Former San Francisco deputy charged in alleged jail sexual assault case, authorities say

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A former San Francisco sheriff's deputy has been charged in connection with the alleged sexual assault of an inmate at the San Francisco County Jail, authorities announced Friday.

The felony charges stem from an alleged incident in September 2025 involving a 34-year-old deputy and a transgender woman housed in the jail. Authorities said the deputy was immediately terminated. The San Francisco Police Department and its Special Victims Unit took over the investigation.

"It involves a sexual assault of a former inmate by a deputy at sf county jail," San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said.

According to court records, the deputy allegedly told the inmate to accompany him to a gym area. Authorities allege the sexual assault occurred in a bathroom stall.

Investigators said the victim preserved DNA evidence and reported the incident to her public defender, who then helped initiate the reporting process. The deputy was later arrested.

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In a statement, the San Francisco Sheriff's Office said, "...the San Francisco Sheriff's Office remains committed to holding our own accountable. The safety, security, and well-being of the people entrusted to our care remain our highest priority."

The alleged victim, a transgender woman, received support from advocates who praised her decision to come forward.

"I know it must have been difficult and it must have been scary, but she did it for herself and all other trans women who go through that in jail," said Suzanne Ford of SF Pride.

"We want to make sure that trans women are protected in the jail system and historically they have not been," Ford added.

Police officials emphasized the seriousness of the allegations.

"As law enforcement officers, our duty is to protect the public," Lew said. "Abusing the power as a sworn peace officer on an inmate in a detention facility is a crime we will never accept in San Francisco."

The case marks the second recent incident involving allegations of misconduct by a sheriff's deputy and an inmate. Another deputy faces misdemeanor charges alleging she groped a female inmate. The jail system is also the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit over mass strip searches conducted last year.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said authorities have a responsibility to ensure inmate safety.

"There are over 1,100 inmates in our county jail who we have a responsibility to care for and to make sure that no matter what they did and no matter what charges they are facing, they have a right to a safe environment to be in," Jenkins said.

Late Friday, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office credited the transgender inmate for bringing the allegations forward.

"The sexual assault committed by the former sheriff's deputy at the San Francisco Jail would not have been brought to light were it not for the extraordinary courage of our client-full stop," the office said in a statement. "The victim confided in our deputy public defender, who acted quickly to ensure her voice was heard and her rights were protected."

The office added that it remains concerned about the safety of clients in custody, particularly cisgender and transgender women.

Attorney Megan Burns, who represents the transgender inmate, also praised her client's actions while criticizing the pace of the investigation.

"I appreciate that the DA's office and SFPD ultimately acted. But my client did everything right - she cooperated at every step - and it still took almost ten months to get here. That delay falls on the system, not on her," Burns said in a statement.

"She had every reason to stay silent as an incarcerated transgender person. She had every reason to fear that she would not be believed. She chose to speak up instead. That's what real courage looks like."

Burns added: "My client is one of the bravest people I know. Reporting an assault by the very officer who controlled every aspect of her daily life, from inside a locked facility, took extraordinary courage. Today's charges are the direct result of her willingness to come forward, and I want the public to understand that."

According to the district attorney's office, the deputy graduated from the academy in December 2024 and was assigned to County Jail No. 2 in August 2025. Authorities said the alleged assault occurred a month later at County Jail No. 2.

The former deputy has been released on bail. An arraignment date has not yet been set.