Pair Accused Of Forging Federal Judge's Signature In Lawsuit Against Riverside County

RIVERSIDE, CA — A Mexican national and his girlfriend allegedly forged a federal judge's signature on a document connected with their lawsuit against Riverside County, resulting in charges against the pair, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Alan David Cadena, 43, and Laycee Shyann Sprouse, 34, of Riverside are charged with misuse of judicial signatures. They're both in federal custody and were slated to make a joint initial court appearance at U.S. District Court in downtown Riverside Friday afternoon.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the pair initiated a civil action against the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services in August 2025 to challenge the agency's decision to seize their four children, who were determined to be suffering neglect after agents allegedly uncovered unsanitary living conditions and indications of drug abuse in the household.

Sprouse was also determined to suffer psychiatric problems that were untreated at the time, prosecutors alleged.

The defendants filed a federal civil rights suit against the county to nullify DPSS' seizure authorization and get the kids back, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"On April 21, 2026, Cadena and Sprouse filed an order containing a federal judge's forged signature, ordering the return of their children from DPSS," the agency stated. "On April 23, the victim judge confirmed she had not issued the order, and the signature found on the document was a forgery."

The finding led to a federal criminal complaint against the pair, who were arrested without incident earlier this week.

Details on their detention and bail were not immediately available.

It was also unclear whether either has documented prior convictions in Riverside County.