Dr. Dotson succeeds Dr. Roger Schultz, who retired after 25 years of service to MSJC, including 18 years as Superintendent/President. She becomes the first woman to serve as Superintendent/President of Mt. San Jacinto College and assumes leadership of one of California’s largest community college districts, serving approximately 30,000 students annually across Riverside County.

Throughout her career in higher education, Dr. Dotson has earned a reputation as an innovative leader, collaborative partner, and passionate advocate for student success. As she begins her tenure, she plans to spend time listening, learning, and building relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community partners across the District’s campuses and service region.

“The Board sought a leader who would honor MSJC’s strong foundation while embracing the continued evolution of an institution that is already thriving,” said MSJC Board of Trustees President Tom Ashley. “We found that leader in Dr. Dotson. She brings a thoughtful and forward-looking vision that reflects the values that define our college—excellence, integrity, access, and, above all, a commitment to student success.”

In a video message released on her first day, Dr. Dotson acknowledged the excitement and the uncertainty that naturally accompany change while inviting the MSJC community to embark on the College’s next chapter together.

“As an educator and leader, I believe community colleges were created to complete a promise to our students and our community,” Dr. Dotson said. “That promise begins with open, equitable access, continues by helping students succeed through persistence, retention, and completion, and culminates in opportunities for great careers and successful transfer pathways. I hope to join you in building on that strong foundation, accelerating momentum, amplifying accomplishments, and driving student success.”

Dr. Dotson emphasized that her first year will focus on listening and learning from the people who make MSJC exceptional while working collaboratively to shape the College’s future.

“I’m going to start by listening and learning about what we value and appreciate about what we do at Mt. San Jacinto College,” she said. “Collaboration is important to me because, as the proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'” Over the coming weeks and months, Dr. Dotson will continue visiting MSJC’s campuses and engaging with faculty, staff, students, educational partners, elected officials, and community stakeholders throughout the region.

Dr. Dotson assumes leadership at a time of continued momentum for the College. This year, MSJC awarded a record 3,881 degrees and certificates, continues to expand educational opportunities throughout Southwest Riverside County and the San Gorgonio Pass, and is advancing major initiatives that support student success, workforce development, university transfer pathways, and regional economic growth.

Members of the community are invited to hear directly from Dr. Dotson by watching her first-day message at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3zESKLGF9x4.

As Superintendent/President, Dr. Dotson will oversee the College’s three campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, and Temecula, leading the institution’s mission of transforming learners, communities, and lives through accessible, high-quality education.

The post Mt. San Jacinto College Welcomes Dr. Tawny Dotson as Eighth Superintendent/President appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

 The report, titled “After a Decade of Record Deaths in County Jails, the Community Deserves Transparency Through Oversight,” urges county leaders to establish an independent civilian oversight body to monitor jail operations and review critical incidents involving inmates.

 According to the Grand Jury, Riverside County remains one of the largest counties in California without a formal civilian oversight system for sheriff operations and county detention facilities. The report concludes that current oversight mechanisms are largely internal and lack the independence necessary to identify systemic issues or maintain public confidence.

 The findings come amid years of scrutiny surrounding Riverside County’s jail system. In 2023, California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched a civil rights investigation into the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office following concerns over a rising number of in-custody deaths and allegations involving jail conditions.

 The Grand Jury reported that 29 inmates died while in Riverside County custody between the start of the state investigation and April 2026.

 Jurors found that investigations into inmate deaths often lack independence and that public reporting on jail operations remains inconsistent and limited. The report also criticized the Sheriff’s Advisory Committee, concluding that it has not provided meaningful oversight or produced documented recommendations regarding jail operations.

 To address those concerns, the Grand Jury recommended that the Riverside County Board of Supervisors establish an independent civilian oversight body with investigative authority, dedicated staffing, public reporting requirements and the ability to review critical incidents and deaths occurring within county jails.

 The report also recommends an independent audit of jail medical and mental health services, the creation of a public data dashboard and the development of a long-term strategic plan for county jail operations.

