A Napa County jury has convicted Richard Phillip Bardouski, 65, a retired California correctional officer, of a string of sexual offenses involving three young relatives, wrapping up a disturbing case that stretched back more than a decade. Jurors yesterday found him guilty of sexual penetration and multiple lewd-act counts, setting up a potential prison term that could effectively keep him locked up for life. Sentencing is scheduled for August 7 in Napa County Superior Court.
According to a press release from the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, the jury convicted Bardouski of three felony counts of sexual penetration of a child under 10, four felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child 14 years old or younger, and one felony count of a lewd or lascivious act on a child ages 14 or 15. Jurors also found true special allegations that multiple victims were involved and that the conduct involved substantial sexual acts, and they agreed that aggravating factors were proven, including that Bardouski abused a position of trust and that the victims were particularly vulnerable.
PRESS RELEASE: Napa Jury Convicts Former California Correctional Officer Richard Bardouski of Multiple Sex Crimes Involving Three Children pic.twitter.com/6oipTyIXby
— Napa County District Attorney's Office (@NapaCountyDA) June 18, 2026
Background and Arrest
Bardouski was first arrested in February 2024 and has remained in custody since then, according to local reporting. As reported by SFGATE, court records show he previously worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation before the case advanced through preliminary hearings and ultimately went to trial.
Victim Timeline and Extradition
Prosecutors told jurors the abuse involved three young family members between about 2010 and 2015. Two of the victims came forward in 2023, reporting that they were repeatedly assaulted between the ages of four and nine. A third family member described an assault at about age 14, around 2010.
The District Attorney’s Office said Napa police, led by Detective Dustin Dodd, located Bardouski in Montgomery, Alabama. Local officers there took him into custody, and he was extradited back to California to face the charges in Napa County.
Legal Stakes and Next Steps
The DA’s release states that Bardouski faces a maximum state prison exposure of 165 years to life plus a determinate term of 8 years and 8 months. Sentencing is set for 8:30 AM on August 7 in Department 4 of the Napa County Superior Court. The jury’s findings on the special allegations have the potential to significantly increase the sentence under California law. For local context on similar prosecutions and sentencing outcomes, residents can look to the Napa County District Attorney’s Newsline.
With the verdict in, the case now shifts to the sentencing phase and any potential post-trial motions. The court is expected to hear victim impact statements at the upcoming hearing. Napa County Deputy District Attorney Kristen Orlando has been listed in county materials as a prosecutor associated with the case.
