Firefighter, Wife Accused of Abusing Girl

A Los Angeles city firefighter and his wife face arraignment today on charges that they repeatedly sexually abused a girl, authorities said.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies arrested Charles Wesslund, 63, of Crestline on Friday morning as he drove to work.

Later that morning, deputies arrested Patricia Wesslund, 51, in her home.

The Wesslunds have been the subject of an ongoing investigation by the sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Unit, department spokeswoman Cindy Beevers said.

The Sheriff’s Department would release no information on the nature of the alleged relationship between the couple and the girl.

The Wesslunds were booked on suspicion of continuous sexual abuse against a child under the age of 14, which is punishable by up to 16 years in prison.

They are being held in lieu of $200,000 bail each at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Charles Wesslund also will be arraigned today in San Bernardino County Superior Court on charges of having a controlled substance while armed, authorities said.

Deputies who pulled him over Friday found an unspecified amount of methamphetamine, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies also found a gun, officials said.

Wesslund is a 41-year veteran of the city Fire Department. He has been on paid administrative leave since his arrest, a standard procedure.