By Joseph Shirazi, Managing Partner, Compass Law Group · CA Bar #265403
Published May 8, 2026 at 3:00 AM PT · Updated May 7, 2026

Cal Fire Firefighter David Renteria III Arrested for Rape: What Riverside County Survivors Must Know About Suing a State Agency

According to the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, David Renteria III, 51, a Cal Fire firefighter-paramedic from Placentia, California, was arrested on April 25, 2026 and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of forcible rape, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, and sexual penetration by force. At least two victims have been identified. According to RAINN, 1 in 6 women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime — and when that violence is committed by a state employee wielding public authority, survivors have specific legal rights and urgent deadlines that could determine whether they ever see justice.

Can survivors sue Cal Fire? Yes. Cal Fire can face civil liability under respondeat superior and institutional negligence theories. However, because Cal Fire is a California state agency, survivors must file a written Government Claims Act notice within 6 months of the incident — missing this deadline can permanently bar your civil claim. Call a sexual assault attorney immediately.

Source: Compass Law Group | Firefighter Sexual Assault

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What Charges Is David Renteria III Facing?

Renteria was arrested by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force — a specialized unit that investigates exploitation, trafficking, and violent sexual crimes. The charges lodged against him are among the most serious in California’s Penal Code:

• Forcible rape (Penal Code §261) — non-consensual intercourse accomplished through force, violence, duress, or fear of bodily injury
• Sexual penetration by force (Penal Code §289) — penetration by a foreign object accomplished through force or fear
• False imprisonment (Penal Code §236) — unlawful confinement or restraint of another person against their will
• Assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code §245(a)(1)) — an assault carried out with a weapon or instrument capable of producing great bodily injury or death

At least two victims have been identified at this stage of the investigation. Criminal charges, however, represent only one avenue of accountability. California law gives survivors a separate and independent right to pursue civil damages — regardless of whether the criminal case results in a conviction.

Can You Sue Cal Fire for a Firefighter’s Sexual Assault in California?

Yes — and the path forward involves both direct liability and institutional liability. Under California’s respondeat superior doctrine, a public employer like Cal Fire can be held vicariously liable for harmful acts committed by its employees when those acts are connected to the scope of their employment. A firefighter-paramedic who used his position, uniform, equipment, access, or authority to gain proximity to victims may have been acting within the scope of his official duties in a legally meaningful sense — even if the assault itself was not an authorized act.

Beyond vicarious liability, Cal Fire may face direct institutional liability if it knew or should have known about prior complaints, red flags, or incidents involving Renteria or similar employees and failed to investigate, discipline, or remove the threat. This pattern-of-misconduct theory mirrors the liability framework applied in high-profile cases against the LAPD, corrections departments, and other California agencies.

Survivors can bring civil claims under Civil Code §52.4, which expressly provides that any person who has been subjected to sexual assault may bring a civil action for damages against the perpetrator. Recoverable damages include general damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life), special damages (medical treatment, therapy, lost wages), and punitive damages where the conduct was malicious or oppressive.

Our sexual abuse lawyer team at Compass Law Group has represented survivors in civil cases against government employees, corporations, and institutions across California. View our case results to understand what we’ve recovered for clients in similar circumstances.

What Is the Government Claims Act and Why Does It Matter for Cal Fire Victims?

The Government Claims Act (Gov. Code §910) is a pre-litigation requirement that applies to any civil lawsuit against a California state or local government entity — including Cal Fire. Before a survivor can file a civil lawsuit against Cal Fire, they must first submit a written tort claim to the California Victim Compensation Board or directly to Cal Fire’s legal office within 6 months of the date of the incident.

This claim must include:

• The name and contact information of the claimant
• The date, place, and circumstances of the incident giving rise to the claim
• A general description of the injury, damage, or loss incurred
• The name(s) of any public employee(s) alleged to have caused the incident
• The dollar amount of the claim (or an estimate if unknown)
• A basis for computing the damages sought

The government entity then has 45 days to accept or reject the claim. If rejected — which is typical — the survivor has 6 months from the rejection notice to file a lawsuit in Superior Court. Missing the initial 6-month filing window is frequently fatal to a civil claim, which is why retaining a Los Angeles sexual assault attorney immediately after an assault by a state employee is not optional — it is urgent.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Assault by a First Responder?

