Honk News – Ex-deputy in Southern California dies by suicide following arrest for attempted sexual conduct with a minor
A former deputy sheriff from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has died by suicide following his arrest earlier this month for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Anthony Russo, 52, was released on $50,000 bail following his arrest on December 11 at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he was employed when he was caught by undercover investigators.
On December 10, an investigator from the RCSD, acting as a 15-year-old, reached out to Russo after receiving a tip. Russo then shared explicit material and expressed his intention to meet with the supposed minor for sexual acts, according to the sheriff’s department during his arrest.
A 52-year-old individual has been arrested by the RCSD’s Special Investigations Bureau. They were booked on two felony counts and later charged by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office with one felony count related to the distribution of harmful material.
He has stepped down from his position as a deputy in the corrections division of the Sheriff’s Department.
The San Bernardino County Coroner’s office confirmed to The Times that Russo was found deceased in his Lake Arrowbear Lake residence on Dec. 20, but they did not disclose details regarding the circumstances of the suicide or the identity of the person who found him.
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RCSD officials informed The Times that they had no further information regarding his death as it falls outside their jurisdiction, but they expressed their condolences to the family and friends impacted by this tragic loss.
Russo’s court appearance was set for January 24 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.