FORMER HEAD OF DRUG TASK FORCE ACCUSED OF THEFT, SEX HARASSMENT

The former commander of a Lampasas-area drug task force faces charges
involving sexual harassment and theft.

Jackie Cox surrendered to authorities Monday and was released on $6,000 bond.

He is accused of sexually harassing a woman during a narcotics
investigation and of taking more than $11,000 in cash and property from the
task force office, officials said Wednesday.

Cox, the former commander of the Rural Area Narcotic Task Force, was
indicted Dec. 9 on charges of official oppression, theft and tampering with
evidence.

The allegation of verbal sexual harassment stems from an incident in
mid-November, said Larry Allison, Lampasas county and district attorney.

The woman was in a house where another person was arrested, he said.

When authorities began investigating the allegation, an audit revealed that
more than $11,000 in cash and property was missing from the task force
office, according to a Lampasas County sheriff's department report.

The cash and property had been seized as evidence during drug investigations.

Cox, who resigned Dec. 9, has since returned the majority of the money and
the property, the report said. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

His attorney, Buck Harris of Killeen, declined to comment.

Cox was commander for the task force for about four years, Allison said.

The task force conducts drug investigations in Lampasas, Hamilton, Erath,
Mills and Comanche counties.

(You may contact Claire Osborn at cosborn@statesman.com or 445-3630.)