A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been charged with stealing cash from a driver she pulled over in Whittier last year.
Deputy Jessica Lynn, 39, pulled over a driver for having an allegedly excessive window tinting at about 2:45 a.m. on April 15, 2023, in the 10400 block of Whittier Boulevard.
The driver did not have a valid license, and when Lynn searched the vehicle, she found a coin purse containing money. She pocketed the cash and threw the coin purse into a trash can, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
She then covered up her theft in her police report, prosecutors allege.
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with upholding the law and safeguarding our communities,” District Attorney George Gascón said in the release. “When an individual in such a position breaches this trust, it not only undermines the integrity of the entire justice system but also jeopardizes the safety and well-being of those they are sworn to protect.”
Lynn faces two felony counts and one misdemeanor count:
- Felony filing a false police report
- Felony altering, planting or concealing evidence as a peace officer
- Misdemeanor petty theft not exceeding $950
Lynn was booked into the Lost Hills Station, and her bail was set at $25,000. She is due to be arraigned at the Foltz Criminal Justice Building on July 2.
If she’s convicted, Lynn faces up to six years, two months in state prison.
In a statement, the department said Lynn “is relieved of duty pending the outcome of the case.”
“Our personnel are not above the law and must be held accountable when their actions violate the Department’s moral and ethical standards,” the statement said. “We value the public’s trust and expect our personnel to protect our communities with integrity and professionalism.”