Last Friday in Boulder County, a former fire captain who once held a position of trust in the community was ordered to spend what could be most of his life in prison, after a jury found he sexually assaulted multiple women tied to the department. The lengthy sentence, which prosecutors and survivors argued was necessary, reflects what the court described as a profound betrayal of both colleagues and the public, especially because many of the attacks happened on duty and inside the firehouse itself.
Kamron Barnaby, 33, was convicted in December on 13 counts that included sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact and sexual exploitation of children. He was sentenced last week to a minimum of 55 years in prison, according to the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Michael Dougherty praised the courage of the women who testified and said his office was honored to pursue the case on their behalf.
How prosecutors say he used his role
At trial, prosecutors argued that Barnaby exploited his rank at the Hygiene Fire Protection District to gain access to and exert control over young women. Three were his subordinates and two were teenage recruits. The first allegation surfaced during an exit interview in August 2022, which triggered a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office investigation. As outlined by the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, investigators later recovered hundreds of explicit photos and videos from Barnaby’s phone, which jurors heard about during the case.
Victims’ testimony at trial
Over a week-long trial, five survivors took the stand and described assaults that, in some instances, happened at the station or while Barnaby was on duty. One woman summed up the power imbalance with a line that stayed with the courtroom and prosecutors alike: “Growing up, you’re taught if you’re raped, call 911. But what happens when the person raping you is 911?” That moment, along with other key testimony, was reported by CPR.
Internal probes and department fallout
Court records and local reporting show Barnaby had already faced an internal investigation at Hygiene back in 2020. Instead of being fired, he was allowed to resign. He later went on to work for Mountain View Fire Rescue, where he remained until his arrest in April 2023. Mountain View placed him on administrative leave as soon as charges were filed, and he resigned the following day. Reporting from local outlets also notes that the judge stacked several indeterminate sentences, effectively locking in a punishment that adds up to decades behind bars…