Sex Offender Claims Deputy Took Advantage

DECATUR, Texas (CN) - A North Texas sheriff's deputy abused his position to fondle and take nude photos of a registered sex offender, the man claims in court.

John Doe sued Wise County and its Deputy Chad Hightower on Dec. 23, in Wise County Court. Wise County is northwest of Fort Worth.

Doe claims that Hightower called him by telephone in December 2013 and told him that photos taken of him for the Texas sex offender registry "were not satisfactory because of a glare, and that John Doe was required to come to the Sheriff's Department to have the photographs retaken."

Doe, who says he had pleaded no-contest several years before to sexual contact with a minor, says he went to the sheriff's station, where Hightower met him.

Hightower took him into a bathroom, Doe says, and told him "that under a new Texas law applicable to those registered as sex offenders, he was required disrobe entirely and permit nude photos to be taken of his genitalia."

Doe says he felt he had no choice, and that "Deputy Hightower then took nude photographs of John Doe's genitalia."

But it didn't stop there, Doe says.

He claims that Hightower then told him "that he needed photographs of John Doe's erect penis and asked him if he could become erect. John Doe responded to Deputy Hightower's command by informing Deputy Hightower that he could not become erect under the circumstances. To this Deputy Hightower replied by asking John Doe if he could become erect if Deputy Hightower placed his hand on John Doe's penis, to which John Doe responded that he could not. Deputy Hightower then placed his hand on John Doe's penis. When John Doe did not become erect, Deputy Hightower permitted him to leave."

Doe claims that according to media reports, Hightower "has committed similar wrongful acts under similar circumstances against other individuals over a period of at least several months."

Doe says Hightower was allowed to retire from the sheriff's department, but has been charged with improper photography, a felony.

Doe seeks punitive damages for assault, illegal detention, invasion of privacy and negligence.

He is represented by Lance Pool with the Steckler Law Group in Dallas.

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