Prominent Ukiah Valley Realtor Accused of Sex Crimes Could Face a Jury This Month

It has been two years since David Charles Ryan, a prominent local realtor, was arrested by the Ukiah Police Department and charged with felony sexual penetration with a foreign object with force and felony burglary.

After numerous delays, he could face a Mendocino County jury within a matter of weeks with the Superior Court scheduling the trial to begin on August 14, 2023.

The specifics of the incident that led to his 2021 arrest are vague. A press release from the Ukiah Police Department published in August 2021 states Ryan was arrested at his home for felony residential burglary, penetration with a foreign object, and sexual battery. One misdemeanor was also listed for child endangerment.

David C. Ryan is a prominent name in the Mendocino County realty scene, according to his LinkedIn profile. In his “About” section on LinkedIn, Ryan states he has been selling homes in Mendocino County since 1988 and grew to sell multi-residential and commercial properties. Ryan, as of late, had been working as a Realtor at Windermere Platinum Real Estate Services.

Though the nature of accusations he could be tried for is vague, the accusations of four women from nearly 25 years ago could offer some insight.

An article written by Ukiah Daily Journal’s Glenda Anderson published on May 1, 1998 provides an overview of four women’s alleged experiences with Ryan claiming a litany of untoward sexual advances.

- Advertisement -

One woman alleged Ryan entered her home “in the middle of the night” three separate times when her roommate was gone. On two of those occasions, she awoke to find Ryan had “entered her bedroom.”

The woman alleged to be diligent about locking her door and surmised Ryan had a key to the residence.

Anderson reported that Ryan told Ukiah Police he was there on only two occasions, each time to visit the woman’s roommate. He denied having a key.

As a result of these claims, Ryan faced trespassing charges in connection with the incident.

Another woman alleged Ryan harassed her for nearly three years. She came to know Ryan when he sold her home in 1994. Following the sale of her home, she alleged Ryan would regularly arrive on her doorstep between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., “pound on her door then barge in when she opened it and ask her for sex.” The woman told investigators she was initially “flattered by the attention” but became “nervous as he became progressively pushy and the incidents became more frequent, almost weekly.”

Yet another woman who knew Ryan through her boyfriend claimed the realtor made unannounced visits to her home several times.

The first time Ryan arrived, he was allegedly “intoxicated and asked to use her bathroom.” The woman heard Ryan make his way into her bedroom and upon investigating located him lying on her bed. She told him to leave, pulled back the covers, and “discovered he was naked.”

He quickly dressed, but moments later, in the woman’s kitchen, allegedly made a sexual advance.

Once again, the woman insisted he leave but Ryan allegedly told her that he was “too drunk to drive and she let him sleep on her couch for a couple of hours before waking him and sending him on his way.”

- Advertisement -

The woman claimed Ryan returned to her home another time once again asking to use the bathroom. During the visit, he allegedly made comments of a sexual nature. The woman told her boyfriend about the circumstances, who called Ryan and, after that, Ryan never returned.

A fourth woman claimed Ryan “made continual sexual comments” while he was “representing the woman and her husband when they were selling their home in the fall of 1997.

At one point, Ryan is said to have called the woman and invited her to “come over and talk about the sale.” She declined “because she had to pick up her children from school.” Next thing she knew, Ryan showed up at her child’s school “making comments about having an affair.”

Aside from these incidents, Ryan has a history of run-ins with law enforcement. A booking log published by the Ukiah Daily Journal on June 1, 2011, indicates Ryan, then 46-years-old, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol and subsequently booked into the county jail for driving under the influence.

Unfortunately, the Mendocino County Superior Court Information Portal does not provide any information about the resolution of these claims nor does our review of newspaper archives.

Aside from accusations of the four women in 1998, Ryan has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement.

In both April 2010 and July 2011, Ryan was arrested for driving under the influence. He pled guilty and sentenced to sixty months of probation.

In April 2012, Ryan was arrested “on suspicion of grand theft” and violation of his probation.

The Mendocino County Superior Court Information Portal indicates he would end up pleading guilty to “petty theft” and was sentenced to a year of probation.
On August 10, 2023, Mendocino County Deputy District Attorney Heidi Larson will meet with Justin Petersen, Ryan’s defense attorney, in the chambers of Judge Keith Faulder with a jury trial slated to begin four days later, August 14.

We reached out to both prosecution and defense for an opportunity to comment on the criminal case against David Charles Ryan. Petersen declined to comment while the case was still in litigation and Larson never responded.

- Advertisement -

With due respect to the potential victim of the circumstances described, it must be stated that the charges have not been proven in a court of law. In accordance with the legal principle of the presumption of innocence, any individual described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Previous Coverage

- Advertisement -