NewsWhore
04-12-2007, 03:30 PM
Former Hutto High police officer charged with photographing girl (http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/04/12/12hutto.html): "A police officer assigned to Hutto High School asked a 16-year-old student last month to take off her clothes while he photographed her in his office and even paid her $50, according to an arrest affidavit.
George Wesley Helms, 35, was fired from the Hutto Police Department last month after police were tipped off that he had taken inappropriate photos of the girl, Hutto police said. After a monthlong investigation, police arrested Helms on Tuesday and charged him with sexual performance of a child, a second-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Officials would not say whether the pictures were taken on campus or whether there were any other victims.
Hutto schools Superintendent David Borrer said Helms had an office on the high school campus, but Borrer didn't know whether that was where the girl was photographed. Borrer said Helms had worked as the resource officer at Hutto High School for two years.
The affidavit said that Helms took several dozen photos of the girl in his office March 6 but that she was clothed.
The next day, the student returned, and Helms asked again if he could photograph her, according to the affidavit.
This time, according to court documents, Helms put a chair in front of his office door and asked the girl to remove her shirt, bra and pants.
He then photographed her topless and gave her $50 "to induce her to stay a little longer," the affidavit states.
A third party told police about the photos later that day, and Helms was fired from the department on March 9.
"He seemed like a very personable man that had great interaction with the students," Borrer said. "He came across as trustworthy, but we certainly had our trust violated."
Hutto Police Chief Harold Thomas would not comment on the case. Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley confirmed that the victim was a student but would not comment further.
"Our policy is that we don't discuss the details beyond the affidavit because we do not want to influence the case," Bradley said.
Helms had no previous criminal charges and was released from jail Wednesday after posting $50,000 bail. " http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=5Yvzk3H1</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=5Yvzk3H1) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=fU7H70TQ</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=fU7H70TQ) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=eczRNWbT</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=eczRNWbT) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=hJ2sPq4f</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=hJ2sPq4f)
More... (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Sxxxyorg/~3/108588673/former-hutto-high-police-officer.html)
George Wesley Helms, 35, was fired from the Hutto Police Department last month after police were tipped off that he had taken inappropriate photos of the girl, Hutto police said. After a monthlong investigation, police arrested Helms on Tuesday and charged him with sexual performance of a child, a second-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Officials would not say whether the pictures were taken on campus or whether there were any other victims.
Hutto schools Superintendent David Borrer said Helms had an office on the high school campus, but Borrer didn't know whether that was where the girl was photographed. Borrer said Helms had worked as the resource officer at Hutto High School for two years.
The affidavit said that Helms took several dozen photos of the girl in his office March 6 but that she was clothed.
The next day, the student returned, and Helms asked again if he could photograph her, according to the affidavit.
This time, according to court documents, Helms put a chair in front of his office door and asked the girl to remove her shirt, bra and pants.
He then photographed her topless and gave her $50 "to induce her to stay a little longer," the affidavit states.
A third party told police about the photos later that day, and Helms was fired from the department on March 9.
"He seemed like a very personable man that had great interaction with the students," Borrer said. "He came across as trustworthy, but we certainly had our trust violated."
Hutto Police Chief Harold Thomas would not comment on the case. Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley confirmed that the victim was a student but would not comment further.
"Our policy is that we don't discuss the details beyond the affidavit because we do not want to influence the case," Bradley said.
Helms had no previous criminal charges and was released from jail Wednesday after posting $50,000 bail. " http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=5Yvzk3H1</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=5Yvzk3H1) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=fU7H70TQ</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=fU7H70TQ) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=eczRNWbT</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=eczRNWbT) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?i=hJ2sPq4f</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Sxxxyorg?a=hJ2sPq4f)
More... (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Sxxxyorg/~3/108588673/former-hutto-high-police-officer.html)