SACRAMENTO – A case was dismissed against a Sacramento firefighter who faced several sexual assault charges, prosecutors said Monday.
The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office said in a statement that it had to re-evaluate the case against Adam Blankenship after new evidence emerged and affected its "ability to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The district attorney's office did not expand on what those new developments were.
"If the legal standard can no longer be met, we must dismiss the case," the statement continued. "This decision is not a judgment on the victim or the defendant; it is a reflection of our responsibility to do what justice requires."
Blankenship had been arrested in April. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said an investigation into the alleged crimes in their jurisdiction began in early March.
Blankenship faced various sexual assault charges including illegal recording without consent, digital penetration by force, digital penetration without the ability to consent, attempted rape, sexual battery, and continuous molestation of a child under 14 years, the sheriff's office said. All have been dismissed.
Sacramento Fire said Blankenship's arrest was related to an off-duty matter and was not connected to his role with the department.
El Dorado County jail records show that Blankenship was arrested at the Sacramento fire station on 24th Street on Wednesday morning. Blankenship made his first court appearance on April 11 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The sheriff's office also noted that it believes there may be additional victims.
"We take all matters involving our personnel very seriously, regardless of whether they are on or off duty, and we are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of behavior both in and outside the workplace," the Sacramento Fire Department said in a statement.
The fire department had placed Blankenship on leave during the investigation. Sacramento Fire also conducted an internal investigation as part of its policies and procedures.
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