In cases involving state employees like firefighters and paramedics, multiple defendants may share civil liability:

• The perpetrator directly — Renteria faces personal civil liability under Civil Code §52.4 for each act of sexual assault, penetration by force, and false imprisonment
• Cal Fire (employer) — through respondeat superior if the conduct was connected to employment, or through direct negligence if Cal Fire failed to screen, supervise, or respond to complaints
• The State of California — as the ultimate principal employer of Cal Fire personnel, the state may be named as a defendant in the Government Claims Act proceeding
• Supervisors and administrators — individual supervisors who received complaints and failed to act may face personal liability under institutional negligence theories

Authority-based predation by first responders is a documented pattern. Firefighters and paramedics gain access to vulnerable individuals at their most distressed moments — in homes, at accident scenes, during emergencies. This position of trust creates heightened liability exposure for both the individual and the employing agency. Cases involving abuse by authority figures are handled by our workplace sexual abuse attorney team and our specialists in institutional misconduct.

By the Numbers: Sexual Assault, First Responders, and California Law

• 1 in 6 women will experience an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime, according to RAINN
• $250 million+ recovered by Compass Law Group attorneys on behalf of injured and victimized clients across California
• December 31, 2026 — the AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) civil revival window closes for adult institutional sexual assault survivors; claims that were previously time-barred can be filed now
• 6 months — the Government Claims Act deadline for filing a pre-litigation notice against a California state agency like Cal Fire; the single most dangerous deadline for survivors in this case
• Punitive damages under Civil Code §52.4 can multiply a baseline verdict many times over in cases involving malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent conduct by a perpetrator

How Much Compensation Can Sexual Assault Survivors Recover in California?

California’s Civil Code §52.4 provides one of the broadest damages frameworks available to sexual assault survivors in any state. A civil lawsuit against Renteria, Cal Fire, or both can seek:

• General damages — pain and suffering, emotional distress, trauma, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life, and relationship harm
• Special damages — all out-of-pocket costs including medical treatment, psychiatric and therapeutic care, lost wages and earning capacity, and any other economic losses flowing from the assault
• Punitive damages — available where the perpetrator’s conduct was malicious, fraudulent, or oppressive; in cases involving a pattern of predatory behavior, courts and juries have awarded substantial punitive multipliers
• Attorney’s fees and costs — in certain civil rights and sexual assault cases, California law permits recovery of reasonable attorney’s fees from the defendant

Critically, civil recovery is not tied to the outcome of the criminal case. Even if charges are reduced or a criminal trial results in an acquittal, the civil standard of proof is “preponderance of the evidence” — far lower than the “beyond reasonable doubt” bar in criminal court. Survivors can prevail civilly even when criminal convictions are elusive.

If either victim was a minor at the time of the abuse, CCP §340.1 (AB 218) eliminates the statute of limitations entirely for childhood sexual abuse claims — there is no deadline to file. For adult survivors, the AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) revival window for institutional sexual assault claims remains open until December 31, 2026. Our Beverly Hills sexual abuse lawyer team can assess exactly which statutes apply to your situation in a free, confidential consultation.

How Does Compass Law Group Help Survivors of First Responder Sexual Assault?

Compass Law Group, LLP was founded to fight for people harmed by those who should have protected them. Attorneys Joseph Shirazi (Bar #265403) and Simon Esfandi (Bar #275307) lead a team with a combined track record of recovering more than $250 million for injured and victimized clients across California.

We understand that suing a government agency like Cal Fire requires a different strategic approach than a standard civil lawsuit. The Government Claims Act, sovereign immunity rules, public records requests, and agency-specific discovery procedures demand attorneys with direct experience in government liability litigation. Our legal team handles every aspect of your case — from filing the Government Claims Act notice to deposing Cal Fire supervisors about what they knew and when they knew it.

Our doctor sexual abuse attorney practice group handles authority-figure predation cases involving professionals in positions of trust — the same dynamics present when a uniformed state employee exploits access to vulnerable individuals. We also serve survivors throughout California through our network of offices, including our Sacramento sexual abuse attorney team for cases involving state agencies headquartered in Northern California.

