Former California firefighter may have faked death to evade child sex abuse images charges, FBI says

The FBI is renewing its search for a former Alameda County, California, firefighter who investigators believe may have faked his own death as he faced federal charges on child sex abuse images.

Federal authorities announced Tuesday that the former firefighter may still be alive, prompting a new public appeal for information to help track him down.

A federal grand jury indicted Charles Johnathen Harris in March 2023 on charges of possession of child sex abuse images. Federal authorities said they received tips that he was alleged to have been uploading the material to social media while he was working at fire stations in Alameda County.

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At the time, Harris faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, a month after he was indicted, Harris was believed to have drowned in a boating incident in Suisun Bay.

Now, more than three years later, the FBI says there is a possibility that his drowning was staged.

“There may have been tips that came into the FBI of a sighting of Mr. Harris; that is frequently the case, someone who has wanted to come forward to law enforcement,” legal analyst Steven Clark said.

Clark noted that evading detection long term is a massive hurdle. “It’s very difficult now for someone to stay under the radar,” he said. “The feds are going to look for signs of life — has he communicated with relatives in any type of way?”

Alameda County fire officials told reporters they have no updates about their former employee. If Harris is indeed still alive, Clark warned, the legal fallout could easily spread to others.

“Anyone harboring Mr. Harris or assisting him in any way could face a federal felony of up to five years in prison,” Clark said.

The FBI is asking anyone with information about Harris or his whereabouts to contact authorities immediately.