Charles Johnathen Harris, a former Alameda County firefighter in California, has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list after federal authorities raised questions over his reported death in a 2023 boating accident.
Harris, 46, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023 on a charge of possessing child sexual abuse material. He was later reported to have drowned in Suisun Bay, California, but the FBI now says the circumstances surrounding his disappearance warrant further investigation, including the possibility that his death was staged.
Who Is Charles Johnathen Harris?
According to the FBI, Harris was born on August 26, 1980, in Modesto, California, and worked as a firefighter. He is listed as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes.
The FBI says he may also use the aliases “Chuck Harris” and “Charlie Harris”. The agency lists light burn scars on his hands as a distinguishing feature.
Harris was living in California when he disappeared. He had previously worked for the Alameda County Fire Department, according to federal authorities.
What Was Harris Charged With?
Federal prosecutors charged Harris with possession of child pornography in March 2023.
According to the case described by federal authorities, investigators began looking into Harris after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Prosecutors alleged that he possessed illegal images on his iPhone and had uploaded child sexual abuse material through the messaging platform Kik.
Harris appeared in federal court in Oakland on March 7, 2023, and was released on bond with restrictions on his internet access.
If convicted of the federal charge, he faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
What Happened To Harris?
The case took an unexpected turn less than a month after his indictment.
The FBI says Harris allegedly drowned in a boating accident in Suisun Bay on April 4, 2023. His reported death came before a scheduled court appearance.
After he failed to appear, federal authorities issued an arrest warrant on April 21, 2023, charging him with failure to appear.
For more than three years, authorities treated the reported drowning as the key event in the case.
Why Does The FBI Think His Death May Have Been Staged?
The FBI has now said that the circumstances surrounding Harris’ reported drowning “warrant further scrutiny”, including the possibility that his death was staged.
The agency has not publicly disclosed what specific evidence or new information prompted investigators to revisit the circumstances of his disappearance.
Harris is currently listed among the FBI’s wanted fugitives, and the agency is asking the public for information that could help locate him.
Is Charles Johnathen Harris Still Alive?
The FBI has not confirmed that Harris is alive. Instead, the agency says the circumstances of his reported death warrant further scrutiny and is treating him as a wanted fugitive.
Anyone with information about Harris’ whereabouts is being asked to contact the FBI or submit a tip through the agency’s online reporting system.