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Bee Cave police arrest man for sex assault, indecency with child
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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UPDATE — Bee Cave police officers arrested Alexander Lee Wright, 22, of Austin for indecency with a child and sexual assault at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday.
Both charges are second-degree felonies.
The department is continuing its investigation into Wright’s activities and other charges may be filed, Bee Cave Police Chief Rusty Pancoast said.
Wright and the victim were acquaintances, but did not make contact through the Internet, Bee Cave Det. Ken Sidenblad said.
“We had the outcry from the victim and that led us to get a warrant for [Wright],” Sidenblad said, adding that police sought a quick arrest to ensure no other potential victims would be in danger.
Police booked Wright into the Travis County Jail on bonds totaling $1.4 million and are exploring the possibility that other victims exist.
“Based on the interview with [Wright] and on evidence we collected, we are checking to see if there would possibly be other victims,” Sidenblad said.
Wright was listed as a moderate risk on the Texas Registry of Sex Offenders, which reported he was convicted in 2001 for aggravated sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl and in 2003 for aggravated sexual assault of a 6-year-old. Neither incident occurred in Bee Cave, Sidenblad said.
He encouraged parents to be aware of their children’s interactions with persons familiar to them as well as strangers.
According to the registry, Wright was a student at Austin Community College and worked at Amy’s Ice Cream in the Hill Country Galleria.
Sidenblad stressed that the business had no involvement in the incident.
“The business itself had no impact on what he was doing. That just happened to be the place he was working,” he said.
Amy Simmons, owner of Amy’s Ice Cream, said the company conducts background checks through Public Data and contacts references before hiring an individual.
“In this case, because the [earlier] offenses occurred when this individual was a minor, it did not show up on his criminal background check. This situation did not occur to us,” Simmons said, noting that most businesses such as sandwich shops and ice cream shops do not conduct background checks.
She vowed to incorporate additional records into the company’s hiring process.
“In the future — and presently on all of our current employees — we will check the Department of Public Safety web site, which as I know now, even if a crime occurred when an individual was a minor, it will show up here,” she said.
“My No. 1 priority, and the company’s No. 1 priority, is people’s safety and happiness. The intent is to be perfect. Hindsight is 20/20, and as you can imagine I am beating myself up over this oversight,” Simmons said.
The store’s employees said they felt victimized and betrayed as well. Company officials spent four hours talking with the staff March 25 the day they learned of the alleged incident, Simmons said.
“[Wright’s] peers in the organization had no indication. I believe because of this experience and the opportunity we have had to openly discuss the issues and what we can further do to protect our employees and customers we are a better/safer organization today,” she said.
Two previous offenses and only “moderate risk”? And how was he able to work at a business that caters to children??????????? Outragious!!!!!!!!!!!
How many times does a person have to be arrested and convicted before we believe they are a serious threat?
CONVICTION of aggravated sexual assault, TWICE – how did this person ever pass employment screening at Amy’s?
This is unforgivable, but one must question what is a “child” doing out at 12 AM anyway, much less a school night!!
Unbelievable! Are they not checking who is working where? Like they are not allowed to live close to a school, they should not be allowed to work at these places. And …. where are the parents? I am not leaving my 9 year old alone in the shopping mall!
I thought this was a society of background checks. This is Terrible!
this is insane. I think its best they let him out on on bail at a well publicized place so the community can handle this predator;
That way we won’t have to worry about him hurting our children again .
[In} 2001 he was 13 and was out to recomit in 2003. who knows if he served any time at all.
This is a third sexual assault on a child what does it take here in Austin to take this crime seriously a death of a child?? Give me a break!
This is the third time I have heard type of incident in this area. Most recently at Bee Cave Park. The description was an older man, however. We all need to be diligent in supervising our children in public at all times. Sad, but an unfortanate truth!
that’s disgusting!!!
why is he out on the street after 2 friggin arrests!!!!!?
I’m with Peggy. What are they thinking? A nine year old and a six year old. This person is not a moderate risk to children. He is a absolute risk to children. With bail at $1.4 million hopefully he won’t be near any more children.
Where does a child go I they need to report and incident??
interesting post, raises interesting points
Issues for which I would actually like answers to. It turns out that several children I know were acquainted with this guy. We need answers to our questions!!!
Like really where do I go if I know someone he assualted sexually?
Ashley: you need to contact the police to report if someone has been assualted by him. And do it NOW, do not wait.
Is there any more news on what has happened??
It was my children he offended….and he should never be let out…he is a sick, twisted, dishonest, and manipulative…may he never see peace!
everyone deserves peace! maybe not in our eyes but in gods eyes he does! he tricked alot of people into thinking he was somebody else!
does anyone know what jail he is in?
Unfortunately, jails are so overcrowded he’ll probably be out soon.
God help us! Please capitalize God’s name…. It’s not only a proper name but, should show reverence as well.
Obviously this kid has some deep issues and needs professional help. The story indicates that he was approximately 12 when he assaulted a 9 year old girl and then roughly 14 when he assaulted the 6 year old.
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he was a child victim himself of some sexual attacks by adults during his childhood. I’m not trying to justify anything that he’s done, just wondering how a young man could keep violating young girls when he obviously knows that he’ll be punished when caught. We’d all be foolish to believe that these are the only 3 assaults he’s committed, but some past event(s) has probably led this young man to become what he’s become.