A former Riverside County sheriff’s correctional deputy who sexually exploited women inmates on home detention as part of an extortion scheme has been sentenced 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.
The District Attorney’s Office had argued for more prison time.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche, in August investigators were tipped off to wrongdoing. Heidecker was 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 their sentences.
The ensuing investigation revealed Heidecker had exploited his position of authority, targeting four woman inmates.
He engaged in sexual activity with the women, capturing video and still images, according to the criminal complaint. It was unclear what Heidecker told the inmates to gain their compliance.
Heidecker, the complaint says, then tried to “extort money and other property (from the victims 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. He resigned later that month, sheriff’s officials said. He had been with the Sheriff’s Department since April 2018.
