Ex-Riverside County sheriff’s correctional deputy pleads guilty to sexually extorting women

A former Riverside County Sheriff's Correctional Deputy could face five years in prison after pleading guilty to extorting female inmates on home detention as part of an extortion scheme.

Christian Phillip Heidecker, 32, of Menifee agreed to a five-year prison sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to five counts of extortion, four counts of witness intimidation, and four counts of bribery.

Heidecker is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7 in Murrieta.

According to John Hall, spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Heidecker agreed to a five-year sentence with the court, not prosecutors. The DA's office will oppose the sentencing.

"Our office will be arguing at sentencing that the defendant’s conduct merits a state prison sentence greater than the court’s indicated sentence of five years in state prison," Hall wrote.

Heidecker was arrested in September, a month after the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said investigators were tipped off to alleged criminal behavior on the part of Heidecker, who was
then assigned to the Alternative Sentencing Program, working out of the Coordinated Custody Management Unit in Banning.

The program enables inmates to serve time on home confinement, in lieu of jail, wearing ankle monitors to track their whereabouts and ensure compliance with the terms of their sentences.

The ensuing investigation revealed that Heidecker had exploited his position of authority, targeting four female inmates.

The deputy engaged in unspecified sexual activity with the women, capturing video and still images, according to the criminal complaint.   

The complaint stated that the defendant then tried to "extort money and other property (from the victims) by means of a wrongful use of force and fear ... (using) sexually explicit photographs and videos."

When it became evident that one or more of the victims was going to report him, Heidecker allegedly tried to prevent them from talking, possibly through intimidation, according to court papers.

A little over a week after Heidecker's arrest, Riverside County officials were accused of bribing sexual assault victims in exchange for their silence over this case.

Court documents filed in Riverside County by attorneys representing two women show that the victims were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse, harassment, and intimidation by Christian Phillip Heidecker between March and April of 2023, during which Heidecker was a correctional deputy with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The court filings also stated that an attorney for the county and a correctional sergeant for the department offered to pay $1,000 each to the two women in an attempt to coverup the alleged sexual abuse by Heidecker.

“The day before September 15 when Deputy Heidecker turned himself in for those 18 counts of extortion for sex, rape, and bribery, you had two County of Riverside officials knocking on these victims’ doors," said Gastelum.

A county spokesperson told News Channel 3 in September that "it is not uncommon to seek settlement prior to litigation to avoid the time and expense for both sides associated with lawsuits."