SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy has pleaded guilty to s*xually assaulting two female inmates, including directing them to engage in s*xual activity, while assigned to work at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange. He was sentenced to 364 days credit time served and ordered to register as a s*x offender.
Arcadio Rodriguez, 30, of Stanton, was charged in January 2023 with one misdemeanor count of s*xual battery, one misdemeanor count of a detention facility employee engaging in s*xual activity with a confined consenting adult, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a cell phone in a correctional facility.
Rodriguez has been on GPS monitoring since January 2025. In addition to the 364 days of custody time, Rodriguez was ordered to register as a s*x offender for a minimum of 10 years and was placed on one-year formal probation.
“Inmates are completely dependent on Sheriff’s deputies and other jail staff for everything from food and medication to clothing. These women were awaiting trial and had no way of escaping a predator who literally held the keys to their captivity and ordered them to perform at his every whim,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spizer. “To have a sworn deputy sheriff betray his oath of office to serve and protect by preying on vulnerable incarcerated individuals for his own s*xual gratification is an embarrassment to the badge and to all the hardworking law enforcement professionals who carry out their duties lawfully each and every day.”
Current California law only allows prosecutors to charge a misdemeanor when a detention facility employee engages in s*xual activity with a confined adult over the clothes instead of skin to skin. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has been aggressively seeking a change to state law to allow prosecutors to charge the behavior as a felony or a misdemeanor.
Senior Deputy District Attorney David McMurrin of Special Prosecutions prosecuted this case.
Arcadio Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges in California, is likely facing the following penalties based on state law:
1. Misdemeanor S*xual Battery – Penal Code § 243.4(e)(1)
This charge involves non-consensual touching of an intimate part for s*xual gratification.
- Penalty:
- Up to 6 months in county jail
- A fine of up to $2,000
- Possible mandatory s*x offender registration (Tier I, 10 years) depending on the circumstances
2. S*xual Activity Between Detention Facility Employee and Confined Consenting Adult
This is a misdemeanor under California law, even if the inmate consents, because of the power imbalance.
- Penalty:
- Up to 1 year in county jail
- Possible probation
- Additional employment-related consequences (e.g., termination, loss of credentials)
3. Possession of a Cell Phone in a Correctional Facility – Penal Code § 4575
Inmates are prohibited from possessing cell phones or electronic communication devices.
- Penalty:
- Up to 6 months in county jail
- Possible fine up to $1,000
Sentencing Outcome
Since Rodriguez pleaded guilty to all three misdemeanors, the judge may consider:
- Concurrent or consecutive jail time
- Probation instead of jail, especially if he has no violent history
- Mandatory counseling or rehabilitation programs
- S*x offender registration, depending on the judge’s discretion and the nature of the s*xual battery
In total, Rodriguez could face up to 2 years in county jail, but actual sentencing may be lighter if a plea deal was reached.