Officer(s) Involved: Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Arcadio Rodriguez.
Synopsis: Mr. Rodriguez has been charged after allegedly sexually assaulting two female inmates and directing them to engage in sexual activity while he worked at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange, officials said.
Rodriguez allegedly sexually assaulted the inmates on multiple occasions dating back to May 2022 by touching them over their jail uniforms and showing them pornographic videos of himself while they were in their cells.
Rodriguez, 30, of Stanton, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery, being a detention facility employee engaging in sexual activity with a confined consenting adult and possession of a cell phone in a correctional facility, all misdemeanors.
California law only allows prosecutors to charge a misdemeanor when a detention facility employee engages in sexual activity with a confined adult over the clothes instead of skin to skin. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is seeking a change to state law to allow prosecutors to charge the behavior as a felony or a misdemeanor.
Rodriguez was arrested after an investigation by his own department, and faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in the Orange County jail if convicted as charged.
“The wellbeing of people incarcerated in our jails is an incredible responsibility that goes far beyond the simple minimum of physical safety,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “To have a sworn deputy sheriff betray his oath of office to serve and protect by preying on vulnerable incarcerated individuals for his own sexual gratification is appalling. These women were awaiting trial and had no way of escaping a predator who literally held the keys to their captivity and directed them to perform sexual acts at his every whim. This is an embarrassment to the badge and to all the hardworking law enforcement professionals who carry out their duties lawfully each and every day.”
Outcome: Mr. Rodriguez was booked into the Santa Ana Jail, was initially placed on administrative leave on 9 August 2022, and has been terminated from his position.
No further information was available as of the time of publication.
