Former Texas police chief sentenced for forcing suspects into sex acts at gunpoint
The former acting police chief of Olney was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison for threatening a robbery suspect at gunpoint and forcing suspects to perform sex acts on each other.
Robert Michael Cross, 35, surrendered to federal authorities Monday after spending the last several weeks with his mother in Plano.
Cross had pleaded guilty in October to deprivation of rights under color of law following an investigation by agents with the FBI’s Dallas office.
Cross was sentenced in a federal courtroom in Wichita Falls.
“The city of Olney deserves police officers with respect for the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas in a news release. “Instead, this defendant abused his power, stripping citizens of their dignity for his own perverse ends. We are gratified he has been held to account for his despicable behavior.”
Olney is about 115 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
In addition to his sentencing, after he’s released, Cross will be on supervised release and he must attend mental health treatment and sex offender treatment services, according to federal court records.
Federal court documents gave this brief account of the investigation:
In November 2017, Cross — who was then acting Olney police chief — arrested two people on suspicion of aggravated robbery.
Cross later coerced the suspects to engage in conduct for Cross’ benefit. In exchange, Cross promised to have the criminal case against them dismissed.
On Dec. 20, 2017, Cross met with the suspects, picked them up in his vehicle and drove them to Wichita Falls, where they had dinner and watched a movie. Later that evening, Cross brandished a pistol at and threatened one of the suspects.
The Graham Leader reported that when the two suspects were with him in his vehicle, Cross made the front-seat passenger perform a sexual act on his other passenger while sexually assaulting the front-seat passenger at the same time. He then drove the two suspects to their home.
Cross was arrested in March 2018 on a charge of official oppression, and released on $2,500 bond. He also resigned his position with Olney that same month.
He was arrested again in May 2018 on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sexual assault.
“Law enforcement officers are responsible for upholding the law and protecting their communities from harm,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno in a news release. “The defendant used his position of authority to prey on vulnerable individuals and exploit them for his personal gain.”
