Full Breakdown
San Francisco Deputy Charged with Felony Sexual Assault in County Jail
7/18/2026, 6:51:57 AM
Alleged Assault and Charges
Former San Francisco sheriff’s deputy Damon Jones, 34, was arrested in Solano County on July 17, 2026 and charged with two felonies: sexual activity with a confined adult and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime. Prosecutors say the alleged assault occurred on Sept. 11, 2025 in the gym and bathroom of County Jail No. 2, where Jones instructed a transgender inmate to perform oral sex, collected her ejaculate in a plastic bag, and later threatened her with retaliation if she spoke out. DNA testing matched the semen to Jones. He was fired in October 2025 and posted bail after the arrest; no arraignment date has been set.
Background: Prior Misconduct and Jail Conditions
The incident follows a separate July 2025 charge against deputy Nanette Musto, 52, for allegedly touching a trans inmate’s breast. Last year, twenty women sued the city and sheriff’s department, alleging an illegal mass strip-search of cis and trans women and claiming the jail is “dangerously overcrowded” and lacks basic necessities such as sunlight. The public defender’s office has repeatedly warned that these conditions create a climate where abuse can occur.
Official Responses
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the investigation was transferred from the sheriff’s department to the SFPD’s special victims unit because of concerns about the original handling. Sheriff Paul Miyamoto emphasized that safety, security, and public trust are priorities and that the criminal charges demonstrate accountability. SFPD Chief Derrick Lew confirmed the charges and noted the department’s role in the investigation. The public defender’s office reiterated its concern for the safety of incarcerated cis and trans women.
Criticism and Opposition
Advocates and the public defender’s office argue that the jail’s overcrowding and prior mass-strip-search scandal reflect systemic failures that enable misconduct. They call for reforms to improve oversight, inmate safety, and transparency within the sheriff’s office.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I hope that these investigations, that these charges that have been yielded in both of these recent cases send a message, however, to that staff that there is no tolerance for this type of conduct,” — Brooke Jenkins, District Attorney
- “We, as law enforcement, have the obligation to hold each other accountable when the law is broken and when the public’s trust is violated,” — Brooke Jenkins, District Attorney
- “Our office remains deeply concerned about the safety of our clients in the jail, particularly our cis and trans women clients, who were also subjected to an illegal mass strip search last year.” — Public Defender’s Office
- “We understand that public trust is earned through accountability, transparency, and a willingness to take decisive action when misconduct occurs. The filing of criminal charges demonstrates that the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office remains committed to holding our own accountable.” — Sheriff Paul Miyamoto
- “Our office remains deeply concerned about the safety of our clients in the jail, particularly our cis and trans women clients, who were also subjected to an illegal mass strip search last year. These incidents did not occur in a vacuum. They happened in a jail that is dangerously overcrowded with people who are not allowed access to even basic necessities like sunlight.” — Public Defender’s Office
