A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy is accused of attempting to arrange sexual acts with a minor during a department sting, according to a statement released by the department.
Anthony Russo, a 52-year-old deputy assigned to the Coordinated Custody Management Unit within the Corrections Division, is under investigation for his actions, Sgt. Jeff Hammond said.
Russo was arrested Wednesday near the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, and released on a $50,000 bond the same day, according to jail records.
According to a department statement, an undercover investigator posing as a 15-year-old communicated with Russo electronically. The deputy allegedly shared explicit material and “during these conversations, Russo shared explicit material and communicated his intent to meet with the supposed minor to engage in sexual acts,” Hammond said.
He is accused of two felonies: of sending harmful material to a minor, and contacting a minor to commit a felony act. He is also accused of child annoyance of a minor under the age of 18, a misdemeanor, records show. He was slated to appear in court on Jan. 24 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
The former deputy is scheduled for a court appearance on Jan. 24 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to the statement, he resigned from his position following the arrest. There was no mention of other actions by Russo leading to the investigation as of this report.
