HOUSTON — A former deputy for the Harris County Pct. 4 Constable's Office has been indicted for sexual assault and official oppression.
The grand jury indicted Richard Cornejo, who worked as a patrol deputy before he was fired in November 2018.
Cornejo, 37, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman while on duty.
Prosecutors said Cornejo was on duty driving a marked patrol unit when he found a woman sleeping in a car outside an after-hours club in July 2018.
Cornejo found a small amount of marijuana in the woman's car, then offered to follow her home, where she was assaulted, prosecutors said.
“He had a duty to protect the public,” District Attorney Kim Ogg said. “He instead used his badge to commit the crime of rape.”
Cornejo faces up to 20 years in prison for rape and up to one year for official oppression.
He was arrested Thursday and remains in jail on a $105,000 bond.
Prosecutors said the after-hours club, Palacios, was later closed for numerous drug and liquor violations.
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