John Van Trump, 68, appeared before a judge in a courtroom he's all too familiar with. Ironically, the former Harris County Sheriff's sergeant used to process records for this court.
Van Trump was arrested Friday morning, accused of sexually assaulting a girl younger than six years old on or before July 2010. His charge is considered a super crime. The details of the alleged attack are too gruesome to publicly share.
"This is a new law in Texas that's patterned after Jessica's Law. And if people remember Jessica, she was a young lady that was sexually assaulted years ago in Florida," KTRK legal analyst Joel Androphy said.
Androphy says if convicted, Van Trump could face a minimum sentence of 25 years in jail and a max sentence of life in prison.
"Unfortunately, we are going to see a lot more of these super charges because there's a lot of sick people, but the statute is in place to keep people like this, that have committed these crimes, in jail for a long time," Androphy said.
Van Trump retired from the Harris County Sheriff'S Office after serving for about 35 years. The department doesn't believe he committed any crimes while on the force.
"When you hear a police officer committing a crime as heinous as this, the you wonder how this gentleman ever served under the public for that many years without being noticed for peculiarities," Androphy said.
Van Trump will remain in jail without bond.
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