Appointed: April 25, 1874 – May 14, 1874
Charles Heaton, the then Fresno County Coroner, became the Ex-Officio Sheriff, upon the death of Sheriff Le Roy Dennis on April 25, 1874, and assumed those duties until May 14, 1874.
The Compiled California Statutes of 1850-1853 state "The Coroner shall be invested with the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the sheriff until a new sheriff is either elected or appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
The position of Tax-Collector shall remain vacant pending the election or appointment of the new sheriff." Coroner Heaton reappointed Deputy Sheriffs William Rousseau and A. Witthouse, who were previously appointed by Sheriff Dennis.
Charles Heaton, prior to assuming public office, was a co-owner and publisher of the Fresno Evening Expositor from its inception in 1870 until October 1873. Upon leaving the Expositor, Heaton opened a real estate and general agency business in Millerton.
Heaton was relieved of his duties as Sheriff when J. Scott Ashman was appointed Sheriff of Fresno County on May 14, 1874 by the Board of Supervisors.
The minutes of the Board of Supervisor's meeting for July 14, 1874 later record Coroner Charles Heaton's resignation from public service.