is facing sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property damage over $65,000. If convicted, he faces up to 38 years in state prison.

Contact the writer: lwelborn@ocregister.com or 714-834-3784