BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A ranking official at a Bakersfield Veterans of Foreign Wars post has been arrested on charges of incest and other sex charges.
Timothy Machin, 51, was arrested on July 2 and is currently being held at Lerdo Pre-trial on $1,000,000 bail. The VFW confirmed to 23ABC News that Machin was the commander of VFW Post 97 on South Union Avenue.
According to the police report obtained by 23ABC News, one victim estimated that Machin had sex with her "almost 1,700 times." There are also multiple victims, according to the report.
Child Protetctive Services was called by one of the victims on July 1. CPS contacted Bakersfield Police on the same day to report the allegations.
One victim told Bakersfield Police that Machin forced her to perform oral sex on him during some of the encounters as well. The same victim said one time when Machin was having sex with her, someone walked into the room and caught them.
The victim said Machin and the other person argued, but nothing happened beyond the argument, according to the documents.
The victims told investigators that the abuse started when Machin lived in San Diego. Machin moved to Bakersfield from San Diego in 2009.
One victim told police she didn't come forward sooner because previous reports of abuse went unheeded and she thought reporting the "incident would be meaningless."
Machin resigned the position of commander on July 10, according to Wayne Wright, who has taken over command of the post. He added that Machin is still a member of the VFW Post.
Wright declined to comment on the allegations because it is an active investigation. Wright said the commander position is the top-ranking official at a VFW Post.
Machin was arraigned on Friday, July 5, and pleaded not guilty. He's been charged with two counts of incest and three counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14-years-old.
He's expected back in court on July 17.
