Townsend man charged with lewd, wanton and lascivious conduct

LEOMINSTER » Police summonsed a Townsend man to district court on Friday to answer to charges related to him allegedly propositioning a teenager for a sexual act in late January, according to police and court documents.

Police were called to Lake Whalom Road on Jan. 22 on a report that Thomas E. Sherwin, 78, of Jefts Street, had approached a car of teenagers in the parking spaces along the lake and was the same man who had allegedly propositioned one of them a couple of days before, the reporting officer said.

While there the officer spoke with the 17-year-old who had earlier reported that Sherwin had approached him about having him perform a sexual act on him and when told no several times, reached into the teen’s car and attempted to grab his groin area, the officer reported.

Sherwin was in the area when the officers were speaking to the teenagers and when he was questioned about the allegations made by the teen, he denied them and said he was bored and just driving around, the officer reported.

While the officer was speaking with Sherwin, another officer pointed out that Sherwin had a sex toy in the back seat of his vehicle, the officer reported.

Sherwin answered that there are all “kinds of stuff ” in his car, the officer reported.

As a result, Sherwin was summonsed to court on a charge of lewd, wanton and lascivious conduct and threat to commit a crime, according to court documents.

When Sherwin didn’t appear in court Friday, a bench warrant for his arrest was issued, according to court documents.