Washington Lieutenant Accused of Sexual Misconduct with VocEd Fire Student

Posted by: Curt Varone July 8, 2015 2 Comments

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 |

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 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. 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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