 The recommendations revive a debate that surfaced last year when the Board of Supervisors considered creating an oversight body for the sheriff’s department. In July 2025, supervisors ultimately declined to move forward with the proposal.

 Sheriff Bianco responded forcefully to the report, rejecting its conclusions and accusing the Grand Jury of advancing a predetermined agenda.

 “The report is nothing but an attempt to pressure the Board of Supervisors into creating an oversight board and/or inspector general,” Bianco said in a statement. “The report is ridden with inaccuracies and patently false statements, combined with apples-to-oranges comparisons.”

 Bianco argued that the report reflects a misunderstanding of jail operations and the factors contributing to inmate deaths. He maintained that most deaths occurring in county custody involve fentanyl overdoses, suicides, natural causes or inmate-on-inmate violence rather than failures by jail staff.

 According to the sheriff, Riverside County’s correctional facilities continue to serve as a model for other counties throughout California and already operate under extensive state oversight.

 Bianco pointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, which regulates jail operations statewide, as well as ongoing court-ordered supervision by the Prison Law Office. He argued that the Grand Jury failed to adequately consider those existing oversight systems before making its recommendations.

 The sheriff also disputed claims that inmate deaths represent a systemic problem.

 “Going to jail does not prevent anyone from dying,” Bianco stated. “No one has died because they were in jail, they died while they were in jail.”

 He further contended that demands for civilian oversight are being driven by political activists rather than evidence of widespread misconduct within the department.

 The sheriff pledged that his office will submit the legally required response to the report but indicated that he does not intend to implement the oversight recommendations.

 “We will not implement any of their recommendations concerning oversight,” Bianco wrote.

 Under California law, Civil Grand Jury reports are advisory and do not carry the force of law. However, agencies named in the reports are required to provide written responses addressing the findings and recommendations.

 The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has 60 days to respond formally to the report, while the Riverside County Board of Supervisors has 90 days to issue its response.

 Whether county leaders act on the recommendations remains uncertain. The report, however, ensures that the debate over transparency, accountability and oversight within Riverside County’s jail system will remain a prominent issue in local government discussions for months to come.

Source: Riverside County Civil Grand Jury Report, News Channel 3 (KESQ), Riverside County Sheriff’s Office statement.

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Rodolfo Garcia, 44, of Perris is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of armed robbery, three counts of kidnapping to commit robbery, two counts each of false imprisonment and firearm assault and one count each of burglary and carjacking.

Pretrial motions in the case wrapped up Thursday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge Johnnetta Anderson ordered multiple panels of prospective jurors to appear Monday for the start of screening as to their availability and qualifications.

Garcia is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

His former co-defendant and friend from childhood, 34-year-old Jesus Ledesma Guzman of Lancaster, was similarly charged but was killed in a gunfight with U.S. Marshals trying to arrest him in Northern California almost eight years ago.

The men are accused of gunning down Silvano Gutierrez Esteves at his residence in February 2018.

According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, the pair were allegedly part of a “home invasion robbery crew” composed of about a dozen men, who wore ballistic vests and masks, wielded high-capacity rifles and waged campaigns of terror against their targets throughout Southern California.

Guzman was believed to be the ringleader and buried at least five victims around his Lancaster property, according to the brief.

Nearly seven months before the slaying of Esteves, on July 17, 2017, the crew went to a Nuevo home where illegal marijuana was grown and forced their way into the residence in the middle of the night, leveling guns at the half-dozen occupants, including three children, ages 3 to 9 years old, the trial brief alleged.

One of the intruders threatened to rape the young girl in the house unless their demands for money and other valuables were met, according to court papers. Her two male siblings were wrested away from their parents and isolated in a room separate from the adults, who were told the youngsters would be abducted unless everyone cooperated, the brief said.

The robbery crew kicked, struck with rifle butts and shoved the victims to the floor, according to documents.

The victims didn’t resist, surrendering “over $10,000, two horse- mounting chairs, marijuana, a counting machine, a safe, super .38-caliber pistol, jewelry, a (pickup) truck and a van,” the brief said.

The loot was taken to Garcia’s house and divvied up, the prosecution alleged.

