Earlier today, a 34 year old Fremont man was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney on several charges related to unlawful sex with a minor.
On February 6, 2020, Fremont Detectives arrested Brian Watkins, a 34 year old Fremont resident, on multiple felony counts of sexual assault.
Fremont Police Department Detectives began investigating this case in July of 2019, after receiving a report of alleged sexual misconduct involving Watkins and a teenaged female. Officers learned the suspect was currently employed as a California Highway Patrol Officer and the relationship began when the victim was a minor. The activity is believed to have occurred primarily within the City of Fremont and not while Watkins was working in the capacity of a peace officer.
During the investigation, detectives learned the suspect began communicating and having a sexual relationship with the victim when she was 16 years old. The activity has been ongoing, and continued after Watkins learned he was being investigated. Recent developments in the case provided officers with additional evidence to arrest Watkins. On February 6, Detectives arrested Watkins at approximately 5:45 p.m. He was booked at the Fremont Police Detention Facility.
On February 10, 2020, detectives presented the case to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. The DA filed three felony counts of PC261.5 (c)-Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a minor. Watkins was scheduled for arraignment today.
Due to the age of the victim and the nature of the investigation, no information regarding the victim’s identity will be released. The victim was a minor at the time this occurred and we ask the public (friends and community members) as well as the press and media, that her identity remain confidential.
Our Department has been in contact with the California Highway Patrol throughout the course of this investigation and we would like to thank them for their assistance and cooperation.
Fremont Detectives are continuing to investigate this case, and although there has been no evidence of additional victims, we will continue to pursue all leads. If anyone has information they believe could help detectives with this investigation, they are asked to please contact Senior Detective Tony Holguin at 510-790-6900 or via email Aholguin@fremont.gov. We also accept and welcome anonymous tips. To send a web tip, go to https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/5788118 or text your tip, by typing TIP FREMONTPD followed by your short message to 888777.
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Link to Mercury News story:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/10/california-highway-patrol-officer-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-16-year-old-girl/
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