A 23-year-old Texas Department of Public Safety academy recruit, Messi Alek Berdeja, was taken into custody on March 4 after a judge signed a warrant accusing him of sexually assaulting a University of Texas student near West Campus. Berdeja faces a charge of sexual assault, a second-degree felony, and is currently listed in custody on a $35,000 bond.
According to an affidavit filed by the Texas Rangers and reported by KXAN, the woman told investigators she met a man who introduced himself as “Alek Trooper” at a Sixth Street bar around 2 a.m. The two later went to a West Campus apartment building. Investigators say phone records and text messages showed communication between the two both before and after the encounter, and officers collected the woman’s clothing and other items with apparent blood stains from the scene. The affidavit states that investigators found probable cause to believe Berdeja intentionally and knowingly sexually assaulted the woman.
What Investigators Allege
Court documents outline a series of alleged assaults that began outside the building, where the man is accused of pulling the woman into some bushes and digitally assaulting her. The affidavit further claims he exposed himself in a public area, then went into a women’s locker room, where the alleged assault continued even as she tried to push him away.
The filing says the woman later sent a message confronting the suspect, writing, “U knew I was drunk and u still forced urself on me.” Investigators say a sexual-assault nurse examination documented swelling, bleeding, and bruising on the victim, and that the suspect subsequently deleted the confronting text and blocked her number. All of those details are contained in the affidavit referenced by KXAN.
Legal Status and Next Steps
The charge is filed under Texas Penal Code §22.011, which defines sexual assault as a criminal offense. Under Texas law on felony punishment, a second-degree felony generally carries a potential prison term and possible fines; the exact range is set out in state statute. Any pretrial hearings and related filings will move forward in county court as the investigation continues.
Where the Case Stands
A judge signed the arrest warrant, and law enforcement officers arrested Berdeja on March 4. The case remains under investigation, and no attorney has been listed so far in publicly available court records. Upcoming court dates and filings can be tracked through the county’s online docket system. For the latest official case information, see the Travis County criminal dockets.
