A former Indiana deputy fire chief has been charged with 55 felony offenses following a months-long investigation into allegations that he secretly recorded women and children, possessed child sexual abuse material, and used hidden cameras in private areas, including locations associated with a fire station.

Charles Heflin, 57, formerly served as Deputy Chief of the Gregg Township Fire Department in Morgan County, Indiana. According to court records and law enforcement investigators, the charges stem from alleged conduct occurring between December, 2021 and April, 2026.

The investigation began in December, 2025 after a woman renting a room from Heflin discovered what she believed to be a hidden camera in her bedroom. Investigators allege the device was attached to a modem and positioned toward her bed without her knowledge. After becoming suspicious, the woman reportedly installed her own cameras, which allegedly captured Heflin entering her room and going through her belongings.

Law enforcement subsequently obtained a search warrant for Heflin’s cellular phone. According to the probable cause affidavit, investigators discovered numerous videos and images depicting individuals in private settings. Among the materials allegedly recovered were recordings of people in bedrooms and showers, including locations investigators identified as being associated with the Gregg Township Fire Department.

Court documents further allege that some recordings involved children. One video reportedly depicted a child approximately nine years old undressing. Investigators also allege that Heflin possessed child sexual abuse material and created recordings through the use of concealed cameras.

The charging documents include allegations involving female firefighters and members of the public. One woman reportedly told investigators that Heflin entered her room at the fire station while believing she was asleep and sexually touched her. Another woman told investigators that after responding to a domestic disturbance at her residence, Heflin later returned and made unwanted sexual comments while offering her a massage.

Investigators also reported statements from two women who claimed Heflin had previously placed cameras in a teenager’s room and had been terminated from a prior employer after a camera was discovered in a women’s restroom.

Here is a listing of accusations made against Heflin, quoting from Fox59:

• Moving his family into the firehouse, living and having sex there without approval
• Sexually harassing firefighters by asking them to marry him, join his swinger lifestyle
• Using hidden cameras to record firefighters in the firehouse showers and bedrooms
• Showing fellow firefighters videos of his sexual exploits
• Asking other firefighters to take naps and sleep with him and his girlfriend
• Using spare keys to walk into private bedrooms, grope women, and pleasure himself
• Encouraging firefighters to shower in his private bathroom, which was rigged with cameras
• Attempting to join other firefighters in the shower or in private bedroom activities
• Asking employees about their body measurements and inquiring about their sex lives
• Texting his girlfriend about plans to have firefighters join them in sex
• Scheming as to when and where to place cameras to capture “good footage”
• Having to move EMS classes to different facilities because of Heflin’s harassment
• Heflin’s alleged abuse of power stretched far beyond his reported firehouse crimes. In addition to fellow firefighters, court documents say Heflin harassed several victims involved in fires or domestic battery incidents. These allegations include:
  • Stealing victims’ private contact information from 911 forms
  • Going to victims’ homes after emergencies, bringing them flowers and offering massages
  • Using victim contact information to call and solicit them for sexual favors
  • Offering to make domestic violence victims “feel better” and “get to feeling good”
  • Continuously harassing fire/emergency victims on social media, over the phone
• In one specific incident, a domestic violence victim said Heflin showed up at her door after her partner was arrested. The deputy chief reportedly began offering sexual favors to the woman and shaking his tongue at her, despite her still having two black eyes from the domestic abuse.

The criminal case includes charges for possession of child sexual abuse material, child exploitation, attempted child exploitation, voyeurism, sexual battery, and official misconduct. Heflin was also charged with resisting law enforcement and unlawfully carrying a handgun during his arrest.

Also charged in the case is Angela VanMatre, identified in court records as Heflin’s girlfriend. Prosecutors allege text messages recovered during the investigation showed discussions concerning the placement and positioning of hidden cameras. VanMatre faces multiple conspiracy charges related to child exploitation and voyeurism allegations.

In a public statement following the filing of charges, the current leadership of the Gregg Township Fire Department noted that Heflin had served as Deputy Chief under a previous administration and stated that he has had no role in the department’s current organization. The department further stated that it had cooperated with investigators throughout the investigation.

The case is pending in Morgan County Superior Court.