Mansfield police officer facing charges for stealing, pawning department guns

SEBASTIAN COUNTY, Ark. – Officials with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office said a local police officer is facing charges relating to the theft and pawning of department guns.

Officials said the investigation was launched after the Mansfield Police Chief reported two guns were stolen out of a file cabinet in his office on Oct. 17. Investigators found that the guns had been pawned in Fort Smith by Mansfield Police Officer 42-year-old Stephen E. Townley, a two-year veteran of the force.

Townley is facing two charges of felony theft by receiving, firearms, and a single count of felony release or disclosure to an unauthorized person, the latter regarding using the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) to see if the guns had been stolen.

A warrant affidavit shows Townley admitted to an investigator that he had also pawned his service weapon, along with two other guns. This was supported by the pawn ticket included in the affidavit, showing three handguns being pawned for $700 each.

According to the affidavit, Townley told the investigator he was between “a rock and a hard place” after the electricity to his home had been shut off. He continued that he planned to pawn the guns, but get them back before anyone realized what he had done.

Townley turned himself in after warrants were brought against him on Thursday. SCSO officials said he was released after posting a $2,500 bond and has a first court appearance set for Nov. 5.