Tyler Hormel booking photo
An officer with the Chowchilla Police Department was arrested on Monday for alleged pedophilia.
According to the Madera County Department of Corrections, Officer Tyler Jensen Hormel, 34, was arrested by officers of the Madera Sheriff’s Office on four counts of rape by force and three counts of oral copulation, the victim being younger than 14. Hormel had been with the CPD for no less than 12 years.
According to the news release by Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney, Hormel had been working at a local school as a resource officer. Varney elaborated, however, that the school and his work there had nothing to do with his actions or his victim.
“This circumstance is still under investigation,” said Varney, “However there is currently no evidence that indicates that any of the alleged criminal conduct occurred while he was on duty or acting in an official capacity.”
It is unknown how many victims are involved beyond the one already known, whose name has not been released due to confidentiality.
Despite the charges, Hormel is on paid administrative leave. His bail is set at $1,300,000. The department is conducting a thorough internal investigation. If convicted, Hormel will face a decades-long prison sentence as well as an end to his career in law enforcement.
