Harris County Deputy Charged After Years of Alleged Abuse

Alexander Cowley, a 40-year-old deputy with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, was arrested Wednesday night and appeared in probable cause court on Thursday. Court records state he faces charges for the continuous sexual abuse of a minor. The department has placed Cowley on administrative leave while his criminal case proceeds.

The allegations detail a pattern of abuse that began in May 2016 when the victim, a 13-year-old relative, returned home to find Cowley on the couch. Documents filed in court claim he touched her breast during that initial encounter. The records describe subsequent incidents where Cowley pinned the teenager down to kiss her and lay next to her in bed while sexually aroused after she sought shelter from house noises.

According to the filings, the abuse occurred nearly every night for a month before continuing over several years. Cowley's statements during the Thursday hearing raised questions about his likelihood of fleeing the jurisdiction. The presiding judge noted specific remarks that contributed to his classification as a flight risk.

Cowley allegedly told investigators he would flee to England if arrested. He also stated he intended to commit suicide by cop if taken into custody. The judge set his bond at $500,000. Information presented at the hearing indicated this is Cowley's first arrest.

Cowley joined the Harris County Sheriff's Office as a jailer in 2015 and was promoted to deputy in 2017. He is assigned to the department's Critical Incident Response Team. His arrest marks the sixth time a Harris County sheriff's deputy has been arrested this year, according to a count by local news outlet ABC13.