(KGTV) - A San Diego County sheriff’s deputy was arrested in Riverside County this week on suspicion of child molestation, according to law enforcement records.
Riverside County jail records show 40-year-old Sam Thomas Knight was taken into custody Tuesday in the county. He was booked into jail on charges of lewd/lascivious acts on a child under 14 (felony); lewd/lascivious acts with a child under 14 with force (felony); and annoying/molesting children (misdemeanor).
According to a criminal complaint, the incidents happened in 2011 and 2016. An investigation began in 2016.
An arrest warrant was issued for Knight nearly two weeks ago, but Knight was not arrested until this week.
Authorities could not immediately comment why there was such a lapse in time to detain an individual wanted on child molestation charges.
Bail for Knight was set at $65,000. Details on what led to Knight’s arrest were not immediately disclosed.
Sheriff's officials said Knight has been placed on leave.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department had no comment on Knight’s arrest and referred any questions about his case to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office:
It is clear that Sheriff Gore felt that Mr. Knight should not be a Deputy Sheriff, and the Sheriff's Department did everything possible to ensure that was in fact the case. The Sheriff's Department was made aware of this investigation from the beginning and cooperated fully with the Riverside Sheriff's detectives. The Sheriff's Department has no comment on Mr. Knight's current arrest. Specific questions about the arrest or the precipitating case should be directed to the Riverside Sheriff's Office.
