Plumber accused of molesting 4-year-old girl at West U home

WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, Texas – A man is accused of molesting a 4-year-old girl while working as a plumber at a West University home two months ago.

Brandon Bonds, 23, was charged with super aggravated sexual assault of a child under 6 years old.

According to prosecutors, Bonds was working with another plumber at the home on Aug. 25. The girl’s father took the other plumber into another room to show him a problem, and the pair left a short time later, prosecutors said.

About 10 minutes after they left, the girl told her father that one of the plumbers touched her inappropriately with his mouth, prosecutors said. The girl provided both her father and investigators a description matching Bonds, prosecutors said.

The judge ordered Bonds held in jail on $50,000 bond and prohibited him from having contact with the girl.

The owner of the plumbing company said Bonds, who worked as an apprentice, was fire after the allegations surfaced. He said Bonds denied the allegations.

According to a statement from the Texas State of Plumbing Examiners, Bonds was registered as a plumber's apprentice in 2015-16, but the registration lapsed in 2016. The board is investigating the incident to determine if any violations occurred.

The full statement from the Texas State of Plumbing Examiners is as follows:

"These allegations are deeply troubling, and our thoughts are with the family as they continue coping with this ordeal. To be clear, the alleged perpetrator is not a plumber, and has never been licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners to perform plumbing. This incident though underscores the Board's mission to ensure that individuals entering the homes and businesses of Texans are competent and not a threat to the public's health, safety and welfare.

The alleged perpetrator for a short time in 2015-2016 was registered with the Board as a Plumber's Apprentice. A Plumber's Apprentice receives training in the plumbing trade from a Master Plumber, and, at all times while assisting in the installation of plumbing, must be supervised by a licensed Texas plumber. However, that registration lapsed in 2016. The alleged perpetrator had no legal right to engage or assist in plumbing in this state at the time this alleged incident occurred. Investigation of this matter by the Board is ongoing to determine whether violations of the state's plumbing laws occurred. Violations of the state's plumbing laws can result in prosecution of the individual or the plumbing company involved.

Concerned citizens seeking plumbing work should demand to see the plastic color-coded pocket license or registration card of every individual visiting their home or business to perform or assist in plumbing work, and verify their current license or registration status with the Board. Texas law requires that all individuals licensed by or registered with the Board to perform or assist in plumbing work carry with them a plastic pocket card reflecting their name, the type of license or registration held, their assigned license or registration number, and expiration date. The type of license or registration held also determines the color of the card.

The Board encourages all Texans to demand the plumbing services of a licensed plumber, and to feel empowered to require all individuals claiming to be a plumber to present their Board-issued plastic license card. Texans shopping for plumbing services may visit our website, located at www.tsbpe.texas.gov, and determine an individual's license status. The website offers additional information about the different types of licenses and registrations issued by the Board, and the scope of work each may perform."