A Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, according to county court records. Alexander Kristopher Cowley, 40, was charged on Thursday, the records show.
Harris County Jail records show Cowley was booked on Wednesday and remained in custody as of early Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office said in a statement that Cowley has been placed on administrative leave with pay. He has worked for the department for 11 years.
As of Thursday afternoon, Cowley had not yet been appointed a lawyer. Details about the allegations against him were not immediately available.