Cal Fire firefighter arrested for indecent exposure after insisting it would 'never happen again'

A Cal Fire firefighter charged with exposing himself at Rancho Cordova car wash has been convicted of similar crimes in the past.In fact, records show 32-year-old Clifford Robinson got his job with Cal Fire after he was charged with indecent exposure the first time around several years ago.Robinson is currently charged with a felony count of indecent exposure in Sacramento County Superior Court. Rancho Cordova police said he is accused of exposing himself to a woman at a car wash on Sunrise Boulevard in March.In December 2016, court records show a jury in Santa Cruz County found Robinson guilty of three misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure. He was convicted following allegations that he exposed himself three times in 2015 to a housekeeper while staying at a friend’s house.During the trial, jurors also heard from someone who testified to an incident in 2014, according to Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Sympson. Robinson was accused of exposing himself to a custodian at a golf course while the two were working, prosecutors said. Police investigated, but Robinson never faced charges in that instance.In response to the allegations from the housekeeper, a report from Santa Cruz County Probation shows Robinson said in a January 2017 phone interview, “It was total stupidity. I know right from wrong. I’m stupid for what I did. There was no motivation behind it. I’ve learned my lesson. I know what I did wrong. I just hope I don’t have to go to jail.”The report also included a written statement from Robinson for consideration during sentencing. In it, he apologized to the victim but also asked the judge not to send him to prison.He described being in and out of foster care as a child and deciding at the age of 13 that he wanted to be a firefighter someday to help people.Robinson said he worked hard to land his first firefighting job with Cal Fire and wanted to try to keep it to turn his life around.“I’ve learned so much from my mistakes and this will not happen again,” Robinson said.He got probation and had to complete a sex offender management program.In response to questions from KCRA 3 Investigates, Cal Fire confirmed the agency hired Robinson in May 2016. That is about seven months after Robinson was first charged with indecent exposure.However, the state agency said it did not know about Robinson's arrest or subsequent convictions. Cal Fire said it "does not currently require pre-employment background checks for most employees."Cal Fire said Robinson has been off duty since April "due to an unrelated circumstance" but is still currently employed with them. The agency said it will "determine the next steps as this investigation progresses."KCRA 3 Investigates also reached out to Robinson’s defense attorney. He did not respond.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.