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Washington Lieutenant Accused of Sexual Misconduct with VocEd Fire Student

A Washington state firefighter is facing criminal charges of sexual misconduct and witness tampering.

Joseph Chinco, a lieutenant with the Yakima Fire Department, has been charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and witness tampering. He is accused of having sex on three occasions with a 17-year-old student that was in a vocational fire-training program at Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center.

Chino, 51, was teaching in the fire program when the incidents occurred. He allegedly attempted to talk the girl into telling police she lied. He was placed on paid administrative leave from Yakima Fire on May 29, 2015.

NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 50 years of fire service experience and 40 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. Besides his law degree, he has a MS in Forensic Psychology. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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2 Comments

  1. Really?
    This guy couldn’t contain himself?
    Prosecute him for all that he can be.

  2. Chief Varone, it looks like we need an updated version of Firefighting 101 – Keeping It Zipped. You could franchise the program and make a mint!

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