King County Sheriff Deputy Charged With Rape, Sexual Misconduct of Teen Volunteer

Ricardo Arturo Cueva, a King County Sheriff's Office deputy and lead of the Police Explorer Program in Burien, has been charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and third-degree rape involving a teenage volunteer in the program. The allegations detail that Cueva used his authority to groom and sexually abuse the victim, who was 16 when the abuse began and 17 when the sexual acts occurred, often during ride-alongs in his patrol vehicle and at his home. The victim, who trusted Cueva as a mentor, described feeling pressured and manipulated, with some encounters causing physical pain and non-consensual sex. Cueva, who had previously been accused of molestation in 2014 and was once named Burien's 2018 Officer of the Year, was placed on administrative leave following the victim's report in May 2025. He is currently held on $150,000 bail and faces investigation by Seattle police and the King County Sheriff’s Office Internal Investigations Unit. The case has raised safety concerns due to Cueva’s access to firearms and his position of authority over young volunteers.