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The former leader of a Cub Scout den in Danville charged with possessing child pornography will be sentenced in February after changing his plea to guilty in federal court today.
Michael Vawter of Danville was indicted in October by a federal grand jury on one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Jack Gillund said at the time of Vawter’s indictment.
Vawter, who was 40 at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to the second count, possessing child pornography; the first charge was deferred until his sentencing, Feb. 18. Typically, a defendant’s criminal history is included in federal sentencing guidelines, meaning even if he is not convicted on the first and more serious charge, Vawter’s conduct could be included for a potential increase in his sentence.
The possession charge has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Vawter was arrested in March when police received an anonymous tip stating that he had child pornography on his work computer at California Coast Insurance Financial in San Ramon, according to police reports. The San Ramon Police Department obtained and served a search warrant for Vawter’s work computer and his residence in Danville.
The local charges, which carried a potential sentence of three years, were dropped when the more serious federal charges were filed.
Deputy Contra Contra County District Attorney Jon Yamaguchi said at the time of Vawter’s arrest that police found 187 pornographic videos on his computer.
When this guy got arrested, I went to his Facebook page before he took it down. This is how he described himself:
“Love my family. Love my friends. Love my country. Love my Church. Try to get through life as happy as I can be. The struggle is what make it worth it. A strong morale compass is critical.”
I used to be a lot more trusting of people, especially at church. If someone said something about their faith or family, I took it at face value. Then I found out my sister was molested years ago by a trusted church member. I have become a lot more skeptical of what people profess, especially when they interact with my kids.
What especially bugs me about this case is the guy was a cub scout leader. It’s one thing to have a sexual problem like this and not seek psychiatric treatment due to fear of discovery given the stigma associated with that problem in our society. But to put kids in harm’s way by becoming a cub scout leader is a huge betrayal. Even if he never did anything to the kids, there is a risk that he could slip up. He shouldn’t have surrounded himself with cub scouts. He should’ve said he was too busy to be the cub leader or made some other excuse.
Well said spcwt.
Human beings are so complex and their flaws can be devastating. Unfortunately a person never really knows another person completely because we all hide our flaws for fear of being outcast and judged. That fear keeps people from seeking treatment.
And that will never change. It takes an enormous amount of courage to admit to a taboo problem. It is a very lonely road, not many successfully take. I especially feel empathy for his family. Hopefully nobody is judging them by his behavior.
I guess this was his attempt to make himself a citizen above suspicion…he failed!
I’ve posted the same thing regarding previous Vawter stories – that the more someone trumpets their religion or morality, the less I trust them. Truly moral people, and those with real faith, don’t need to keep pounding the fact that they are more holy than the rest of us. And the same absolutely holds true for the so called “party of family values”.
I must also comment that the three Vawter defenders who were all over this message board a couple months back seem to be AWOL.
AMEN Derek!!!!
This guy absolutely had it all. He has/had a wonderful family, privlidged education, successful job and probably a good deal of money. I had met him and his family and he was really very kind- but at some point he must have succumbed to his own personal demons and most likely has now lost everything. Lost his career, social status, will probably loose several years of his life being incarcerated, must register as a sex offender but above all, has shamed the family that I know he cared deeply for. I feel for his family and the shame that he has brought upon them. It’s hard for me to think of him as some child porn viewing monster- but clearly you can never tell.
I am forever fearful of people pushing their morals, spirituality or any Bible/Koran/Torah (among others) thumper in general- it is a depresing thought entering the Holidays. 🙁
Vawter family my thoughts go out to you and I hope that you may find the strength to persevere
I agree with you Sorrow and they (Mrs. Vawter & kids) make sure that they make every day a special day. They are strong! They are my friends now and forever!
I went back and read that earlier thread, and some of those “defenses” were clearly preposterous.
That said, there is a “hang ’em high” mentality on this board that is at least as troubling. It suggests a blind faith in The System — a system that is prone to error and capable of abuse. The Founding Fathers had witnessed and suffered the tyranny of The State, and wisely encoded “innocence until Proven guilty” into our jurisprudence.
We should try to be as wise, and withhold judgment until, as here, the verdict has come in. Kindly stow those pitchforks and torches, folks.