Suspect Jennifer Powell, the child’s mother and ex-girlfriend of Rustom Bhagwagar. Photo: Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department
45-year-old mother of child & ex-girlfriend of Florida pilot
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division have made an additional arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation into sex crimes against a child.
On Sat., July 26, 2025, Sheriff’s Office detectives, with the assistance of HSI, boarded a plane at San Francisco International Airport to arrest 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on sex crimes against a child charges. (See related article)
Detectives this afternoon, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, arrested 45-year-old Jennifer Powell. She was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on numerous charges involving sex crimes against a child.
Questions were sent to Jimmy Lee and Ted Asregadoo, PIO for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office asking for Powell’s city of residence and where the crimes occurred, but no response was received prior to publication time. Asregadoo later responded, “We’re not going to disclose any additional information about the defendant you’re asking about. For now, we’re hoping media outlets won’t disclose information that could negatively affect the victim. She’s listed as a Jane Doe in the complaint and is a minor.”
According to a KTVU FOX2 news report, Powell is the ex-gifrlfiend of Bhagwagar and “According to court documents, Powell was aware that her daughter was being sexually abused by her then-boyfriend. The court documents said she watched and even participated in the alleged sex crimes against her daughter.”
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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