Posted 12:27 am Saturday, April 14, 2012
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Ex-Bullard Officer Gets 8 Years For Sex With Teen
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
A former Bullard police officer Friday pleaded guilty and received an eight-year prison sentence for having sex with a Bullard High School student in 2009.
Judge Jerry Calhoon, of the 241st District Court, sentenced Steven Wayne Morris, 28, on a charge of sexual assault of a child, and said he would have to pay court costs and restitution to the victim, who was 15 at the time of the assault.
Staff Writer
A former Bullard police officer Friday pleaded guilty and received an eight-year prison sentence for having sex with a Bullard High School student in 2009.
Judge Jerry Calhoon, of the 241st District Court, sentenced Steven Wayne Morris, 28, on a charge of sexual assault of a child, and said he would have to pay court costs and restitution to the victim, who was 15 at the time of the assault.
“You will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life,” Calhoon told Morris as he pronounced sentence. Defense attorney Bobby Mims represented Morris.
Calhoon was sitting in for Judge Jack Skeen Jr. this week while Skeen is involved with the selection of prospective jurors for a capital murder case.
Morris’ August 2010 arrest came after a four-month investigation by Texas Rangers. The defendant confessed to having sex with the student in the back seat of the student’s vehicle in the summer of 2009, according to Texas Ranger Sgt. Brent Davis’ arrest affidavit.
Calhoon was sitting in for Judge Jack Skeen Jr. this week while Skeen is involved with the selection of prospective jurors for a capital murder case.
Morris’ August 2010 arrest came after a four-month investigation by Texas Rangers. The defendant confessed to having sex with the student in the back seat of the student’s vehicle in the summer of 2009, according to Texas Ranger Sgt. Brent Davis’ arrest affidavit.
Davis stated in the affidavit that the Bullard Police Department had asked him to assist when accusations surfaced in April 2010. He confessed during questioning later in August 2010.
Bullard Police Chief Gary Don Lewis had said Morris had been suspended while the investigation was under way.
Weeks later, Morris was fired after he was “less than truthful” during an interview about the teenager’s allegation, Lewis said.
Davis stated that the teen told authorities she and Morris communicated by cellphone, and that led to her going to the officer’s home, where the two had sex in front of his house in her car.
Davis said Morris said he did not know the teen’s age but did know she was a Bullard High School student and had seen her there while on school-patrol duty.
Morris was being held Friday in the Smith County Jail on a $350,000 bond, which Skeen reduced in September to $100,000 so Morris’ family could obtain his release.
Bullard Police Chief Gary Don Lewis had said Morris had been suspended while the investigation was under way.
Weeks later, Morris was fired after he was “less than truthful” during an interview about the teenager’s allegation, Lewis said.
Davis stated that the teen told authorities she and Morris communicated by cellphone, and that led to her going to the officer’s home, where the two had sex in front of his house in her car.
Davis said Morris said he did not know the teen’s age but did know she was a Bullard High School student and had seen her there while on school-patrol duty.
Morris was being held Friday in the Smith County Jail on a $350,000 bond, which Skeen reduced in September to $100,000 so Morris’ family could obtain his release.
