{"id":2673376,"date":"2026-09-30T18:21:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T22:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-suspects-ex-california-firefighter-staged-death-to-avoid-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T18:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T22:22:50","slug":"fbi-suspects-ex-california-firefighter-staged-death-to-avoid-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-suspects-ex-california-firefighter-staged-death-to-avoid-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI suspects ex-California firefighter staged death to avoid charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffbi-suspects-ex-california-firefighter-staged-death-to-avoid-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2673376&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A former California firefighter, Charles Jonathan Harris, who was indicted in March 2023 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-teacher-charged-with-child-porn-possession-after-tip-leads-to-disturbing-discovery\/\" title=\"Virginia Teacher Charged With Child Porn Possession After Tip Leads To Disturbing Discovery\">possessing child sexual abuse material<\/a>, allegedly staged his own death to evade federal charges. After Harris and his brother went fishing in Suisun Bay, their boat capsized, resulting in harris being reported missing, and his body was never recovered. Based on the facts available up to October 2023, Charles Jonathan harris, a former California firefighter indicted in March 2023 for possessing child sexual abuse material, reportedly staged his own death to avoid federal charges. The incident involved Harris and his brother going fishing in Suisun Bay, where their boat capsized.Harris was reported missing following the accident, and his body was never recovered. Authorities believe he may have intentionally dissipated to evade prosecution.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"516\">FBI<\/a> suspects a former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"60\">California<\/a> firefighter staged his own death to avoid facing federal child sexual abuse material charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Charles Jonathan Harris, a former firefighter with the Alameda County Fire Department, was<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndca\/pr\/alameda-county-firefighter-indicted-possession-child-pornography\"> indicted in March 2023 <\/a>on a federal charge of possessing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/child-abuse-and-neglect\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2024\">child sexual abuse<\/a> material. Weeks later, Harris and his brother went fishing in Suisun Bay, where their boat capsized, and Harris was reported missing. His body was never recovered.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<style>.explore-more-section { background: var(--wex-bg); border-top: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff; margin: 24px 0; margin-top: -20px; }<\/style>\n<style id=\"mos-d14b71ad-dd83-47ac-81b4-44aa123769ce-style\">@scope (#mos-d14b71ad-dd83-47ac-81b4-44aa123769ce) { .we-meter {   --we-red: #DB3745;   --we-charcoal: #323E48;   --we-blue: #15BEF0;   --we-slate: #85A0AB;   --we-gold: #ECC270;   --we-text: #323E48;   --we-border: #85A0AB;    max-width: 800px;   margin: 0 auto;   padding: 1.5rem;   border: 1px solid rgba(33, 39, 42, 0.4);   border-radius: 12px;   background: #fff;   color: var(--we-text);   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important; }  .we-grid {   display: grid;   grid-template-columns: 1fr 200px;   gap: 1.5rem;   align-items: center; }  .we-title {   margin: 0 0 0.5rem;   font-family: Constantia, \"Lucida Bright\", \"DejaVu Serif\", Georgia, \"serif\" !important;   font-size: 1.75rem !important;   line-height: 1.1 !important;   letter-spacing: -0.02em !important; }  .we-title span {   display: block;   color: var(--we-red); }  .we-copy {   margin: 0;   font-size: 1rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-actions {   text-align: center; }  .we-cta {   display: flex;   align-items: center;   justify-content: center;   gap: 8px;   width: 100%;   padding: 12px 16px;   border-radius: 8px;   background: var(--we-red);   color: #fff !important;   text-decoration: none;   font-size: 0.9rem !important;   font-weight: 700 !important; }  .we-arrow {   font-size: 1.2em !important; }  .we-member {   margin: 12px 0 0;   font-size: 0.85rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-member a {   color: var(--we-red);   text-decoration: none; }  @media (max-width: 600px) {   .we-grid {     grid-template-columns: 1fr;     gap: 1rem;   }   .we-meter {     padding: 1.25rem;   }   .we-cta {     padding: 14px;   } } }<\/style>\n<p><script>if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-d14b71ad-dd83-47ac-81b4-44aa123769ce-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(\/^@scope (#mos-d14b71ad-dd83-47ac-81b4-44aa123769ce) { \/, '').replace(\/}$\/, '');}}<\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"mos-d14b71ad-dd83-47ac-81b4-44aa123769ce\" style=\"display: contents;\">\n<section class=\"we-meter\" aria-label=\"Washington Examiner subscription meter\">\n<div class=\"we-grid\">\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"we-title\">Stay informed.<span>Stay ahead.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"we-copy\">                  Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.       <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"we-actions\">       <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\/\">         <span>See Options<\/span>         <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>       <\/a>       <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\/\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style>#mos-d526c61f-0059-4e9b-9fa7-afe88104d7a0 > section { display: none; }<\/style>\n<div style=\"height: 160px; margin-top: -160px; margin-bottom: 40px; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(245, 243, 235, 0), #FFFFFF); pointer-events: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;\"><\/div>\n<style id=\"mos-897f2b81-465f-46b9-982c-6e8e6538eb85-style\">@scope (#mos-897f2b81-465f-46b9-982c-6e8e6538eb85) { .we-page-content {   text-align: center;   margin-bottom: 32px;   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;   color: #333; }  .we-page-headline {   font-size: 42px;   line-height: 1.1;   margin-bottom: 24px;   font-weight: bold; }  .we-paywall-text {   font-size: 18px;   line-height: 1.5;   color: #555; }  .we-inline-barrier {   --we-red: #DB3745;   --we-charcoal: #323E48;   --we-blue: #15BEF0;   --we-slate: #85A0AB;   --we-gold: #ECC270;   --we-white: #ffffff;    position: relative;   overflow: hidden;   width: 100%;   max-width: 722px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 850px *\/   margin: 14px auto;   border-radius: 14px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 17px *\/   color: #fff;   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;   background:     linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(50,62,72,.99) 0%, rgba(50,62,72,.92) 43%, rgba(50,62,72,.48) 68%, rgba(50,62,72,.22) 100%),     linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(50,62,72,.70), rgba(50,62,72,.08) 50%),     url(\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/09\/localimages\/Washington_Examiner_Capitol_Final.png6abd8b567edea.png\") right center \/ 50% 100% no-repeat,     var(--we-charcoal); }  .we-inner {   position: relative;   z-index: 2;   max-width: 382px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 450px *\/   padding: clamp(20px, 2.9vw, 42px); \/* Reduced another 15% *\/ }  .we-title {   margin: 0 0 20px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 24px *\/   font-family: Constantia, \"Lucida Bright\", \"DejaVu Serif\", Georgia, \"serif\";   font-size: clamp(25px, 3.4vw, 46px); \/* Reduced another 15% *\/   line-height: .98;   letter-spacing: -.035em;   color: white!important; }  .we-title span {   display: block;   color: var(--we-red); }  .we-deck {   margin: 0 0 21px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 25px *\/   max-width: 360px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 425px *\/   font-size: clamp(12px, 1.2vw, 18px); \/* Reduced another 15% *\/   line-height: 1.55;   color: white!important; }  .we-cta {   display: inline-flex;   align-items: center;   justify-content: center;   gap: 11px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 13px *\/   width: min(100%, 318px); \/* Reduced another 15% from 374px *\/   padding: 12px 17px; \/* Reduced another 15% *\/   border-radius: 8px; \/* Reduced another 15% from 10px *\/   background: var(--we-red);   color: #fff !important;   text-decoration: none;   font-size: clamp(12px, 1.3vw, 19px); \/* Reduced another 15% *\/   font-weight: 700; }  .we-cta:hover, .we-cta:focus-visible {   filter: brightness(.94); }  .we-arrow {   font-size: 1.35em;   font-weight: 400; }  .we-member, .we-cancel {   font-size: clamp(10px, 1vw, 15px); \/* Reduced another 15% from 18px *\/   line-height: 1.4; }  .we-member {   margin: 18px 0 0; \/* Reduced another 15% from 21px *\/   color: white !important; }  .we-cancel {   margin: 8px 0 0; \/* Reduced another 15% from 10px *\/   color: white !important; }  .we-member a {   color: var(--we-red);   text-decoration: none; }  @media (max-width: 820px) {   .we-inline-barrier {     background:       linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(50,62,72,.42) 0%, rgba(50,62,72,.94) 45%, rgba(50,62,72,1) 100%),       url(\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/09\/localimages\/Washington_Examiner_Capitol_Final.png6abd8b567edea.png\") top right \/ 100% 50% no-repeat,       var(--we-charcoal);   }   .we-inner {     max-width: none;     padding-top: 35%;   }   .we-cta {     width: 100%;   } }  .we-print-subscriber {   text-align: center;   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;   font-size: 14px;   font-weight: bold;   margin-top: 12px;   color: #333; }  .we-print-subscriber a {   color: #DB3745;   text-decoration: underline; }  }<\/style>\n<p><script>if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-897f2b81-465f-46b9-982c-6e8e6538eb85-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(\/^@scope (#mos-897f2b81-465f-46b9-982c-6e8e6538eb85) { \/, '').replace(\/}$\/, '');}}<\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"mos-897f2b81-465f-46b9-982c-6e8e6538eb85\" style=\"display: contents;\">\n<div class=\"we-page-content\">\n<h1 class=\"we-page-headline\"><\/h1>\n<p class=\"we-paywall-text\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"we-print-subscriber\">      Already a print subscriber? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/print-subscription-check\">Click here to login\/register your account<\/a> <\/div>\n<section class=\"we-inline-barrier\" aria-label=\"Washington Examiner subscription offer\">\n<div class=\"we-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"we-title\">Trusted reporting.<span>Unlimited access.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"we-deck\">              Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis,       and subscriber-only journalism.     <\/p>\n<p>     <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\">       <span>Get Unlimited Access<\/span>       <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>     <\/a>     <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"we-cancel\">Cancel anytime.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p><script> (window._matherq = window._matherq || []).push([   'paywallEvent',   {     type: 'paywall',     category: 'block',     action: 'stop',     wall_type: 'paywall'   } ]); <\/script><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FBI believes ex-firefighter faked death to dodge child abuse charges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2673377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26116642832166.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[86525,50645,86526],"class_list":["post-2673376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-california-firefighter","tag-fbi-2","tag-staged-death"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26116642832166.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2673376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2673376"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2673376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2673380,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2673376\/revisions\/2673380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2673377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2673376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2673376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2673376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}