Arraignment of Deputy Delayed

A prosecutor on Thursday requested a delay in the arraignment of a veteran Ventura County sheriff’s deputy arrested last month on suspicion of grand theft.

Arraignment for Darryl Dunn, 38, was rescheduled for Jan. 22 in Ventura County Municipal Court.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Frawley said the investigation is ongoing.

“When it all comes to light, it will be understandable why the investigation is taking so long,” Frawley said. “We have to sift through a lot of records. Grand theft investigations take a long time.”

Dunn, a deputy for 15 years, was arrested Nov. 19 after a two-week inquiry into the theft of a $3,700 laptop computer from the county last spring.

Dunn was released on his own recognizance shortly after being booked into the Ventura County Jail. He was suspended indefinitely with pay, a sheriff’s spokesman said.

Dunn joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1980 and has worked in a variety of roles. He was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Peace Officers Assn. of Ventura County and served many years as a member of the sheriff’s honor guard.

Defense attorney James Farley would not comment on the case.