RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Deputy Dakota Robson, 25, employed by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department since June 2023, was arrested on October 9 for possession of a stolen vehicle and malicious access to a computer system, according to department and jail records.
Robson was booked on charges of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, possession of a stolen vehicle, and unauthorized computer access. He was released the following day after posting a $10,000 bail.
The sheriff’s department placed Robson on paid administrative leave while conducting an internal investigation into the allegations. The department did not disclose whether the stolen vehicle or the computer crime involved his duties or law enforcement databases.
This incident follows a troubling pattern of misconduct allegations against Riverside County deputies. Last month, a deputy named Eric Piscatella was sued for stalking and misusing confidential databases for personal reasons; he later pleaded guilty and resigned.
Other deputies, including Christian Heidecker, sentenced to five years in prison for extortion and bribery, and Jorge Oceguera-Rocha, sentenced to probation for fentanyl transport, highlight ongoing concerns about corruption.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Chad Bianco’s department faces an investigation by the California Department of Justice over civil rights violations amid one of the deadliest jail systems nationally. Bianco recently opposed a county proposal to establish a civilian oversight board intended to improve transparency, calling it a political power grab during a contentious July meeting.
