San Diego Deputy Arrested for Sexual Misconduct with Female Inmate at Las Colinas
Deputy Ricky Garcia, 37, faces five felony counts after allegedly having repeated sexual encounters with an inmate in June and July. Sheriff called the conduct "abhorrent."
San Diego Sheriff's Deputy Charged with Five Felonies Over Inmate Sex Abuse
A San Diego County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday on five felony counts after investigators determined he had allegedly engaged in repeated sexual encounters with a female inmate in his custody, NY Post Metro reports.
Ricky Garcia, 37, was booked into the Vista Detention Facility following an investigation into incidents that allegedly took place during June and July at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by ABC 10.
The inquiry began after a department employee raised concerns internally. "A Sheriff's employee brought forward concerns that inappropriate actions might be occurring between a deputy and an incarcerated person at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility," the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "The Sheriff's Sexual Assault Unit immediately began to investigate the allegations."
Garcia was removed from contact with inmates while the investigation was ongoing, the department said. He had been hired by the sheriff's office in March 2018.
Sheriff Kelly Martinez condemned the alleged conduct in unequivocal terms. "We will not tolerate criminal behavior in our ranks and will hold employees accountable for their actions," she said, describing the behavior as "abhorrent" and a "violation of public trust."
The case is the latest in a pattern of sexual misconduct allegations against California correctional officers. In 2025, former correctional officer Gregory Rodriguez, 57, was sentenced to 224 years in prison after conviction on more than 60 charges tied to the sexual abuse of inmates at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, where prosecutors said he targeted women in his custody.
In 2019, former San Diego sheriff's deputy Richard Fischer was found guilty of sexually assaulting 16 women while on duty. Fischer faced 20 counts before pleading guilty to seven on the day his trial was set to begin.
Source: NY Post Metro