DPS trooper accused of sexual assault in Palo Pinto County

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper gave alcohol to a teen and then performed a sex act on her last month at his Mineral Wells home, according to an affidavit obtained by the Star-Telegram on Tuesday.

After the incident, trooper Terry Lockridge pulled out a firearm, pointed it at his own head, and told the girl he would kill himself if she ever told anyone about the sexual assault, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Lockridge, 33, a six-year veteran of the DPS, was arrested Friday in Palo Pinto County and accused in the sexual assault. He remain in custody and was fired Tuesday from the DPS.

The affidavit gives this account:

The girl, an acquaintance of Lockridge, was with him Dec. 26 at his Mineral Wells home. He gave her alcohol, and she became intoxicated. Lockridge rubbed her legs, took off her panties and performed a sex act on her, the affidavit states.

After it was over, the girl ran to a bathroom and cried. Lockridge followed her into the bathroom and told her not to tell anyone about the sexual assault, according to the affidavit.

The girl asked for her phone, but Lockridge refused to give it to her.

Lockridge then began to yell, cried and pulled out a firearm. The girl tried to get the weapon away from him, but she couldn’t.

Lockridge threatened to kill himself, but the girl eventually left.

The girl told her mother what had happened Dec. 31.

Texas Rangers arrested Lockridge on Friday and booked him into the Palo Pinto County Jail. He was later taken to the Parker County Jail in Weatherford.

He was moved to Parker County to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, because he had been stationed in Palo Pinto County, Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer said Tuesday.

Lockridge was suspended after his arrest and fired Tuesday. He joined the DPS in September 2009 and had been stationed in Mineral Wells, officials said.

He is in the Parker County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, facing a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to jail records.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 10:15 AM.