San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Hesperia Station

If you, a loved one, a family member or a friend have been arrested by or are being investigated by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department from the city-operated Hesperia Station, it can cause insomnia, mostly just from not knowing what will happen or can happen.  Moreover, one is dependent upon the accuracy, honesty and competence of a sheriff’s deputy who may or may not be experienced or have the same sense of urgency as you in having the police report properly written.  

Facing such a situation, knowing the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense or offenses at issue if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release may help one sleep better.  It is also good to know what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime or crimes that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime or crimes. 

 
We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is valuable to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be smart to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, a bit of history about the town, city or area, and the most common types of crimes the department investigates to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective and makes assumptions that may be wrong.

This article is presented with these goals in mind.

The City of Hesperia operates the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department station in Hesperia.  It is located at 15840 Smoketree Street in Hesperia.  It is a medium-sized station with fifty-eight sworn deputies and twenty civilian support personnel assigned to it. 

 
The City of Hesperia is 72.78 square miles and has a population of 90,173.  The name "Hesperia" means "western land."  

The town site was laid out in 1891 by railroad company land developers of the Santa Fe Railroad, which was completed that year.  Hesperia was named for Hesperus, the Greek god of the West.  The railroad land developers published pamphlets distributed across the country with high praise for Hesperia as a potential metropolis, to become "the Omaha of the West" or projections to have over 100,000 people by 1900, but only 1,000 moved in.

In the early 1950’s, land developer M. Penn Phillips and his silent financial partner, boxer Jack Dempsey, financed the building of roads and land subdivisions, promoting lots sales on television.  They built the Hesperia Inn and golf course, which attracted a variety of Hollywood celebrities.  The Hesperia Inn also housed the Jack Dempsey Museum.

The main wave of newcomers, though, arrived at Hesperia in the 1980’s.  Suburban growth transformed the small town of 5,000 people in 1970 to a moderate-sized city with a population over 60,000 by 2000, and an estimated population over 95,000 as of July 1, 2018.

For arrests along Interstate 15, State Route 395 and State Route 138 crossing Hesperia, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will normally handle this work, although one may be thereafter transported to the Hesperia Police Department for processing, a breath test (if a DUI) and booking.  The person may also be held at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto or the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.

As of 2010, Hesperia’s population was 29.50% non-Hispanic white, 2.20% Asian, 5.26% African American and 58,75% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department from the city-operated Hesperia station areas of responsibility are brought at the Victorville courthouse, but some are also brought at the San Bernardino Hall of Justice at 4100 Main Street in downtown San Bernardino.  

Over the last 25 years, our office has not handled a single case arising out of Hesperia and prosecuted in the Victorville Courthouse.  However, we would expect such cases to include, but not be limited to DUI, violation of a protective order, domestic violence, shoplifting and possession of and / or sales of a controlled substance.  

Nonetheless, we have received phone calls from people in Hesperia asking about hiring a criminal defense attorney.  We find that locals to the Hesperia often distrust local criminal defense attorneys as being social friends with prosecutors and judges, so they are unwilling to fight too hard to preserve their friendships, so we are considered as counsel instead because we are not located in Hesperia and presumably have no such ties or loyalties.

Below is the Google Map to the Hesperia Sheriff's Station.