Ex-deputy who sexually exploited female inmates sentenced

A former Riverside County sheriff's correctional deputy who engaged in sex acts with female inmates on home detention as part of an extortion scheme was sentenced today to five years in state prison.

Christian Phillip Heidecker, 32, of Menifee, pleaded guilty last month to four counts each of extortion, a public official seeking bribes and witness intimidation, as well as one count of a detention officer perpetrating a sexual assault.

Heidecker's plea was directly to Superior Court Judge Charles Rogers based on a defense motion, over the objections of prosecutors.   

The District Attorney's Office argued for more prison time due to the gravity of the offenses, but Rogers imposed the sentence that was indicated at the time of the plea.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Steve Brosche, in August, investigators were tipped off to criminal behavior on the part of the defendant, 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 Heidecker had exploited his position of authority, targeting four female inmates, identified in court documents only by their initials -- "A.A.," "A.R.," "K.P." and "O.C."  

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

It was unclear what Heidecker told the inmates in order to gain their compliance.

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

He was arrested without incident in Murrieta on Sept. 15.   

The defendant resigned his position at the end of September, according to sheriff's officials.

He had been with the sheriff's department since April 2018.