Pasadena fire captain sexually abused children for more than two decades, prosecutors allege

A captain with the Pasadena Hearth Division has been charged with 9 counts of committing lewd acts with a minor beneath age 14. Prosecutors allege he sexually abused three victims over a interval spanning greater than 20 years.

Christopher James Ramstead, 47, of Thousand Oaks was arrested Wednesday and, if convicted, faces as much as 135 years to life in state jail, in accordance with the L.A. County district lawyer’s workplace. He pleaded not responsible Monday and was ordered held with out bail.

The alleged abuse of three minors passed off between March 2003 and July 2025. Prosecutors imagine different minors might have been harmed and are asking any extra victims, or folks with data of Ramstead’s alleged crimes, to contact the Los Angeles Police Division’s Juvenile Division at (818) 374-5415.

Ramstead is a firefighter and paramedic who was employed by the Pasadena Hearth Division in 2005 and promoted to the rank of captain in 2016.

The town of Pasadena mentioned in a press release that the alleged incidents occurred whereas Ramstead was off obligation. He is on administrative depart whereas the investigation in opposition to him continues.

“These allegations describe years of sexual abuse of kids by somebody who was repeatedly positioned in positions of belief,” L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman mentioned in a press release. “The hurt alleged right here is profound, and no title, badge or uniform locations anybody above the regulation.”

Hochman inspired extra victims to return ahead and guaranteed the general public that his workplace would “aggressively pursue justice and stand with survivors.”

Ramstead is due again in court docket Friday for a bail overview listening to.