Abuse Close to Home

11/30/2005 – HEMET, Calif. – A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was charged Tuesday with multiple criminal counts including assault by an officer, kidnapping and sexual battery.

Jeffrey Keith Sanders, 33, was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on $50,000 bail. A court hearing was scheduled for Nov. 28.

Sanders, who resigned from the department immediately following his arrest, had been employed there since 2000. He had been assigned to the Hemet station.

The department said in a news release that it began investigating Sanders following a complaint from a Hemet resident. The woman described inappropriate sexual conduct involving Sanders, the department said.

During the investigation, additional victims reported similar allegations involving Sanders, the department said.

It was not known how many victims were involved. Sheriff’s officials refused to comment beyond the release, referring questions to the District Attorney’s office, which could not be reached after hours.

Investigators believe there could be additional victims who may be afraid to come forward.

Read more on California Police Abuse and Brutality at www.policecrimes.com