Civilian Police Volunteer Faces Sex Crime Charges
A civilian volunteer with the Police Department has been dismissed after being charged in Central California with five sex-related crimes, officials said.
Thomas Darwin Towner, 51, was arrested in Modesto on March 20 by detectives from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department during a sting operation, authorities said.
He is charged with two counts of attempted child molestation, two counts of attempting to provide obscene material to a minor and one count of distributing child pornography, Stanislaus County Deputy Dist. Atty. Nate Baker said.
Towner posted $55,000 bail and will appear in court April 7 for arraignment, Baker added.
Towner’s attorney, Richard Herman, said his client was a victim of an Internet-related sting and did not meet with a child. He said Towner was in Modesto on business.
“Nothing was found on him that cannot be found in a bookstore in Los Angeles area,” Herman said. “I have no doubt he will be exonerated.”
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