Less than two weeks after being arrested on a charge of sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl, Bastrop County Sheriff‘s Office Lt. Eddie Matthews has resigned.
The 45-year-old Matthews officially tendered his resignation on March 5, according to Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering.
Pickering said an internal investigation into the allegations against the law enforcement officer were under way and that “Eddie resigned before the internal investigation was completed.” Prior to his stepping down, Matthews had been placed on paid administrative leave.
Matthews was arrested on Feb. 26 by Texas Ranger Brent Barina and charged with continuing sexual abuse of a child. Barina was able to obtain an arrest warrant for Matthews from 423rd District Judge Christopher Duggan after a joint investigation was initiated between the sheriff’s office, the Bastrop County District Attorney’s Office and the Children’s Advocacy Center following allegations of the sexual assault from the girl’s family.
According to a complaint affidavit, the mother of the alleged victim noticed Matthews playing inappropriately with her daughter as early as March of 2009. The mother reportedly confronted Matthews who denied any misconduct.
In October of 2009 the mother again observed Matthews sexually assaulting her daughter, according to the affidavit. During subsequent interviews at the Children’s Advocacy Center, it was alleged that Matthews had repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl over the last year and at least twice since last October, according to the complaint affidavit.
In a press conference on Feb. 26, Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering acknowledged Matthews had previously been arrested while employed with the sheriff’s office. Bastrop County District Attorney Brian Goertz subsequently told reporters all records associated with Matthew’s prior arrest(s) have been expunged and are no longer available.
A press release issued from the sheriff’s office the same day said that “it is important for the public to note that this crime appears to have been ‘isolated’ in that it was perpetrated against a single victim, that the victim was not a stranger to Mr. Matthews and that Mr. Matthews did not use his position in law enforcement to assist in perpetrating the crime.”
When asked on Monday if and how investigators are certain the incident allegedly involving Matthews was isolated, Pickering declined to comment and deferred to the Texas Rangers Office. “I am not at liberty to discuss the criminal investigation,” Pickering said.
Lisa Block, a Texas Department of Public Safety public information officer said “the investigation is ongoing so we don’t have any details at this point.”
Continuous sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony punishable from 25 to 99 years or life in prison.
Matthews is currently free on bond.