Oroville >> A jury has convicted a Marysville reserve police officer for sexually molesting a Gridley teenager in the mid-2000s.
The Butte County Superior Court jury found defendant Jared Michael Tomlinson, 30, guilty Monday of felony counts of sodomy, attempted sodomy and oral copulation In each of the counts, the victim was under 16.
After about a day of deliberations, the panel of nine women and three men were unable to reach a verdict on felony counts of a lewd act upon a child and oral copulation of a person under 16. Judge Robert Glusman declared a mistrial on the counts.
Another lewd act count was dismissed after the prosecution rested its case.
Tomlinson was a reserve officer with the Marysville Police Department, but was placed on administrative leave following his arrest in April 2013. The department terminated the defendant’s employment following Monday’s conviction, according to the Appeal Democrat.
Tomlinson may attended police academy during a portion of the time that he lived at the victim’s house near West Liberty Road in Gridley beginning in 2003.
Following the verdict, deputy district attorney Stacy Edwards said she was glad the jury held Tomlinson responsible for his action. She said jurors had a difficult task, given the age of the case and other factors.
“We are very, very pleased,” Edwards said.
She said the Butte County District Attorney’s Office hadn’t yet decided on whether to retrial Tomlinson for the two counts that ended in mistrial.
During closing arguments Friday, Edwards said Tomlinson began to fondle the victim when the victim was 13.
The conduct escalated to oral copulation about two to three times per week. The victim, now 24, said Tomlinson sodomized him between six to eight time from 2004 to 2006. The attempted sodomy took place when the victim was 15. Tomlinson reportedly stopped when the boy started crying.
The victim also testified that he had a consensual physical relationship with Tomlinson after turning 18, but it ended after his mother learned of it.
The victim didn’t tell others about the incidents until he was arguing with his former wife in 2011. He told the woman that Tomlinson molested him, but didn’t provide details.
The ex-wife later told the victim’s mother. The mother asked her son to confirm what happened, leading to a confrontation between her and Tomlinson in March 2013.
During the confrontation at the house, the mother accused Tomlinson of having intercourse with her son. The mother said the defendant could only apologize.
Defense attorney Craig Leri argued that Tomlison’s reaction was because both he and the victim had been outed.
During his closing argument, Leri said the Butte County Sheriff’s Office investigation lacked specifics and the victim’s mother had lead the investigation, despite being told not to interfere with witnesses.
The defense had argued that money may have been a factor in the case. Tomlinson had lent the victim’s parents $3,000. The mother said the loan had been paid back when they painted the inside of Tomlinson’s house, but the couple had made additional payments.
Leri also questioned how the acts could take place without being detected in the small house. The victim said they had been quiet, but also testified Tomlinson would yell at him if he didn’t perform an act.
The mother had been suspicious at the time and used baby monitors to listen, but heard nothing. She also didn’t notice signs of bodily fluid on blankets or towels, but twice found a pair of her son’s underwear hidden and soiled.
The victim testified he soiled his pants during the incidents.
Judge Glusman set sentencing April 2. Tomlinson remains out of custody with a promise to return to court.
The prosecution sought to have the defendant remanded following his conviction, but the defense asked for him to remain on his own recognizance. The judge agreed to keep him out of custody, noting that Tomlinson has been cooperative and the incidents took place about a decade ago.
Reach reporter Ryan Olson at facebook.com/NorCalJustice and 896-7763.
