L.A. County sheriff's deputy pleads not guilty in criminal case

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy accused of stealing money from a driver's coin purse after a traffic stop in the Whittier area, concealing the evidence and then filing a false police report pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Jessica Lynn, 39,was charged April 15 with one felony count each of filing a false police report and altering, planting or concealing evidence, along with one misdemeanor count of petty theft not exceeding $950 in value.

Lynn allegedly stopped a vehicle for excessive window tint at about 2:46 a.m. April 15, 2023, at a strip mall at 10422 Whittier Blvd., and the driver was not in possession of a valid driver's license, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

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The deputy allegedly searched the vehicle and recovered a coin purse containing money and then allegedly stole the cash before discarding the coin purse in a trash receptacle, according to prosecutors.

Shortly after the charges were announced, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said, "The department's Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted an investigation into the allegations involving our employee. Once the case was completed, it was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office -- Justice System Integrity Division for filing consideration. The employee 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. We value the public's trust and expect our personnel to protect our communities with integrity and professionalism," according to the sheriff's department's statement.

Lynn remains free on her own recognizance.

She is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Aug. 26. A date is scheduled to be set then to determine if there is enough evidence to allow the case against her to proceed to trial.

Lynn could face up to six years and two months in state prison if convicted of all of the charges, according to the District Attorney's Office.

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