San Mateo Deputy Charged with Felony Child Abuse After Alleged Choking of Son
Deputy Steven Romero was charged with felony child abuse after prosecutors say he choked his five-year-old son for not finishing breakfast quickly.
Prosecutors in Alameda County claim that San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Romero assaulted his five-year-old son at their Livermore home after the child failed to finish breakfast within a 15-minute window. According to the indictment, Romero choked the boy by the mouth and neck, then dragged him by the ear into another room. The child was taken to a hospital where doctors identified bruising and other injuries as evidence of physical abuse.
Romero, on administrative leave since April 2025, has been charged with felony child abuse and is subject to an internal investigation by the sheriff’s office. His legal team requested a mental-health diversion program, but the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office opposed the request. Records show Romero has been in a specialized recovery program for first responders since June, diagnosed with alcohol and cannabis use disorders, PTSD, and major depression. A pre-trial hearing is set for Sept. 15.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about abuse by law-enforcement officers and the handling of their mental-health issues.
In this story
