California deputy accused of extorting female inmates for sex

A Riverside County corrections deputy was arrested this week on suspicion of extorting four female inmates and sexually assaulting one of them, authorities said Saturday, Sept. 16.

Christian Heidecker, 32, was booked Friday at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of four counts of extortion, sexual penetration under color of authority and three counts of attempted sexual assault of an inmate, according to inmate records.

He was being held on $1 million bail, inmate records show.

Riverside County sheriff’s investigators were notified on Aug. 31 of possible crimes being committed by an employee, who was formerly assigned to the Riverside Alternative Sentencing Program at the Coordinated Custody Management Unit in Banning, Sgt. Steve Brosche said.

Investigators learned the employee, identified as Heidecker, was extorting female inmates who were assigned to home confinement and were fitted with ankle monitors to complete their court-ordered sentencing outside of jail, Brosche said.

Heidecker turned himself in Friday and has been placed on administrative leave, Brosche said.

The sexual penetration under color of authority charge is defined as sexual penetration “against the victim’s will by threatening to use the authority of a public official to incarcerate, arrest or depart the victim or another,” and the victim has reason to believe the suspect is a public official.

Sheriff’s investigators believe there may have been additional victims and asked anyone with information to call Investigator R. Deanne at 951-955-2777.