Ex-firefighter pleads guilty to indecent assault on teen
MEDIA COURTHOUSE » A 31-year-old Eddystone man was given time served to 23 months with eight years of sex offender probation Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of misdemeanor indecent assault against a 13-year-old girl.
Anthony W. Tinney, of the 900 block of Saville Avenue, also pleaded guilty to one count of corruption of minors, a felony of the third degree, under a negotiated plea worked out by Assistant District Attorney Ryan Grace and defense counsel Brian Malloy.
Tinney has been incarcerated since his arrest Sept. 20, 2017, when he was charged with 100 counts including indecent assault without consent, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor. The remaining charges were withdrawn under the plea deal.
Tinney had been a member of the Ridley Park Fire Department at the time of his arrest and is a former member of the Eddystone Fire Department. A message left at the Ridley Park firehouse Thursday afternoon was not returned.
The Eddystone Fire Co. previously released a statement indicating it severed all ties to Tinney nearly a decade ago and has not had any professional contact with him since.
Eddystone Police Lt. Joseph Pretti opened an investigation into Tinney in March 2017 after receiving information from Children and Youth Services of Delaware County regarding the possible sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
The girl indicated Tinney had made inappropriate comments to her, touched her inappropriately and may have penetrated her through her clothing with his finger on several occasions, according to the affidavit.
The victim described Tinney as a family friend who had been “like a brother” to her, but said he would make comments about and touch her body, offered to buy her sex toys and showed her his collection of pornographic videos at his Eddystone apartment.
Investigators executing a search warrant at Tinney’s residence in June seized about 100 X-rated movies and magazines, as well as 10 cell phones. Tinney, who was home at the time, cooperated with police and gave an interview.
Tinney told police that he showed the victim how to play the game “check the oil,” which he described as penetrating someone’s buttocks with a finger, but said that he would never insert his finger into the girl’s buttocks or vaginal area. Tinney said that he may have touched the victim’s buttocks while playing the game, however.
Tinney admitted to telling the girl he would buy her a sex toy, but said he was only joking. He said he believes that the victim was in his apartment two times but “nothing happened” and that his daughter was always present. Authorities said inappropriate conduct also occurred at locations in Tinicum and Prospect Park.
Tinney also admitted to sending the victim text and Snapchat messages telling her that she was beautiful, according to the affidavit. Tinney agreed to forfeit his cell phone under the plea.
Malloy told Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge John Capuzzi Thursday that his client has received an outpouring of support from the community and learned from his mistakes. Tinney had been the sole caretaker of his daughter until his arrest, Malloy said.
“He understands what he did was wrong, that’s why admitted his guilt,” said Malloy. “He understands his own issues. He’s taking classes on that. He intends to fully make sure he can stay in his daughter’s life, make sure he can stay in his community’s life (and) put this behind him.”
Grace indicated Tinney will have to have treatment in place as a condition of probation and will have to adhere to the recommendations of a psychosexual evaluation.
Capuzzi stressed to Tinney that he is to have no contact whatsoever with the victim, either directly or through an intermediary.
Tinney must also abide by the special rules of sex offender probation, provide a DNA sample to state police, and register as a sex offender for 15 years under the sentence.