Former Godley police chief faces new sexual assault charges: DA’s Office
A former Godley police chief has been arrested on new charges after being accused of using his authority to harass and sexually assault a woman.
Mathew Cantrell faces additional charges of sexual assault as the investigation into his involvement in a prostitution scheme with multiple other suspects is ongoing, according to Johnson County jail records. He was arrested on Tuesday, May 5, on the two counts of sexual assault.
Cantrell allegedly started harassing the woman, who he assisted during an investigation at her home, in 2012, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by KDFW-TV.
The affidavit alleges Cantrell sent the woman text messages, drove past her residence and flashed the lights of his police car, touched her inappropriately and made sexually explicit comments toward her.
The ex-chief is accused of having other Godley police officers pull over the woman when she had done nothing wrong, FOX 4 reported. The officers were told that the victim was an informant for Cantrell, which she denies, the affidavit states.
After the woman felt that she had no other option, she engaged in sexual intercourse with Cantrell in July 2016 to stop the unwanted advances, according to the affidavit. The bond for his sexual assault charges is set at $100,000, jail records show.
Mathew Cantrell was initially arrested last month in connection with his involvement in a prostitution scheme and soliciting a man to engage in sexual activities with Cantrell’s wife in exchange for money, according to an affidavit previously obtained by the Star-Telegram.
He was arrested again on Monday, April 27, on a charge of organized criminal activity with a bond set at $500,000.
Mathew Cantrell’s mother, Regina Cantrell, was also arrested on Monday, May 4, and accused of reviewing her son’s arrest warrants while the investigation was ongoing, the District Attorney’s Office confirmed.
Regina Cantrell, who worked as a correction officer at the Johnson County Jail, faces a charge of misuse of official information, according to the DA’s Office.
“We still do not have an anticipated date of conclusion for this investigation, but when we can provide additional information without the possibility of compromise, a comprehensive press statement will be released,” the DA’s Office told the Star-Telegram in a statement on Wednesday.
6 arrested in Godley prostitution scandal
Last month, authorities in North Texas arrested multiple suspects including former Godley officers for their alleged involvement in the prostitution scheme.
Cantrell is accused of collaborating with Michael and Ashley Ketcherside to compile information on Godley public officials and private citizens who they “perceived as adversaries.”
Ashley Ketcherside, accused of prostitution, faces a charge of racketeering/unlawful debt collection. Her husband, Michael Ketcherside, who was initially arrested on a charge of continuous promotion of prostitution also faces an additional charge of racketeering, according to Johnson County jail records.
Former police officers Solomon Omotoya and Jeremy Arbuthnot were also arrested in the case. Omotoya faces a charge of soliciting prostitution and Arbuthnot faces charges of organized criminal activity, according to jail records.