TEMPLE, Texas — A Temple police officer is behind bars after he was accused of having sexual contact with a child, according to court records.
Cpl. Brandon Lyn Mathiews, 38, was taken into custody Wednesday after the Bell County grand jury returned three felony indictments against him, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office said.
An investigation into the allegations began in November after someone reported to police that Mathiews was involved in criminal activity, the Temple Police Department said in a press release.
According to court documents, Mathiews had contact with at least one minor “with the intent to arouse or gratify (his) sexual desire” by “touching his genitals,” court documents said.
Upon the start of the investigation, Temple Police chief Mitchell requested that Mathiews resign, but Mathiews refused, according to police.
Mathiews was immediately placed on paid investigatory leave and was stripped of his physical and remote access to the department and its records management systems, the department said.
Following the grand jury decision, Mathiews was placed on unpaid investigative leave, the department said. He will remain on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation’s disciplinary process or the final outcome of the criminal case, according to the department.
Mathiews is a 14-year veteran who joined the force in October 2014. He has been assigned to the criminal investigations unit, crime scene, and evidence unit.
In November 2014, the Temple Police Department featured Mathiews in a Facebook post honoring his accomplishments.
"Detective Brandon Mathiews graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Forensic Science in 2003. Brandon joined the Temple Police Department (in) 2004, completed the basic police academy, and following graduation from the Field Training Program, Officer Mathiews was assigned to a night shift patrol team," the post said. "Detective Mathiews subsequently transferred to the General Investigations Unit where he now has the opportunity to utilize his degree by specializing in crime scene investigations and forensic processing."
The department also included Mathiews' personal message in the post.
“Two wolves battle inside us all. One good and one evil; the one that wins is the one you feed the most” – Cherokee Proverb," the post said.
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