A Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputy was taken into custody and subsequently resigned in the wake of accusations that he sexually assaulted a minor, officials reported. The former deputy, identified as 42-year-old Landon Slatter, is facing charges of sexual assault of a child and online solicitation of a minor, following an investigation that started in January. Click2Houston revealed that Slatter had been a part of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office for 15 years before his immediate resignation upon arrest.
The investigation was triggered by a concerned parent's report to the Montgomery County Pct. 3 Constable’s Office, alleging that their 17-year-old son had been sexually abused by several men he encountered on social media. According to details provided by KHOU, the abuse is thought to have started when the boy was between 14 and 15 years old. During the probe, which was part of an operation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, detectives from the Human Trafficking Unit discovered Slatter had set up a meeting with the victim and solicited a sexual encounter while he was under 17.
Slatter's arrest occurred at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Conroe, and his bond was subsequently set at $100,000. "Upholding the trust and safety of our community is not just a responsibility, it is a duty we take seriously. The actions of one individual do not define the dedication and integrity of the men and women who serve honorably in this agency," Sheriff Wesley Doolittle stated, as reported by Click2Houston.
The sheriff's office notes that Slatter's actions do not reflect the agency's overall commitment to integrity, while the investigation continues as detectives search for additional suspects related to the case. Slatter's court date has not been announced, and authorities indicate that more charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.
