Nebraska Man Arrested in Pleasanton Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges

A Nebraska man arrested last month in Pleasanton and who police say sexually molested a 13-year-old girl for seven months is now facing local charges.

Todd Tackwell, 35, of Hastings, Neb., was first arrested by Pleasanton police after a traffic stop on July 23 on Valley Avenue and Paseo Santa Cruz. During the traffic stop, the officer became suspicious that there was a 13-year-old girl  in the car.

According to the Pleasanton Police Department, the officer spoke with the girl and one of her parents over the phone. Based on those intervivews, the officer determined there was inappropriate sexual behavior going on between Tackwell and the girl.

Police also learned that Tackwell had been indicted the day before in a 2008 child pornography case investigated by the Department of Home Land Security.

Police say that Tackwell met the girl  through an Internet chatroom in October 2009 while he was living in Nebraska. The relationship continued over the phone and in January 2010, Tackwell drove to California.

Police say Tackwell had been sexually molesting the girl for seven months until his arrest. Her parents were unaware of Tackwell contacting their child.

Tackwell is being charged with engaging in continuous sex abuse with a person under age 14. He is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin with a bail of $1 million.  His next court appearance is set for Sept. 9 to enter a plea.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact (925) 931-5100.