Ex-RSO deputy who stalked former fiancée, harassed volunteer sentenced

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - An ex-Riverside County sheriff's deputy who perpetrated felony and misdemeanor crimes involving his former fiancée and a female volunteer was sentenced today to six years in state prison.   

Alexander Ravy Vanny, 35, of Hemet, was convicted in December of stalking, possession of child pornography, unauthorized use of protected electronic data, maliciously destroying a wireless device, witness intimidation, illicit eavesdropping, using a concealed camera to invade privacy, illegal use of a tracking device, interference with a traffic control device and possession of a firearm in violation of a protective order, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of perpetrating a felony while on bail.

The Indio jury assigned the case hung 10-2 in favor of convicting Vanny of kidnapping. Prosecutors initially considered retrying Vanny on that count but ultimately decided against it and allowed sentencing proceedings to move forward before Superior Court James Hawkins at the Larson Justice Center Friday.

Deputy District Attorney Jess Walsh told jurors that Vanny was unquestionably guilty, engaging in criminal conduct before being fired by the sheriff's department.

At the outset of the trial, Walsh recounted the offenses involving the two principal victims, a former sheriff's Explorer scout, an 18-year-old, and the defendant's one-time fiancée, a mother of two.

In the latter case, Vanny became obsessive, unable to cope with their split in the summer of 2024.  

After she went out on a date, the then-lawman secretly followed her and the man, whose identity wasn't disclosed, waiting until they were inside her Menifee residence, then setting up an audio device outside the bedroom window to record the sounds of her and the other man engaging in sex. After waiting a moment or two, Vanny forced his way into the apartment and challenged the man to a fight, according to the prosecution.   

Court papers said when his ex-fiancée attempted to use her mobile phone to call 911, the defendant damaged it.   

Among the most serious allegations was Vanny's following his ex-fiancee to Chappies Bar in Hemet and demanding that she "leave and come home with him," the prosecution said. When the woman rejected him, Vanny "forcibly threw her into his truck,'' according to court documents.

"The defendant then drove her, without her consent, to his home ... some 17 miles and 30 minutes,'' the prosecution stated.   

Defense attorney Quintin Swanson presented a different picture, describing his client as the gallant type, rushing to "save" her from drinking and driving after the two of them had a spat.

She filed a restraining order against him, but in defiance of that order, Vanny continued to carry around his personal firearm.   

Walsh said the deputy stuck ``tracking devices'' onto her car so he could monitor her travels at all times.

The defendant became sexually involved with an 18-year-old, who looked upon him as a mentor, regularly exchanging texts with him, according to the prosecution.

Vanny procured video images of two teenagers engaging in sexual activity during a visit to an Orange County theme park and kept the matter, which was part of an investigation, on his personal mobile phone, intending to share it with the 18-year-old, Walsh said.

He said detectives documented the laundry list of offenses perpetrated by the defendant, including threats against his ex-fiancee, whom he tried to intimidate by telling her, "If you call the police, you go to jail."

Swanson acknowledged his client "started a stupid relationship with the cadet, who was an adult,'' while engaged. The two were living together at the time, and the cheating led to their breakup.   

Despite the separation, the attorney told the jury his client continued to pay some of his ex-fiancee's expenses, including rent for her apartment.

Vanny was first arrested on June 22, 2024, and booked into the Banning jail but posted a $1 million bond and was released. He was placed on paid administrative leave, but within a few months, he was fired from the department.

While on bail, Vanny was separately charged with a slate of new offenses. He had been a sworn peace officer since he was hired by the sheriff's department in 2016.