A Dallas police officer was arrested this week on one count of aggravated sexual assault of a minor and two counts of indecency with a minor, the department announced Wednesday.
Officer Brennon Wilkinson, 28, was arrested Monday by Arlington police in connection with the allegations. Tim Powers, Wilkinson’s attorney, told The Dallas Morning News who has been working on the case for about a month and “the evidence to me shows that he is innocent of these charges.”
Read also: Dallas officer suspended for writing ‘aim better’ after Trump attack
He said the allegations relate to an incident that occurred when Wilkinson was 18 and returning home for Christmas after serving in the U.S. Army. Powers said he believes there is a “hidden agenda” behind the charges, but he did not elaborate on why.
Latest news today
“I think at the end of the day he will be found completely innocent,” Powers said. “It’s a false allegation.”
Arlington police spokesman Tim Ciesco said Denton County authorities alerted the department that a suspect connected to a sexual assault case in Little Elm may be in Arlington.
In addition: Dallas police officer charged with shooting into neighbor’s apartment
Officers found Wilkinson in the 2600 block of Vanessa Circle, near South Bowen Road, and took him into custody without incident, Ciesco said. He was booked into the Tarrant County Jail, where he remained on bail set at $200,000, according to jail records.
Aggravated sexual assault of a minor is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison or life in prison. Indecency with a minor (sexual contact) is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Indecency with a minor (exposure) is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Wilkinson was assigned to the North Central Patrol Division and has been with the department since January 2020, Dallas police officials said.
Wilkinson remains on administrative leave pending investigation.
On Wednesday, the department also announced the unrelated arrest of a Dallas police officer facing a misdemeanor family violence charge. Master Corporal Raneen Bazzi is on administrative leave, police officials said.
Subscribe to Al Día’s newsletter to receive a summary of North Texas news