According to the brief, Garcia had been at odds with Esteves because the victim believed that the defendant had stolen “large quantities of marijuana” from him. The feud between the men ultimately led to Garcia and an unidentified man appearing in front of the victim’s Monroe Avenue house, brandishing handguns and threatening to kidnap him if he persisted in his antagonism, according to the brief.

A few weeks later, in the predawn hours of Feb. 5, 2018, Garcia and Guzman allegedly stormed the victim’s home, prompting Esteves to hide his wife and son in a closet while he attempted to negotiate with the pair, prosecutors said.

The D.A.’s office alleged the defendants ignored his pleas and “repeatedly shot him, then left without stealing a single item from the home.”

Sheriff’s Sgt. Walter Mendez said a “large amount of marijuana” was found at the location, but hadn’t been touched.

“There was no indication of a robbery, simply a premeditated home invasion assassination,” according to the brief.

Sheriff’s detectives ultimately gathered sufficient evidence pointing to Garcia’s alleged involvement, and by extension, Guzman’s. However, by that time, the latter was under investigation by authorities in Los Angeles County for alleged drug-related killings there, according to prosecutors.

Garcia was arrested without incident on Oct. 29, 2018, in Menifee.

Guzman was tracked down by federal agents in Inyo County, where they attempted to take him into custody for the Menifee killing, as well as killings in northern Los Angeles County, according to Mendez.

He said the fugitive opened fire on the agents, who returned fire and killed him.

Court records show Garcia has prior convictions for felony driving under the influence, auto theft and receiving stolen property.

The post Jury Selection Starts Monday For Trial Of RivCo Man Accused In Deadly Menifee Home Invasion appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

    Speaking during the opening of budget hearings Monday at the County Administrative Center in Riverside, Bianco said the department requested roughly $250 million beyond what was included in the proposed spending plan. According to the sheriff, about $138 million of that amount is needed simply to maintain current staffing levels.

    “This is a massive number that we cannot recover from,” Bianco told supervisors. “The proposed budget for us is absolutely disastrous.”

    The sheriff said failing to secure the requested funding could force the department to eliminate as many as 622 patrol deputy positions. If cuts were focused on administrative and support staff instead, the total number of positions affected could climb to around 1,000.

    Bianco said any reductions of that scale would likely need to be phased in over several years to avoid severe impacts on public safety. He warned that unincorporated communities could feel the effects first as resources are shifted to maintain law enforcement services for the 17 cities that contract with the county.

    The budget shortfall would also affect major projects, according to the sheriff. Bianco said it would leave little chance of fully opening the Benoit Detention Center in Indio, moving forward with upgrades at the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center or building a new hangar for the department’s aviation unit at March Air Reserve Base.

    Supervisor Jose Medina acknowledged the financial pressures facing the county and said all departments would need to share in the burden of spending reductions.

    “The pain needs to be distributed across the county departments,” Medina said. “As important as public safety is, it cannot be helped not to feel some of the pain.”

    Supervisor Chuck Washington also pointed to previous budget compromises while discussing the sheriff’s concerns. During a brief exchange, Bianco said he had previously refrained from publicly discussing jail funding issues because he was encouraged to avoid the topic during earlier budget hearings.

    District Attorney Mike Hestrin also appeared before the board, requesting an additional $14 million above the amount recommended by the county Executive Office. Hestrin said the funding would help maintain current staffing levels and cover labor-related costs.

    The district attorney noted that retirements and recruiting efforts by neighboring counties have reduced staffing levels in Riverside County. He said his office currently employs 228 prosecutors and continues to face growing workloads tied to state mandates.

    Part of Hestrin’s proposal includes creating a specialized cryptocurrency and cybercrimes unit. He said financial fraud schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and often target senior citizens, making quicker investigative responses necessary.

    Riverside County Fire Chief Robert Fish submitted the smallest request among public safety agencies, seeking an additional $900,000 to expand the county’s nurse navigation program. The initiative allows trained nurses to assist some callers over the phone, reducing unnecessary emergency responses.

