Ex-Deputy Gets Probation in Sexual Misconduct Case

A former sheriff’s deputy pleaded no contest Thursday to charges that he had sex with a woman inmate while on duty at the Ventura County Jail infirmary last summer.

Daniel De Vall, 28, of Camarillo was sentenced to 180 days of community service and three years probation for having sex with inmate Jamie Slutske, 27, of Thousand Oaks.

De Vall had maintained his innocence until a judge ruled last week that an explicit letter sent by Slutske, which was intercepted by De Vall’s superiors, could be used against him.

Tim Quinn, attorney for De Vall, who was not in court Thursday, acknowledged after the hearing that his client’s plea amounted to a confession.

But Quinn vowed to appeal Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Hutchins’ ruling that De Vall’s privacy rights were not violated when a sheriff’s commander opened the letter and then launched an investigation.

“We don’t believe peace officers give up their 4th Amendment rights by merely being assigned to the jail,” Quinn said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Tom Templecountered that there was no unlawful search of De Vall’s private belongings, because Slutske’s letter was addressed to De Vall in his official capacity at the jail.

The deputy was nearing completion of a three-year stint as a jail guard when he resigned last fall after being charged with four misdemeanor counts of fraternizing with Slutske.

Slutske’s letter, along with six more letters found in De Vall’s locker and five letters from him found in her cell, detailed a sexual relationship that lasted two months, Temple said.

During the affair, Slutske was in custody on drug charges and the liaisons occurred in the main jail’s medical facility, which houses men and women, the prosecutor added. Slutske was released from jail in November.

Three of the charges against the deputy alleged oral copulation and the fourth alleged intercourse.

As part of the plea bargain, two of the counts, including the intercourse charge, were dropped. De Vall had faced up to one year in jail on each count. De Vall chose to plead no contest instead of guilty to limit his liability in case Slutske decides to file civil charges, Quinn said.

Sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Keith Parks said the department does not plan to review its jail policies in light of De Vall’s no contest pleas.

“It was a unique situation,” he said, “and we have a lot of faith in the people we have.”