Former DuPage Deputy Convicted Sexual Misconduct Inmate

Ricardo Hardy, a former DuPage County deputy sheriff assigned to the corrections bureau, was found guilty of five counts of custodial sexual misconduct and five counts of official misconduct for engaging in sexual activities with a female inmate between March and April 2023. The sexual contact occurred in the inmate's cell and in the shower/bathroom area, and Hardy also arranged for $300 to be deposited into the inmate's commissary account. Hardy was fired in May 2023 and was arrested the same day after an investigation was launched following a tip. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin condemned Hardy's actions as a complete abuse of authority and a betrayal of trust but emphasized that this case does not reflect on the dedication of other Corrections Bureau employees. Hardy was convicted in a bench trial, with sentencing yet to be scheduled, and is set to return to court for post-trial motions in August 2025.