    According to Fish, the program has successfully resolved about 3,000 medical calls since its launch in October, helping keep fire personnel available for more serious emergencies.

    County Chief Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen said the county faces a projected $66 million structural deficit heading into the next fiscal year, even before considering the additional public safety requests.

    Van Wagenen recommended continuing a targeted hiring freeze and relying on reserve funds while county leaders work to address long-term financial challenges.

    “Growth is flattening,” Van Wagenen said. “We have to prioritize.”

    The proposed county budget totals approximately $10.34 billion, representing an increase of about 3.5% over the current fiscal year. County officials project reserve balances will reach roughly $650 million by the end of the year.

    Supervisors are expected to continue budget discussions this week, with tentative approval of the spending plan scheduled for June 23.

    Source: City News Service

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    An April report released by the California Health Care Foundation found that Riverside and San Bernardino counties continue to lag slightly behind much of California in overall health outcomes, income levels and access to medical care, even as the region has made progress in expanding physician availability.

    The nonprofit foundation, which focuses on improving healthcare access across California, reported that about four in every 10 Inland Empire residents are insured through Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal Medicaid program serving low-income and disabled residents.

    That translates to roughly 1.88 million people — a population large enough to cover more than two-thirds of the city of Chicago.

    The report also found that 8% of Inland Empire residents remained uninsured in 2023, compared to the statewide average of 6.4%.

    Healthcare officials say the region’s heavy dependence on Medi-Cal leaves local hospitals and healthcare providers especially vulnerable to federal Medicaid funding reductions approved last year.

    Researchers warned those cuts could threaten recent gains made in improving healthcare access throughout the Inland Empire.

    Health outcomes in the region also continue to trail statewide averages in several categories.

    According to the report, approximately 16% of Inland residents described their health as fair or poor, slightly higher than California’s statewide average of 15.5%.

    The Inland Empire’s infant mortality rate was also higher than the state average, with 5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births compared to California’s rate of 4.1 per 1,000.

    Economic disparities remain another challenge tied closely to healthcare access. The report found the Inland Empire’s median household income sits roughly $10,000 below the statewide average, while fewer local households earn more than $100,000 annually compared to the rest of California.

    One area showing improvement is physician availability.

    Between 2015 and 2023, the number of primary care doctors per 100,000 Inland residents increased by 20%, while specialty physician numbers climbed 38%.

    Even with that growth, the Inland Empire still falls well short of the statewide average when it comes to physician availability. The region currently has about 229 doctors per 100,000 residents, compared to California’s average of 358 physicians per 100,000 people.

    The report also highlighted gaps in representation within the medical field itself. While Latinos make up more than half of the population in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, only about 10% of doctors practicing in the Inland Empire are Latino.

    UC Riverside School of Medicine has been working to address the physician shortage since opening in 2013. School officials say the strategy has focused heavily on recruiting students with local ties in hopes they will remain in the region long term.

    Dr. Daniel Teraguchi, executive associate dean for student affairs at the medical school, said 80% of incoming students have connections to the Inland Empire. He added that 51% of students who match with residency programs are staying in the region to complete their training.

    “Because they’re training here, it’s likely those future doctors will stay in the Inland Empire,” Teraguchi said.

    The report also examined hospitals throughout the region. Researchers found the Inland Empire’s healthcare market remains relatively competitive compared to other parts of California, with roughly 40 hospitals serving the two-county area.

    However, the region still has fewer hospital beds available than the statewide average. The Inland Empire averages about 173 beds per 100,000 residents, compared to California’s statewide average of 198 beds per 100,000.

    Researchers noted that while many hospitals remain financially stable, several are facing mounting economic pressure and have already begun reducing services, including maternity care programs.

    Public hospitals continue to play a major role in the region’s healthcare safety net, particularly Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

    Michelle Decker, president and CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation, said the report accurately reflects both the progress and ongoing concerns facing healthcare providers in the region.

    “It captures how current federal policies clearly threaten those gains without providing any new ideas or money to improve the health of IE residents,” Decker said in an email statement.

    Decker called for increased public investment, stronger collaboration and innovative partnerships between hospitals, businesses, nonprofits, governments and community organizations.

    “We won’t weather this moment if we work in silos, and we need innovation to come from all corners,” she said.

    She warned that without action, Inland Empire residents could face setbacks in healthcare access at a time when many families are already struggling financially.

    “It’s clear from the data that the people who live in the IE cannot afford to see a steep slide backwards in health care,” Decker said.

The post New Report Highlights Healthcare Challenges Facing Inland Empire Residents appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

In a news release shared by the California Highway Patrol, officers said that they were contacted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office for reports of a missing man, Carlos McCowan of Winchester, at around 4:30 p.m. near Indian Creek Road in the Valle Vista area. 

“During the day, McCowan was riding on a quad with his 28-year-old son, who was riding a dirt bike,” CHP’s release said. “Towards the end of the day, his son returned to his truck, but the father did not return.”

A sheriff’s department helicopter was called to the area to assist with the search, and McCown was found a short time later “hunched over” the 2014 Honda TRX450R he was riding. Both RSO and CHP personnel responded to the area via off-road vehicles to investigate a possible crash, but they said that the quad was located with all of its wheels intact. 

They said that McCowan was wearing a helmet and off-road safety clothing when he was found, and that he “displayed no obvious crash injuries.”

Police said that McCowan’s cause of death is under investigation by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office. No further information was provided as the probe continues.

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“The differences (from year-to-year) were subtle,” UC Riverside School of Public Policy Dean Mark Long told the board Tuesday. “Infrastructure was a little bit more emphasized this year than last. I didn’t come away with any surprise. These surveys are useful information, but I wouldn’t take them as purely what you should do as supervisors.”

Long, as well as two graduate students — Andres Gugig and Esther Mejia — were retained by the county Executive Office to conduct the 2026-27 Community Budget Priorities Survey over the winter. The online polls took place ahead of a series of community workshops held in each of the five supervisorial districts.

The surveys taken during the workshops provided only a very small sampling of opinion, while the online questionnaires received wide participation, with a total 26,543 respondents, according to documents posted to the board’s agenda Tuesday.

It was the second year the county commissioned a countywide survey. The previous one, completed in winter 2025, reflected that the highest level of interest was in public safety.

While the latter slipped into second place this year, it was a marginal difference from public works, which landed a 64% rating among all respondents, compared to 60% for public safety.

The other priorities were healthcare at 53%, human services at 49%, government finance at 23% and “internal services” — the public sector’s inter-agency operations — at 4%.

The survey team said “key words” were the determinants of how to classify respondents’ answers to the online questionnaires. For public works, terms such as “road maintenance” and “pothole repairs” were what amplified understanding of residents’ priorities, according to the team.

“People could write whatever they wanted,” Gugig told the board. “But I think if it was things that affect them on a daily basis, that’s what they wrote about.”

The team said poorly lit and damaged streets, or corridors where flooding is an issue, would push a higher number of responses into the public works category.

The Second District’s residents responded at the highest level, with just under 7,000 respondents to the survey. The district encompasses Canyon Lake, Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Temescal Valley and multiple other communities.

The lowest response rate was in the Fifth District, where there were 4,435 respondents. The district includes Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Hemet, Moreno Valley and San Jacinto. Most of the survey takers were English speakers, though 599 responses were exclusively in Spanish.

One Fifth District resident and a frequent commentator on county business, Roy Bleckert, told the board the survey results should speak less to what the supervisors should do and more of what they should refrain from doing.

“Practically everything that comes through here, as you grow the government monster bigger, makes the lives of everyone in Riverside County harder,” Bleckert said. “The more you spend, the worse everything becomes. When do you start to drop, like Sweden did, the influence of government and empower the people you serve?”

Another speaker, Veronica Langworthy of the Third District, touched on a similar topic, saying the results reflected how the board can make people’s lives better by reducing government red tape.

“If you can drop fees to adopt animals from county shelters, how about dropping fees for humans?” she said. “It’s impossible for people to house because of the fees from government on property.”

Supervisor Jose Medina said he found the results “helpful as we look at the budget decisions we make and the priorities we set.”

