Former detention officer faces indecent liberties charge

Tommy Allen McPherson

    A recently resigned Columbus County Detention Officer has been arrested on sex charges involving a child, Sheriff Chris Batten said Monday.
    Tommy Allen McPherson, 56, of Joe Brown Hwy. South, Chadbourn, was charged on a single count of indecent liberties with a child, arrested at about 2 p.m. by Columbus County Sheriff’s detectives, Batten said in a news release.
    McPherson was placed under a $10,000 bond during an initial appearance hearing held at the Columbus County Courthouse. He is being held at the Brunswick County Detention Center, an official there said.
    McPherson had held the rank of Sergeant at the Columbus County Detention Center until last Thursday, several days before the accusations that resulted in his arrest were made to law enforcement, Batten said. McPherson had been employed by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office for about three years, Maj. Lewis Hatcher said.
    There will be no further details released, for now, on the ongoing investigation, Batten said.