Sheriff’s Deputy and Correctional Officers Arrested and Charged With the Use of Excessive Force
May 31, 2017
R. Scott Owens
District Attorney
PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240
Roseville, California 95678
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 31st, 2017
Contact: Jeff Wilson, Assistant District Attorney
SHERIFF’S DEPUTY AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THE USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE
On May 24, 2017, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office was contacted by the administration of the Placer County Sheriff's Office requesting assistance pursuant to the Placer County Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol. The Sheriff’s Office advised our office that a preliminary investigation has revealed evidence that a Sheriff’s Deputy and two Correctional Officers used excessive force against inmates in the Placer County Jail. Our office assigned Investigators to assist in the investigation consistent with the Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol.
The evidence from that investigation, included a series of incident reports and video footage, revealed that a Sheriff’s Deputy and Correctional Officers used force against inmates that was excessive and criminal in nature. Accordingly, the Placer County District Attorney's Office has filed a criminal complaint against each of the involved Deputy and Correctional Officers. Deputy Robert Madden and Correctional Officer Jeffrey Villanueva have been charged with multiple counts of Assault under Color of Authority in violation of Section 149 of the Penal Code and Filing a False Report in violation of 118.1 of the Penal Code. Correctional Sergeant Megan Yaws was also charged with one count of Filing a False Report. The charges reflect incidents involving six different victims on six different dates and times.
All defendants were arrested today by Detectives from the Placer County Sheriff’s Department and they are currently in custody. Bail was set at $100,000 on Madden, $75,000 on Villanueva, and $15,000 on Yaws pursuant to the Placer County Superior Court bail schedule. The defendants are currently scheduled to be arraigned on the above charges on June 2, 2017, in Department 13 of the Placer County Superior Court.
This investigation is ongoing and our office will not comment on the facts of the case. While the criminal complaint filed in court today reflects this office’s feeling toward the conduct of the Deputy and Correctional Officers, our office is ethically bound to ensure that all of the defendants receive a fair trial in this case. Accordingly, we have requested that the Sheriff’s Office not release any evidence in the case prior to the conclusion of the prosecution of this case.