Stanislaus County deputy arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, sexual assault
A Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault and kidnapping — allegedly forcing at least one woman to have oral sex with him to avoid jail.
Israel Morales, a 31-year-old Hughson-based patrol deputy, was arrested at work following a months-long investigation by his own department and the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation began in March when a man arrested by Hughson Police Services on unrelated misdemeanor charges reported Morales was “engaging in sexual acts with women while on duty,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit “immediately launched an investigation,” according to a press release. However, Morales remained on patrol duty until May 6, when he was placed on “modified duty” and “stripped of his peace officer powers,” meaning his gun and badge were taken away. Morales has been employed by the Sheriff’s Office since June 2018.
“The actions detailed in this case represent a serious breach of public trust and are completely contrary to the values and professional standards upheld by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office,” reads the press release. “We remain firmly committed to transparency, accountability and the highest standards of ethical conduct.”
Sgt. Nathan Crain, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, explained that Morales wasn’t immediately taken off patrol duty because the investigation needed to confirm the details of the tip. At the time investigators received it, Morales said, they had not located the potential victims and had no way to corroborate the tip.
“Once we found them and we were able to confirm the claim … that’s when he was taken off,” said Crain, who added that details needed to be “thoroughly investigated” in order to “avoid wrongful termination lawsuits.”
Crain said the “most important reason” they didn’t take Morales off patrol duty immediately after receiving their tip was because “our goal at that point was to validate that those facts were in fact correct.”
The DA’s Office stated the Sheriff’s Office alerted it of the investigation, which was then carried out in tandem between the two agencies. Wendell Emerson, spokesperson for the DA’s Office, said Morales was on duty and working patrol when the alleged crimes happened.
Morales’ first position with the Sheriff’s Office was in the adult detention division, working in jails. He was transferred to street beat duty in 2022 and was assigned to the Hughson area in April 2024.
Morales faces two felony counts of forced oral copulation by a public official involving two women, one felony count of oral copulation by force involving one woman, one felony count of forced oral copulation during the commission of an aggravated kidnapping, one felony count of aggravated kidnapping and multiple counts of solicitation of prostitution.
He’s being held in lieu of $1.3 million bail.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 1:12 PM.