The entire survey can be found at rivco.gov/budget.

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    The operation, known as “Operation Volcano,” was carried out between March 2025 and March 2026 through a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the county. Investigators focused on identifying high-risk offenders and disrupting online exploitation networks operating within the region.

    Authorities said more than 500 unique Internet Protocol addresses were linked to the suspected distribution of child pornography during the investigation. Each case was reviewed using what officials described as a structured screening process designed to prioritize suspects considered most dangerous. That included individuals with prior sex crime convictions, people already under criminal justice supervision, and those employed in positions involving children or public trust.

    During the operation, investigators served 46 search warrants at homes throughout Riverside County. Those searches ultimately resulted in 42 arrests involving residents from communities including Banning, Beaumont, Bermuda Dunes, Corona, Eastvale, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, San Jacinto, Temecula and Winchester.

    According to the District Attorney’s Office, 14 of the individuals arrested were considered high-risk offenders. Officials said those suspects included a person wanted on a $2 million warrant related to child sexual assault, along with professionals working in a variety of fields, including healthcare, government, technology and education-related services.

    Among those identified by prosecutors were a child psychologist, a naturopathic doctor, a retired law enforcement employee, a California prison information technology worker, a local government planning director, a Southern California hospital chief technology officer, a notary public, a United States Postal Service employee, two corporate vice presidents and three registered sex offenders.

    Authorities released the names and cities of residence for many of the suspects arrested during the operation. Arrest dates and custody status for several individuals were not immediately available.

    The individuals identified by the District Attorney’s Office include: Feliciano Chavarria, 62, Lake Elsinore; Enrique Castaneda, 51, Riverside; Eric Thai, 43, Menifee; James Munson, 32, San Jacinto; William Zahn, 48, Riverside; John Carrico, 52, Murrieta; Jason Lee, 51, Banning; Brian Erwin, 46, Beaumont; Daniel Malcolm, 46, Bermuda Dunes; Randolph Velasco, 44, Lake Elsinore; Marcus Guevara, 21, Winchester; Christopher Gibbons, 39, Moreno Valley; Allen Cox, 81, Menifee; David Poggi, 59, Menifee; Zixiang Cheng, 32, Murrieta; Ray Kubal, 75, Menifee; Ethan Conely, 29, Menifee; Jessie Bonales, 40, Temecula; Nicholas Williams, 39, Norco; Daniel Cunningham, 43, Corona; Adam Robinson, 38, Riverside; Kenneth Camron, 68, Menifee; Neftali Jimenez, 21, Riverside; Robert Schaar, 53, Temecula; Victor Sepulveda, 60, Moreno Valley; Stuart Triplett, 61, Temecula; Jame Davis, 60, Lake Elsinore; Xinyi Su, 22, Mira Loma; Mark Tyler, 66, Perris; Rickson Jao, 62, Eastvale; Stacey Parker, 62, Moreno Valley; Chas Rico, 30, Murrieta; Jonathan Jordan, 27, Moreno Valley; Jeremiah Davis, 21, Hemet; Dustin Jenks, 56, Palm Springs; Richard Mckeehan Jr., 48, Moreno Valley; Anthony Ramirez, 39, Nuevo; and Daniel Chico, 21, Riverside.

    All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

    The Riverside County announcement comes just days after San Bernardino County authorities announced the conclusion of a similar operation. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said “Operation Firewall,” a two-week internet crimes enforcement effort, resulted in 101 arrests.

    San Bernardino County officials said charges in that operation included possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, arranging meetings with minors for sexual purposes, sending explicit images to minors, lewd acts involving minors and violations tied to sex offender registration requirements.

    Investigators in San Bernardino County also reported that 16 children were removed from situations involving alleged abuse or exploitation during the operation.

The post 42 Arrested in Riverside County Child Exploitation Investigation appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

In a 4-0 vote without comment Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors formally approved the Executive Office’s revised “anonymous incident reporting system.”

Anyone associated with county government who has witnessed or become aware of alleged acts that conflict with the county’s Code of Ethics can file reports via www.auditorcontroller.org, or 833-590-0004.

