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Former Acting Police Chief Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
A former police chief in the small Texas town of Olney has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for threatening a man at gunpoint. Robert Michael Cross, the 35-year-old former acting chief of police, pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law in October.
According to court documents, Cross coerced two individuals into engaging in conduct for his own personal benefit after arresting them for aggravated robbery offenses. He promised to have their criminal cases dismissed if they complied with his demands.
About a month after the arrest, on Dec. 20, 2017, Cross brandished a pistol, threatening one victim with bodily injury and coercing the victim to engage in sex acts with another individual. This act willfully deprived the victim of the Constitutional right to be free from unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office and the Texas Rangers conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Boudreau is prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor handed down the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox praised the sentence, saying, ‘The city of Olney deserves police officers with respect for the rule of law.’ She added, ‘Instead, this defendant abused his power, stripping citizens of their dignity for his own perverse ends.’
FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno also weighed in on the sentence, stating, ‘Law enforcement officers are responsible for upholding the law and protecting their communities from harm. The defendant used his position of authority to prey on vulnerable individuals and exploit them for his personal gain.’
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. As the FBI continues to investigate and prosecute cases of police misconduct, the public can rest assured that justice will be served.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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