Former Clarksville Police Officer Charged with Exploitation of a Minor Seeks New Attorney

A former Clarksville Police officer facing over 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor may looking for new legal counsel.

In September, a joint investigation by the Butler County Sheriff’s and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) led to the arrest of 34-year-old Michael Tobin. Authorities say that on March 4th, a minor under the age of 18 reported to the sheriff’s office the then-Clarksville police officer had showed the minor sexually explicit images and videos that were evidence in a pending criminal case.  Court documents show the alleged incidents occurred between September 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022.

Tobin has been charged with three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and eight aggravated misdemeanors counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He has pleaded not guilty and demanded a speedy trial, currently set for December 6th in Butler County District Court.

Who will be the defense attorney for Tobin could be changing. His current lawyer, James Metcalf, has filed a motion to withdraw as Tobin’s counsel, citing a breakdown in the attorney/client relationship. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Monday, November 21st in Butler County District Court.