The phone number features prompts, while the website directs visitors to a site listed at the top of the home page designated “Report Fraud, Waste and Abuse 24/7.”

Previously, other online and telephonic reporting methods were available, but they’ve since been deactivated.

“It is the duty of every employee to report any known violation of this (ethical conduct) policy, or what would appear to a reasonable person to be a violation of this policy,” according to board Policy C-35. “Examples of reportable offenses include theft, conflicts of interest, misuse of county equipment or vehicles, embezzlement, bribes and kickbacks, abuse of work hours (and) inappropriate use of county credit cards.”

Policy C-35 was first implemented in January 1991 and later underwent revisions based on the California Citizen Complaint Act of 1997 and related legislation.

The county’s auditor-controller, currently Ben Benoit, is recognized as the initial processor of fraud, waste and abuse complaints, which are then assigned to the appropriate investigating agency, inside or outside the county.

“County employees shall adhere to and uphold the county’s Code of Ethics both in practice and in spirit,” according to the policy. “It is expected that employees act in the public’s interest first and not their own. It is further expected that their behavior, both on the job and off, reflects positively on the county, its reputation and its employees.”

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    The lawsuit was announced Tuesday as Renteria faces multiple felony charges tied to separate alleged assaults involving three women. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Renteria was rearrested Friday and is now facing 12 felony counts that include kidnapping, forcible rape and assault.

    Investigators allege the incidents occurred during 2025 while Renteria was employed as a firefighter with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. Authorities said the criminal investigation remains active and additional victims may still come forward.

    According to the civil complaint, one alleged victim claims she was assaulted over a period of roughly six hours beginning the night of Nov. 6 and continuing into the early morning hours of Nov. 7, 2025. The lawsuit alleges the woman was brought to Fire Station 96 on Glen Oaks Road in Temecula, where the attacks allegedly took place.

    Court filings state the woman was allegedly taken to a shed located behind the station and repeatedly assaulted. The complaint further alleges she was later brought inside the station, photographed while unclothed and threatened when she asked to return home to her children.

    According to the lawsuit, the woman was ultimately released around 5 a.m. on Nov. 7 after several hours of alleged abuse.

    The complaint states the woman reported the alleged incident shortly afterward to a retired firefighter friend, who then contacted law enforcement authorities. An official investigation involving the sheriff’s department reportedly began in January 2026.

    Renteria was placed on leave by CAL FIRE after the agency became aware of the allegations, according to previous statements released by the department. He was later arrested in April on multiple felony charges connected to sexual assault allegations before being released on bond. Authorities said Friday’s rearrest involved additional accusations tied to other victims.

    Attorney David Ring, who represents one of the accusers, criticized the alleged conduct and questioned how the incidents were allowed to occur.

    “This is shocking behavior, particularly from a firefighter on duty — someone who is hired to protect our communities,” Ring said in a statement. “Renteria must be held accountable, and CAL FIRE must answer for how this was allowed to happen.”

    The lawsuit claims CAL FIRE and the State of California were negligent in hiring, supervising and retaining Renteria as an employee. Attorneys representing the plaintiff argue the agency failed to act quickly enough after allegations were first reported.

    In an earlier statement, CAL FIRE said Renteria had been served with administrative leave paperwork and had not returned to work after the department learned of the allegations on Jan. 4, 2026.

    “CAL FIRE demands its employees uphold standards of professional conduct both on- and off-duty,” the agency previously stated.

    Another attorney representing the plaintiff, Neil Gehlawat, said the allegations outlined in the lawsuit suggest the possibility of additional victims.

    “The severity and what appear to be deliberate preparations for our client’s horrific assault lead us to believe this is not an isolated incident,” Gehlawat said. “If there are additional victims or witnesses, we encourage them to contact our office so these actions can be fully investigated.”

    The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has also indicated there may be additional victims connected to the investigation. Officials are encouraging anyone with information involving Renteria or possible related incidents to contact Investigator Joe Riddle at 951-955-1700 or through the department’s tip lines.

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