Faked Drowning Investigation

FBI Investigates Whether Charged California Firefighter Faked Drowning Death

California firefighter Charles Johnathen Harris, who was facing charges of possessing child sex abuse material when he reportedly drowned, may have faked his own death, according to the FBI. Harris, a former firefighter for the Alameda County Fire Department, was charged in March 2023 with possession of child pornography and was accused of uploading child sex abusing images to the messaging service Kik while on duty. He was due to appear in court on April 19, 2023, but did not show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The FBI now believes that Harris may have drowned following a boating accident in Northern California’s Suisun Bay. For the crimes he was accused, Harris could face up to 20 years in prison.