Court records allege a Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy threatened to kill himself to keep a 13-year-old sexual abuse victim silent for years.

Alexander Cowley, 40, was arrested in late October on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. He has since bonded out of jail on a $200,000 bond, according to KPRC 2, which first reported the new court record details. His bond was originally set at $500,000, according to earlier court records.

KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel obtained the affidavit and reached Cowley by phone. He declined to comment, according to the station's report.

What the affidavit alleges

According to the affidavit, the abuse began in the summer of 2016 and continued over a period of months. The victim was 13 at the time. She is now an adult and came forward to authorities, prompting a Texas Rangers investigation.

The affidavit alleges Cowley coached the girl on what to say if they were ever caught. He allegedly told her to deny everything, saying that if they both denied it, there would be no case against him.

Cowley also allegedly told the victim repeatedly that he would never go to jail. According to the affidavit, he said he would rather commit "suicide by cop," kill himself in prison, or flee to England if he were ever imprisoned.

The victim told investigators she stayed silent for years because she was afraid of losing him and did not want him to harm himself, according to the court records.

Cowley's role at HCSO

Cowley is an 11-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Sources differ on the exact name of his unit. KPRC 2 reported he was assigned to a Crisis Intervention Response Team that pairs deputies with mental health clinicians. ABC13 and an earlier KPRC 2 report called it the Critical Incident Response Team.

A Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said in late October that Cowley had been placed on administrative leave with pay, according to Houston Public Media. He remains on leave as the investigation continues.

Expert: tactic is recognized form of manipulation

Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, told KPRC 2 that using the threat of self-harm to silence a victim is a recognized tactic among abusers.

Sanborn said cases involving authority figures are particularly troubling because children are conditioned to trust them. He urged parents to watch for sudden changes in a child's behavior, including withdrawal or a drop in school performance.

He also said parents should teach children one clear rule: if someone tells you to keep a secret, tell a parent right away.

Cowley remains on administrative leave from HCSO as the investigation continues. KPRC 2 reported that no public response from the sheriff's office addressing the specific affidavit allegations appears in the record.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.