The charges against former deputy Damon Jones follow the claim filed in March by Mirador Law and the Law Office of Sanjay S. Schmidt on behalf of their client, "Jane Doe," a transgender woman sexually assaulted at County Jail #2 in September 2025

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2026 / The San Francisco District Attorney's Office has charged former San Francisco sheriff's deputy Damon Jones, 34, with two felonies in connection with the September 2025 sexual assault of an incarcerated transgender woman at County Jail #2 - the client is represented by Mirador Law and the Law Office of Sanjay S. Schmidt. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the charges on July 17, 2026, roughly ten months after the assault and four months after the two firms filed a formal claim against the City and County of San Francisco demanding that the deputy be held accountable.

Jones is charged with felony sexual activity with a confined adult while acting as a peace officer employed in a detention facility, in violation of California Penal Code section 289.6, and with felony dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, in violation of Penal Code section 136.1. Jones was arrested in Solano County and has since posted bail. He was terminated by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department in October 2025, and the court is expected to schedule his arraignment at a later date.

For the attorneys, the second charge matters as much as the first.

"For ten months, our client waited for the justice system to do its job, and it has finally taken a real first step," said Megan Burns, Managing Partner of Mirador Law. "These charges confirm what we have said from the beginning: this was not a relationship, it was a crime committed by a man with a badge against a woman who was in no position to refuse. We are relieved that charges have been filed, but a criminal case does not undo the harm done to our client, and it does not excuse the months the City spent looking the other way."

The charges against Jones are part of a widening pattern of misconduct tied to County Jail #2. Four days earlier, on July 13, the District Attorney charged another deputy, Nanette Musto, 51, in connection with the alleged offensive touching of a female inmate, making Jones the second San Francisco deputy charged with sexual misconduct against a detainee in a single week.

"No one is above the law, least of all those entrusted with the custody of people who cannot protect themselves," said Sanjay S. Schmidt, Principal of the Law Office of Sanjay S. Schmidt. "We commend the District Attorney for bringing these charges. But it should not have taken ten months and this much pressure to get here. The criminal case and our client's civil claims are two roads to the same destination: accountability, and reforms that keep the next person from being harmed."

The attorneys confirmed that their planned civil rights enforcement action on behalf of their client, based on violations of state and federal law, will move forward regardless of the outcome of the criminal case.

Attorneys are conducting outreach to identify any additional potential victims of sexual assault within County Jail #2. Potential victims are encouraged to call (925) 886-4346 and visit https://miradorlaw.com/sf-county-jail-investigation

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About Mirador Law

Mirador Law is a boutique plaintiff personal injury law firm representing clients in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Joaquin and San Francisco Counties. Their team of lawyers have an excellent reputation in Northern California. Co-managing partners, Megan Burns and Emily Dahm, are Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers and were recent finalists for SFTLA's prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year Award in 2025.

About Law Office of Sanjay S. Schmidt

Sanjay S. Schmidt is a highly regarded civil rights lawyer based in San Francisco who has a longstanding commitment to fighting for people - and families of people - whose constitutional rights have been violated. Mr. Schmidt and his team's practice is focused exclusively on prosecuting civil rights actions on behalf of victims and their families, litigating cases throughout California to obtain justice for victims of misconduct or other violations and prompt systemic reforms to deter and prevent future harm.

Media Contact

Megan Burns, Partner, Mirador Law 925-460-8484

SOURCE: Mirador Law Firm