(KGTV) - A former Veterans of Foreign Wars official is in custody in Bakersfield on suspicion of sex crimes which alleged victims say started in San Diego.
Timothy Machin, 51, was arrested on July 2 and is currently being held on $1,000,000 bail. The VFW confirmed to Scripps affiliate KERO that Machin was the commander of VFW Post 97 in Bakersfield.
According to the police report, one person 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 alleged victims on July 1. CPS contacted Bakersfield Police on the same day to report the allegations.
One alleged victim told Bakersfield Police that Machin forced her to perform oral sex on him during some of the encounters. The same person someone walked into the room one time when Machin was having sex with her. The alleged victim said Machin and the other person argued, but nothing happened beyond the argument, according to the documents.
The accusers told investigators that the abuse started when Machin lived in San Diego. Machin moved to Bakersfield from San Diego in 2009.
One alleged 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 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. He's expected back in court on July 17.
