Deputy Robs Dead Man's Home On Multiple Occasions OC Sheriff Says

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — An Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy was booked on suspicion of burglarizing the home of a deceased Yorba Linda resident.

Steve Hortz, a 12-year veteran of the Department, responded to a call for service on July 20 at a Yorba Linda residence, where a man in his 70s died from apparent natural causes.

Over the next several weeks, Hortz is accused of returning to the residence. First, on July 27, in uniform. He is thought to have broken into the unoccupied residence through the rear and left a short time later.

It is unclear whether a theft occurred at that time.

On August 10 and 16, Hortz is accused of returning to the same residence, both times while in civilian clothes, and removing items including weapon safes, ceiling fans, and cases containing unknown items.

The home was unoccupied at the time of those thefts, the department says.

"On September 9, the Department was contacted by an attorney representing the family estate who reported items missing from the residence," a spokesperson from OCSD says. "The attorney provided home surveillance video that captured the deputy making unauthorized entrance to the residence on at least three separate occasions and exiting with stolen property."

Upon learning of the burglaries, OCSD investigators researched the accusation.

Hortz was arrested Wednesday morning, and has been booked into the Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of burglary. He was also placed on administrative leave.

the Department will investigate prior calls handled by the deputy to determine if similar unreported instances have occurred, a spokesperson says.

Sheriff Don Barnes addressed the arrest and accusation of burglary, late Thursday.

“The suspected criminal actions of this deputy are a violation of public trust, are inexcusable and intolerable,” said Barnes. “This deputy will be held accountable through a swift and thorough process including a full criminal and internal administrative investigation.

“These actions undermine the good work done every day by the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. We have proudly served the community of Yorba Linda since 2013. As your Sheriff, I want you to know that these criminal actions by a member of my staff will not be tolerated and are not indicative of the service we provide to Yorba Linda, or any other contract city.

“I will hold accountable deputies who do not honor the oath they swore to uphold. It is imperative that we do everything in our power to ensure that the men and women who have the privilege to wear the badge humbly recognize the responsibility entrusted to them as a member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.”