Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Alexander Kristopher Cowley arrested, accused of child sexual abuse

Alexander Kristopher Cowley, an 11-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the Critical Incident Response Team, was arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to court documents obtained this week. Cowley, 40, was taken into custody following an arrest warrant signed on Wednesday, with the Texas Department of Public Safety acting as the investigating and charging agency. Harris County Jail records show he was booked on Wednesday and remained in custody as of early Thursday afternoon.

Court Appearance and Bond Decision

Cowley appeared before a judge on Thursday night, where the judge ruled that he be kept on a $500,000 bond and determined that he is a flight risk. Prosecutors had sought a $1 million bond, claiming that the suspect had stated previously that he would run away to England if he got caught. In addition to setting the bond, the judge issued a protective order against Cowley. Court records also note that Cowley had not yet been appointed a lawyer as of Thursday afternoon.

Harris County, Texas Deputy Sheriff Alexander Cowley arrested on child sex abuse charges.https://t.co/00a4TrgYcn

— https://x.com/TheTornadoNews/status/2115994613756612999

Allegations and Agency Response

According to records, Cowley is accused of sexually assaulting a family member—identified by a judge as a 13-year-old girl Cowley knew personally—over a period spanning from 2016 to 2024. Investigators state that he reportedly coached the victim to deny the abuse. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Cowley is currently on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of his criminal proceedings. Additional details regarding the case are being tracked as the legal process continues.