A Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested Oct. 28 and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to court records and the sheriff's office.
Alexander Kristopher Cowley, 40, appeared in probable cause court Thursday, Oct. 29. A judge set his bond at $500,000 and determined he is a flight risk, KPRC 2 reported. A protective order was also issued against him.
Prosecutors had asked for a $1 million bond. According to FOX 26, prosecutors claimed Cowley had previously said he would flee to England if caught. Court documents also contained statements that he would attempt suicide by cop, ABC13 reported.
"There are some statements in the allegations that make you a flight risk," the judge said during the hearing, according to ABC13's recording.
Allegations span years
Court records allege Cowley sexually abused a teenage family member from 2016 to 2024. The alleged abuse began when the girl was 13, according to court documents cited by ABC13. Records also say Cowley allegedly coached the victim to deny the abuse, FOX 26 reported.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the investigating and charging agency, according to FOX 26.
Deputy placed on leave
The sheriff's office confirmed Cowley is an 11-year veteran assigned to the Critical Incident Response Team. A spokesperson told Houston Public Media that Cowley has been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records show Cowley joined the sheriff's office as a jailer in 2015 and became a deputy in 2017, according to ABC13.
Cowley had not yet been appointed a lawyer as of Thursday afternoon, Houston Public Media reported. He remained in the Harris County Jail on the $500,000 bond as of Oct. 29.
