Two more Santa Clara County correctional deputies arrested

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU and wires) - Two Santa Clara County Sheriff correctional deputies were arrested Friday as the result of investigations regarding illegal access of confidential records and workers comp fraud, according to authorities.

Ryan Saunders and Mark Navarette were arrested and booked into the Main Jail in San Jose Friday as a result of two separate investigations, Sgt. James Jensen said during a news conference at sheriff's headquarters Friday evening.

Saunders is suspected of eight misdemeanor counts for accessing confidential records in the Criminal Justice Information Control database, Jensen said.

Saunders allegedly looked up files of people he had personal relationships with, according to Jensen.

Navarette was arrested on suspicion of two felonies related to Workers Compensation Fraud, Jensen said.

Navarette was injured while off-duty playing softball, but he allegedly filed a claim stating he suffered an injury while on the job, according to Jensen.

Both men have served with the sheriff's office for more than 10 years and have been on paid administrative leave since Sept. 17, Jensen said.

The investigations into the men started prior to the death of 31-year-old Michael James Tyree at the jail in late August, said Capt. Dan Rodriguez, head of the sheriff's investigations division.

"The Sheriff's Office has high expectations of every individual who has taken the sworn oath to uphold the law," Sheriff Laurie Smith said in a statement.

"Sadly, if these allegations are true, these deputies did not live up to the standards of our office and they violated the public trust and for that they must be held accountable," she said.

Jereh Lubrin, 28, Rafael Rodriguez, 27, and Matthew Farris, 27, have been charged with murder in the death of Michael James Tyree, 31, and assault under the color of authority on another inmate, Juan Villa, on Aug. 26, prosecutors said.

Since the three men were arrested on Sept. 3, they have posted $1.5 million bail each and are set for a plea hearing on Oct. 13.

The sheriff's office announced Thursday that it has received 50 to 100 jail complaints since Tyree's death that they are investigating with help from the FBI and retired internal affairs detectives.

Eight correctional deputies, including the three charged with murder, have been placed on paid administrative leave since Tyree died.

The two arrests on Friday were unrelated to the death of Tyree.

A YouTube video dated Sept. 14 shows Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association president Lance Scimeca putting down the sheriff's administration for reopening investigations into already closed claims against jail guards.

Many deputies were interviewed and had their cell phones confiscated, Scimeca said.

Deputies should not hand over any personal property if investigators don't have a search warrant, Scimeca said.