We operate on a No Win No Fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Consultations are free and strictly confidential. To learn more about our full range of personal injury practice areas, visit our website.

Source: Compass Law Group | Firefighter Sexual Assault

▶ Call (213) 320-1001 ▶ Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue Cal Fire for a firefighter’s sexual assault?

Yes. Cal Fire, as a California state agency, can be sued civilly for a firefighter-paramedic’s sexual assault under theories of respondeat superior (employer liability) and direct institutional negligence. If Cal Fire knew or should have known of prior misconduct and failed to act, that knowledge creates independent liability. Because Cal Fire is a government entity, you must first file a Government Claims Act notice (Gov. Code §910) within 6 months of the incident before your lawsuit can proceed in Superior Court.

What is the Government Claims Act deadline for suing a state agency?

California’s Government Claims Act (Gov. Code §910) requires that any person intending to sue a state agency file a written claim with that agency — or the California Victim Compensation Board — within 6 months of the date of the incident. This pre-litigation notice is a mandatory prerequisite, not optional paperwork. Failure to file within the 6-month window will typically result in the court dismissing your lawsuit as time-barred, permanently. An attorney must be retained as quickly as possible to ensure this deadline is not missed.

What damages can a Cal Fire sexual assault survivor recover?

Under Civil Code §52.4, survivors of sexual assault in California can recover three categories of civil damages: (1) general damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, PTSD, and diminished quality of life; (2) special damages for all economic losses including medical bills, therapy, lost wages, and future lost earning capacity; and (3) punitive damages where the conduct was malicious, fraudulent, or oppressive. Civil damages are awarded independently of any criminal sentence or fine. Survivors do not need a criminal conviction to prevail in civil court.

Does AB 218 or AB 2777 apply to adult survivors of this assault?

AB 218 (CCP §340.1) eliminates the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims — if either victim was a minor at the time of the assault, there is no filing deadline. For adult survivors, AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) created a civil revival window allowing previously time-barred institutional sexual assault claims to be filed through December 31, 2026. This window applies to adults who were sexually assaulted in an institutional or authority-figure context and whose claims would otherwise have expired. Note that the Government Claims Act 6-month pre-notice requirement applies regardless of which statute governs your underlying claim.

How long does a civil sexual assault lawsuit against Cal Fire take?

After the Government Claims Act notice is filed and rejected (typically within 45 days), a civil lawsuit is filed in Superior Court. From filing to resolution, cases against government agencies typically take between 18 and 36 months, depending on the complexity of discovery, the number of defendants, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Cases involving institutional liability — requiring depositions of supervisors, public records requests, and expert witnesses — often take longer than individual defendant cases. Compass Law Group advances all litigation costs and is paid only when we win.

Source: Compass Law Group | Cal Fire Firefighter Sexual Assault

Steps to Take After a Sexual Assault by a First Responder

1. Seek immediate medical care. Go to an emergency room or sexual assault treatment center for a forensic exam (SANE exam). This preserves physical evidence and connects you with care — even days after the assault, a medical evaluation is critical.
2. Report to law enforcement. File a report with local police or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. While you are never obligated to report, a police report creates an official record that supports your civil claim.
3. Contact a sexual assault attorney immediately. Given the 6-month Government Claims Act deadline for Cal Fire claims, legal representation cannot wait. An experienced attorney will protect your rights and begin building your case from day one.
4. File your Government Claims Act notice. Your attorney will draft and submit this written pre-litigation claim to Cal Fire and the California Victim Compensation Board within the 6-month window. Missing this step can bar your civil lawsuit permanently.
5. Document all evidence. Preserve text messages, emails, voicemails, photos of injuries, clothing, and any other physical evidence. Write down every detail you remember about the incident — dates, locations, what was said — while memory is fresh.
6. Connect with RAINN for support. Call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for free, confidential support, crisis counseling, and local referrals.
7. Protect your privacy. Avoid discussing the incident on social media. Defense attorneys routinely monitor survivors’ public posts to undermine claims. Let your lawyer handle all communications with Cal Fire, investigators, or insurers.

References

1. California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1 (AB 218): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
2. RAINN Sexual Violence Statistics: rainn.org/statistics
3. California Civil Code §52.4 (Sexual Assault Damages): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov