FAIRMONT — A Fairmont police officer is facing serious criminal charges after being accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl. Christopher Guinup, 45, was arrested Wednesday by Marion County deputies and is being held at the North Central Regional Jail on $100,000 bail.
Guinup is charged with first-degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a parent or guardian. According to authorities, the alleged abuse occurred when the victim was nine years old. She is now 13.
In response to the arrest, the City of Fairmont issued a statement condemning the allegations and distancing the broader police force from the accused officer.
“We want to be clear on the seriousness of the allegations against Christopher Guinup: they are a blemish on the badge of law enforcement and an affront to the profession,” the statement read. “They in no way reflect the character and quality of our law enforcement personnel, and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms.”
Guinup has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
No additional details about the case have been released at this time.
