More Robbery Charges Filed Against Deputy
More motorists have alleged that a former Riverside County sheriff’s deputy surreptitiously took money from them during freeway traffic stops, leading authorities to file four additional charges of robbery against him Thursday.
Paul Davidson, 29, who is free on $500,000 bail and has resigned as a sheriff’s deputy, will be arraigned Tuesday on the additional charges, said Riverside County Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Mitchell.
Davidson now faces 12 charges of robbery with the use of a weapon.
According to court documents, Davidson allegedly stopped motorists in the San Gorgonio Pass area of Interstate 10 and took possession of their wallets. After he returned the wallets, the victims would discover that about half of their cash was missing, according to affidavits.
Altogether, he is accused of taking about $6,500 in cash, according to court papers.
Mitchell said he will ask Tuesday that Davidson’s bail be increased to $2 million. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 21.
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