Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy is arrested for second time on suspicion of domestic abuse
A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, arrested earlier Tuesday on suspicion of felony domestic violence, was released on leave in January 2023 with a $50,000 deposit, according to the sheriff's department.
Jim Devoe's 30-year-old arrest comes two years after being arrested and accused of physical abuse of his 5-year-old son.
There is little information about the latest incidents except for the arrest in Lancaster on Monday 4:10 pm. However, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department said he was arrested for alleged personal injury to his spouse or living together.
A department spokesman said in an email statement last week that it had conducted a criminal and internal administrative investigation into Devoe, who had served as a judge at the Antelope Valley Courthouse in Lancaster.
“The Sheriff's Department maintains its employees at the highest level of integrity and professionalism,” the statement said. “We are committed to ensuring responsibility for tariffs and actions off duty due to transparency, responsibility and compliance with the law.”
Devoe's attorney Sharon Paris Babakhan said in an email that she could not comment on his latest arrest. But, she said: “It is important for the public to recognize that Jim suffered significant personal and professional losses due to matters pending…the last two years have been very difficult for him.”
Devoe pleaded not guilty to the felony of child abuse in June 2023, a case of arrest and issuance of protection orders for allegedly assaulting his 5-year-old son, requiring him to avoid contact with the child.
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office in Statement for May 2023.
According to a document reviewed by the Times at the time, when she picked him up from Devoe's home, her son had severe bruises and swelling on his face. The 5-year-old and his brother both told sheriff's department investigators in a hospital interview that Devoe beat the boy, the document said.
The district attorney's office in May 2023 said, “Accused of slapping and punching the son in the face, causing obvious injuries and then lying to the boy's mother for the cause of injury, including facial swelling and bruising, bleeding from the eyes” and red marks”.
Babakhan said via email that she “had a favorable resolution with the district attorney” regarding the 2023 case.
“We expect to end the matter on the next court date on July 1, 2025,” she said. “While these terms have not been completed, we expect two felony charges to be dismissed and a single misdemeanor charge is required.”
According to documents and two law enforcement sources interviewed by the Times at the time, the sheriff lifted tax liability three months before his arrest in 2023, in connection with several allegations of misconduct, including his alleged possession of illegal steroids. A department statement issued last week said he was relieved that “he is responsible until the results of an internal administrative investigation.”
Anthony Salerno, the lawyer representing Devoe before Babakhan took over his case, denied the May 2023 steroid claim, told Times’ client passed the drug test and was released after driving a driver’s license “accelerated at extremely high speeds.”
