EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Officials with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office confirmed Monday they were notified by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Rangers Division that a Pct. 4 Deputy is under investigation regarding an alleged incident that was reported to have occurred while he was off-duty around Sept. 27.
A woman identified as 22-year-old Ashley Applegate claims the deputy pulled her over and tricked her into getting into the front of his patrol car under the guise of viewing a screen that would show an outstanding warrant for her arrest. Applegate alleges the deputy then forced her to perform oral sex with the threat of going to jail.
Immediately after the alleged encounter, Applegate said she fled to a relative’s house and called 911. Investigators swabbed her mouth for evidence, she said.
Applegate has a criminal history as do some of her family members, which she felt the deputy believed would create a credibility problem for her if she reported the alleged incident.
Pct. 4 is cooperating with the Texas Rangers and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation.
The long-time deputy constable was part of the administration of former Pct. 4 Constable Travis Bishop, joining the agency in 2002. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as is standard practice.
No charges have been filed against the deputy as of this writing. If or when that occurs, the deputy will be identified and his photograph will be posted on this website.
