Firefighter Accused Of Groping Girl In Newport Beach

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A U.S. Forest Service firefighter is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on charges of possession of child pornography and groping a 12-year-old girl in Newport Beach.

Jacob Daniel Carothers, 38, of San Jacinto, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant by Newport Beach police and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Carothers is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and two counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14, all felonies. He could face up to 10 years and eight months in prison if convicted at trial.

Carothers, who was assigned to the Cleveland National Forest, is accused of riding by on a bicycle and grabbing a 12-year-old girl on two separate occasions as she and her swimwear-clad friends walked on Balboa Peninsula May 29, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

When police arrested him in an alley nearby, they determined the defendant was allegedly in possession of a "significant amount of pornographic photos and videos" involving children.

"Unfortunately, not everyone who takes the oath to become a firefighter is worthy of having the public's trust," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said last week. "Children enjoying a summer day at the beach with their friends should not have to worry about being assaulted by a predator, especially one who took an oath to safeguard lives."

Investigators suspect there may be more victims and asked anyone who has relevant information to call Detective Kelley Masllin at 949-644-3776.

—City News Service