Officer accused of releasing woman in exchange for sex

(9/11/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- A Houston police officer is in trouble, accused of stepping outside the law he is supposed to uphold. We've learned the officer was arrested after a woman came forward, claiming he offered to let her go during a traffic stop if she performed a sex act.

The woman, who now claims she's a victim, first gave her statement to HPD internal affairs. In it, she said she was driving down Mykawa near Hobby Airport when officer William Archer pulled her over for speeding. After running her plates, he found outstanding traffic warrants and said he didn't have to arrest her. Then the 36-year-old woman told the officer she'd take care of those warrants.

"He told her that's not what he had in mind and she said, 'You're talking sex.' And he said, 'Well, you've got to say that. I can't say that'," said Harris County Assistant DA Warren Diepraam.

The DA's office says the conversation led to sex acts inside the police cruiser.

"She's in the back of a patrol car. She's under arrest. The officer has a gun, a uniform and he has complete and total control over her," said Diepraam.

The alleged victim went to internal affairs. Prosecutors say she preserved some of the evidence from the scene and tests found that evidence on her clothing and in the seat of the police car. They are waiting for DNA tests to see if they can link it all to Archer.

Eyewitness News tried to contact Officer Archer at his home Monday night, but no one came to the door. His attorney, Brett Ligon with the Houston Police Officers Union, says Archer pleads not guilty.

"Often times, the public needs to know that a lot of times officers are cleared of criminal conduct and unfortunately, sometimes there's enough evidence to proceed on," said Ligon. "But between the DA and PD, every allegation of misconduct is looked at."

If convicted, Archer could be fired from the Houston Police Department and spend up to two years in prison. Archer has been an HPD officer for five years.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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