Ex-DPS trooper charged with sex abuse of child

Published 3:25 am Thursday, April 19, 2018

A Marshall resident and former state trooper who was stationed in Marshall and Marion County has been arrested and indicted on charges of sexual abuse of a child.

Louis Paul Weems, 33, was indicted April 6 by a Cass County grand jury, accused of continuous sexual abuse of a child, indecency with a child by contact and indecency with a child by exposure, according to Cass County District Attorney Randal Lee’s office.

Weems was arrested April 11 and released on $450,000 bond. He was fired after an investigation by the Texas Rangers regarding the allegations.

“Former DPS employee Louis Weems was originally suspended from his trooper position in November 2017 after allegations of misconduct, and a criminal investigation was launched by the Texas Rangers,” said DPS spokeswoman Sgt. Jean Dark. “The preliminary decision to terminate took place in early January, and that decision was affirmed on Jan. 22.”

Weems had been employed with the department since September 2008.

Dark said the findings of the criminal investigation were forwarded to the Cass County District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation determined Weems sexually abused a 6-year-old girl by repeatedly exposing himself to her and forcing her to touch his genitals, the DA’s office said.

“In 2009, the child victim and her mother were living with a friend. Weems was dating the friend and had almost daily contact with the victim,” the DA’s office said.

Cody Sartor, criminal investigator for the DA’s office, said as a result of this investigation and an additional investigation in another area, there might be additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cass County District Attorney’s Office at 903-756-7541.