Retired Police Officer Arrested in Child Pornography Case

A retired San Diego police officer who taught recently at the Police Academy has been arrested on child pornography charges, authorities said Thursday.

Donald Lindsley, 52, was arrested Aug. 12 and booked into County Jail on four counts of using minors to produce obscene material, a felony that carries a maximum of eight years in prison, said Sgt. Ron Cottingham of the Sheriff Department’s child abuse unit in Santee.

If convicted on all four counts, Lindsley, who has been released on his own recognizance, would face up to 32 years in prison.

Lindsley was arrested after authorities obtained a search warrant for his El Cajon home and found about 100 photos of two girls and Lindsley in various poses, Cottingham said.

Recognized by Co-Worker

Cottingham said “a source” gave the San Diego Police Department child abuse unit photos of Lindsley posing with the two girls, who are between 6 and 9 years of age. Lindsley, who retired from the Police Department on Nov. 23, 1985, after nearly 20 years of service, was recognized by one of his former co-workers.

The San Diego Police Department turned the case over to the Sheriff’s Department because the photos had apparently been taken outdoors in East County, Cottingham said. The terrain of the area indicated where the photos were taken, he said.

Cottingham said Lindsley owned “a substantial private collection. It doesn’t appear that he was trading with anybody or selling. It was just for his own personal use.”

Lindsley apparently had been taking the photos for about a year, Cottingham said. He added that there is no evidence that Lindsley molested the two girls, nor is there any indication that any other children were involved.

The girls will probably go through counseling to help them deal with their victimization, Cottingham said. “(Child pornographers) are very remarkable in spotting kids that will be vulnerable and enticing them into this,” he said.

Lindsley has taught first aid at the Police Academy since his retirement, but he has not taught since the arrest earlier this month, said San Diego police spokesman Rick Carlson. When he worked for the department, Lindsley was a patrol officer and worked in special investigations and the vice and juvenile units, Carlson said.