A former Riverside County sheriff’s deputy who was arrested earlier this month on charges of attempting to have sex with a minor died by suicide last week, authorities said.
The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office confirmed Friday that Anthony Russo, 52, was found dead inside his Arrowbear Lake home.
The coroner’s office did not immediately respond to questions about who found the body or what the suicide was.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said it had no details to provide because the case is outside its jurisdiction.
“We extend our condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragic loss,” the ministry said.
Russo was released on $50,000 bail after his arrest Dec. 11 at Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he was assigned at the time of the criminal investigation.
The sheriff’s office said he was arrested after the Riverside County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit was notified.
The sheriff’s office said they believed Russo was communicating electronically with a 15-year-old boy with whom he shared sexually explicit material and asked to meet for sex. He contacted an undercover agent instead.
Russo was charged with two felonies. He was ultimately charged by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office with one felony count of knowingly distributing harmful material.
Mr. Russo was scheduled to return to court on January 24th.
