Kern County – Christopher Wells, 45, was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor for years. Authorities say the alleged assaults occurred between 2014 and 2022, and the investigation began Jan. 1, 2023. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed multi
A Kern County fire captain was arrested after allegations that he sexually abused a minor over a span of years, authorities said.
Christopher Wells, 45, was taken into custody April 29, with bail set at $4 million. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the alleged abuse occurred between 2014 and 2022.
Investigators said they began looking into the allegations on Jan. 1, 2023. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed four counts of intercourse with a minor and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a minor.
The case has also raised questions locally because Wells has remained employed in his role, at least as of now.. A spokesperson for Kern County said Wells was employed by the Kern County Fire Department in 2004 and that he is still a fire captain.. The spokesperson added that. because the investigation and a personnel matter are active. the county is limited in what it can share.
The timeline lines up in a pattern investigators laid out: allegations covering 2014 through 2022 were followed by an investigation that started Jan. 1, 2023, and then charges filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office before Wells’ arrest on April 29.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.
Kern County fire captain arrested Christopher Wells minor abuse allegations Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department bail $4 million special victims bureau