Anthony Durham
Santa Barbara County – Life is not without its ironies, an eternal verity brought to the minds of many on September 20th, when 67-year-old Anthony Durham, a resident of Lompoc, was arrested and booked on charges of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.
Durham might have easily been looked upon as the least likely individual to face such charges, as the former CHP officer was at one time honored as the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, served on the Lompoc City Council, and was an active community volunteer known for his involvement in mentoring teenagers about decision-making and educating them about the perils of underage drinking.
According to Lompoc Police Department spokesman Sgt. Kevin Martin, his department “was made aware of a crime against children,” pursuant to which an investigation into the activities of Durham was initiated.
Durham was contacted by detectives on the morning of the 20th and brought to LPD headquarters for what was presumably a more incisive conversation. “Through the course of their preliminary investigation,” and “based on what was said in that interview,” Martin reported to the media, “he was taken into custody and booked in the County Jail.”
On the day of Durham’s arrest, the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office reported that his bail was set at $1,000,000 and his charges include 14 counts of sexual contact with a child 10 years or younger, three counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age, and that he “faces a maximum sentence of life in prison” if convicted on all charges.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
