Lincoln police officer arrested over alleged child sexual abuse

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — A Lincoln police officer is being accused of sexually abusing minor family members, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. 

The sheriff’s office said it received a call June 23 claiming four female family members were sexually abused years earlier by their uncle, 52-year-old Timothy Jaekel. Deputies spoke on the phone with an adult woman living in Arizona, who they said was the primary victim. 

Deputies said they later learned Jaekel is currently an officer with the Lincoln Police Department. 

The woman told deputies that she had already contacted the Lincoln Police Department earlier in the day and told them about the alleged abuse before contacting the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, officials said. The sheriff’s office said it immediately notified Lincoln police about the complaint. 

Lincoln police said Jaekel was placed on administrative leave in June after learning about the investigation. 

All four alleged victims were interviewed, claiming a long-term pattern of being touched by Jaekel over and under their clothing when they were between the ages of 8 and 16, the sheriff’s office said. The crimes allegedly took place in Sacramento County. 

“They were all family members, some distant, some close,” Sgt. Amar Gandhi with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said. “These investigations do take a little bit longer.”

Investigators said one additional potential victim has not decided whether they will come forward. 

Jaekel also asked one of the young women for nude pictures of her when she was a minor, authorities said. The four victims also reportedly claimed they saw Jaekel touching other female family members inappropriately. 

“Probably the most violating act you could do on someone else,” Gandhi said. “So the courage displayed by those four victims might encourage that other victim to come forward. If not, then no problem.”

Sacramento County deputies obtained a warrant for Jaekel’s arrest, and he was taken into custody in Lincoln without incident, according to law enforcement.

“Whether it’s a teacher, a firefighter, cop, whatever,” Gandhi said. “Obviously this is a lot more personal for us because we are supposed to be the protectors, we are supposed to be the ones catching the bad guys, not being the bad guys.”

Jaekel was booked Thursday into Sacramento County Main Jail, corrections records show. He is eligible for bail Friday, which has been set at $250,000.

Lincoln police said they are cooperating with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the district attorney’s office in the ongoing investigation.