HOUSTON – A Fort Bend County Precinct 1 deputy constable is accused of soliciting a prostitute while in uniform and in a marked vehicle, investigators said.
William A. Gamez, 29, has been charged with public lewdness.
Undercover officers were conducting a sting operation in the 10000 block of Bissonet on Jan. 30 when they observed a deputy in a marked patrol car talking to what appeared to be a prostitute, according to court documents.
The woman got into the patrol car with the deputy, and undercover officers followed the patrol car to several different locations before it stopped in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 10100 block of Forum Park.
The deputy then got out of the driver's seat and into the back seat with the woman, investigators said.
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After several minutes, the deputy got back behind the wheel, turned on the emergency lights of his patrol car and drove off with the woman. He then dropped her off at a gas station on Bissonet at Woodfair, then sped off.
Officers were not able to catch up to the deputy, but were able to find the woman and questioned her.
The alleged prostitute, who was 23 years old, told investigators that she was paid $40 in exchange for a sexual favor.
When detectives tracked down and interviewed Gamez, he admitted to being in the area with the woman. He said he was not necessarily looking for a prostitute, but wanted to talk to the girls in the area and "see if something led from that," according to documents. Gamez admitted to driving the woman to the parking lot, getting in the back seat with her and pulling his pants down, but said he decided against having a sexual encounter with the woman after spotting a white SUV in the parking lot. He believed he had been followed.
Gamez told investigators he knew that he made a mistake and was sorry for his behavior. He was terminated the next day.
Official charges were filed against Gamez on April 23 and a warrant was issued.
Bond for Gamez was set at $1,000.