A man who had been employed as a California prison sergeant was arraigned Thursday on charges of sexual misconduct against two minors that allegedly occurred between 2020 and 2024.

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced in a news release that she had charged William Daniel Eberly, 44, of Martinez, with eight counts of forcible lewd acts against a child under 14 and three counts of lewd acts against a 15-year-old child, according to the charging documents for the case filed on October 17.

Eberly was arrested Oct. 22, according to jail records.

“Crimes against children demand our unwavering commitment to justice,” Becton said in a statement. “Thanks to the thorough work of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, we will vigorously pursue this case while ensuring the victims and their families receive the protection and support they deserve throughout the legal process.”

Eberly was employed as a correctional sergeant with the state Department of Corrections and Rehbilitation at the time of his arrest, Becton’s office said. His employment status as of Friday was not immediately clear.

According to the website Transparent California, Eberly made a salary of more than $117,000 and another $70,000 in overtime in 2024. A 2020 news release from the CDCR praised Eberly, who was then described as working at San Quentin, for saving a 17-year-old girl after she crashed her car while Eberly was driving home.

Eberly pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment, and his bail was set at $1,025,000. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on November 3.

Originally Published: October 24, 2025 at 4:15 AM PDT