A Los Angeles County man, who officials said was employed as a fire captain with the Kern County Fire Department, was arrested on a $4 million felony warrant related to sex crimes against a child under 10 years old, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Special Victims Bureau began investigating sexual assault allegations involving now 45-year-old Christopher Wells and a young victim in January 2023. The investigation focused on alleged sexual assaults that allegedly took place between 2014 and 2022.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office filed charges last month, and a warrant for Wells’ arrest was issued on three felony charges of sexual acts with a child, 10-years-old or younger between September 2014 and September 2021 and a fourth felony charge related to the continuous sexual abuse of a child between September 2021 and December 2022.
Wells is alleged to have resided with and have recurring access to the victim, during the period of abuse, according to the criminal complaint. It was not immediately clear where in LA County the alleged crime occurred.
While not confirming the arrest, a spokesperson for Kern County shared that Christopher Wells was initially hired by the Kern County Fire Department in 2004 and that he is currently a fire captain with the agency.
“Because this is an active investigation and personnel matter, we are limited in the information we can provide at this time,” the Kern County spokesperson wrote to NBC Los Angeles.
When asked about the investigation, Andrew Freeborn, a Kern County Fire Department spokesperson, said the department “will always cooperate with investigative authorities as appropriate, regardless of the nature of the investigation, including matters pertaining to personnel.”
The LASD said there is no immediate threat to the community.
Wells was scheduled for arraignment on May 11 in the Antelope Valley Courthouse.