Court records allege the abuse of a teenage relative began in 2016, while the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.
HARRIS COUNTY, TX — A Harris County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child after authorities alleged he abused a teenage relative over a period of years, according to court records.
Alexander Kristopher Cowley, 40, was taken into custody after an arrest warrant was signed Wednesday, Oct. 28. Cowley appeared in probable cause court Thursday night, where a judge set his bond at $500,000. The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the case and is listed as the charging agency. Cowley has not been convicted, and the allegations against him remain subject to the court process.
Court records allege the abuse began in 2016, when the girl was 13, and continued over an extended period. News organizations reviewing the records reported that the allegations involve a relative of Cowley. The victim has not been publicly identified, and her specific relationship to Cowley is being withheld because of the nature of the allegations.
The records describe a series of alleged incidents beginning when the teenager was at home with Cowley. In one allegation, Cowley is accused of making inappropriate sexual contact with her. Court documents also describe other encounters in which he allegedly restrained her and attempted unwanted physical contact. The records say the alleged conduct later became more frequent and continued for years. Details are being reported in restrained terms to protect the victim and avoid unnecessary graphic descriptions.
During Cowley’s Thursday court appearance, prosecutors raised concerns about whether he could be a flight risk. Court records attribute a statement to Cowley indicating that he would flee to England if he were arrested. A judge referenced statements in the allegations while considering his bond. Prosecutors sought a $1 million bond, but the judge instead set it at $500,000.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Cowley is assigned to its Critical Incident Response Team. The agency placed him on administrative leave or administrative status pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. Records reviewed by local news outlets indicate Cowley began working for the sheriff’s office as a jailer in 2015 and became a deputy in 2017.
The investigation is being handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety rather than the sheriff’s office that employs Cowley. Court information presented during the probable cause hearing indicated the arrest appeared to be Cowley’s first. Authorities had not publicly announced any additional criminal charges as of Friday.
The case remains pending in Harris County. Cowley is accused of a crime but is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The sheriff’s office has not announced further personnel action beyond his administrative status while the criminal case proceeds.
Author note: Last updated October 30, 2026.