PASADENA FIRE CAPTAIN ACCUSED OF S*XUALLY AB*SING CHILDREN APPEARS IN COURT

A Thousand Oaks man is accused of abusing children in cases spanning more than twenty years

Christopher James Ramstead faces nine felony counts of lewd acts with children under 14, with offenses dating back to 2003.

When we trust our neighbors, we expect our children to be safe. But a series of newly revealed charges has left one local town wondering how deep the damage truly goes.

Christopher James Ramstead of Thousand Oaks was arrested by police on February 6, 2026. He now faces nine felony counts of lewd acts with a child under the age of 14. The charges come from three separate dates across more than two decades.

The earliest abuse claims date back to March 2003. Other events are listed from late December 2011 and mid-July 2025.

A recent court hearing at the Van Nuys Courthouse West was put on hold because the regular judge was busy. A new judge filled in to handle the brief hearing, where questions arose about Ramstead’s house arrest rules.

• 9 felony counts of lewd acts with a child under 14 years old.
• 3 key offense dates: March 1, 2003; December 29, 2011; and July 26, 2025.
• 1 "silent" GPS ankle monitor tracking the defendant's location.
• 5 allowed reasons to leave home: doctor, dentist, AA, NA, and court.
• August 17 is the next scheduled court date.

How do cases like this remain hidden for so many years? When charges span over 20 years, it raises questions about how our system tracks and responds to warnings.

We must ask what resources are available to help young victims speak out sooner, and how towns can better protect children from long-term harm.

Ramstead has hired private lawyers Steve David Sitkoff and Daniel Saul Rubin to fight the charges. His defense will likely focus on the huge gaps in time between the events and the difficulty of proving old claims without physical proof. With nine counts on the record, the defense faces a hard battle, but the lack of fresh physical proof from the older dates could make the state's case harder to prove.

Ramstead remains out on house arrest with strict limits on his movement. He is not allowed to leave his home except for basic needs like health visits or court.

The case will return to the Van Nuys court in August. Until then, local parents are left dealing with the shock of these serious claims in their town.

What We Still Don't Know

• How many children are involved in these nine charges?
• What led the police to arrest Ramstead so long after the first event?
• What are the exact terms of Ramstead’s active GPS ankle monitor?