An Escalon man was jailed on Wednesday, Oct. 15 on multiple charges following the conclusion of two lengthy child abuse investigations.

Police said David Severin, 30, of Escalon was arrested and booked into San Joaquin County Jail for two counts of taking lewd photographs of a child in connection with a case handled by Officer Matt Price and additionally for two counts of lewd acts with a child under 14 and one count of oral copulation of a child under 14 in connection with Officer Robert Lackey’s case.

One incident had been reported last year, said officials, while the other was more recently reported and helped spur on the investigation.

Police said Severin came in to the department and gave a statement, then was arrested and booked at county jail. His bail was originally set at $1 million.

Escalon Police Chief Mike Borges said the initial investigation began in April 2013 after police received a report of photographs being taken of the first victim. They were requested to get additional information by the District Attorney’s office, said Borges, and were able to obtain a search warrant for the device used to take the photos.

“In August of this year, we were contacted by another party, with allegations of additional molestation that had taken place, probably in 2012,” Borges added.

That prompted the second investigation and ultimately ended with the arrest.

“Officer Lackey was able to make contact with the suspect, we wanted him to come in and make a statement, he was reluctant to come in,” the chief explained, adding that Severin did appear at the police station on Oct. 15, several days after the initial contact by Officer Lackey.

“We were able to get a full statement with some admissions, which resulted in what he was booked for,” Borges said of Severin facing the multiple counts.

So far, the chief said, there are two known victims.

“We hope there’s no more but we are asking anyone with information on the case to call us,” he said.

The police can be reached at 838-7093.