Harris Co. deputy accused of lying to officers

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy has been fired after being accused of lying to investigators about his contact with a woman he met while responding to a call.

Holmes Canovas, 46, is charged with making a false statement to a peace officer. He is out of jail on a $500 bond.

According to the state's complaint against him, an adult female reported Canovas treated her inappropriately after he met her during a call for service at her home in Katy. When internal affairs investigators questioned him about it, he first denied it. Then an hour and 40 minutes later, he changed his story -- admitting, the court document says, he had visited the woman's house three times, "engaging in kissing and other sexual contact."

"We must be able to rely on police officers to tell the truth. When an officer makes a false statement in a criminal investigation it undermines public trust in police officers and the criminal justice system," said Harris County District Attorney's Office Civil Rights Division Chief Julian Ramirez.

Canovas was terminated in May, according to a Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

He had been with the department for 17 months and was assigned to the patrol division.

Canovas declined to comment for this story. If convicted, he could spend up to six months in jail and face a fine up to $2,000.