Fire chief faces child porn charges

By Bernard Baker
Danville Register & Bee
Published: July 4, 2008

CHATHAM — A former Pittsylvania County fire marshal and the chief of Riverbend Volunteer Fire Department was charged this week with 17 counts of child pornography possession.

Gary Lee Toler, 46, was arrested July 1, according to Lt. Mike Mondul, spokesman for the Danville Police Department.

He confirmed that Toler was a former fire marshal for the county.

Mondul said Toler posted bail almost immediately after he was taken into custody. The police lieutenant said the investigation involves child pornography found on a computer, but added that he could not discuss the details of the case.

This is not Toler’s first brush with criminal charges.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery in August 2007 and indecent liberties with a minor in January, according to Danville police.

Those two cases are scheduled to be heard July 17 in Danville Circuit Court.

The Rev. Lin Hairfield, chairman of the board for Riverbend Volunteer Fire Department, said he is not aware of any criminal charges against Toler.

“I have heard nothing about it,” Hairfield said Thursday.

He said Toler will remain as chief and there will be no move to take action against him at this time.

Toler served as the county’s fire marshal from the early 1990s until 1996.

He also was Pittsylvania County’s public safety coordinator during that time.

Attempts to contact Toler on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Contact Bernard Baker at or at (434) 791-7986.