HOUSTON – A police officer from Galveston is out of a job and facing charges, accused of sexually abusing a young girl.
Jason Howell Ener, 37, has been charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of sexual assault with a child in Galveston County. Port of Galveston Police Chief Bob Pierce said Ener served as a patrol officer with the agency for about seven years, but was terminated Thursday.
The charges against Ener follow an investigation that began with another man's arrest in Galveston County. Dustin Day, 27, was arrested for online solicitation of a minor after a sting operation in Conroe.
According to court documents, Day unknowingly texted an undercover police officer and admitted to having sex with a 14-year-old girl in Galveston.
The information was relayed to the Galveston Police Department, which started its own investigation. Galveston County Assistant District Attorney Adam Poole told Local 2 there were actually two 14-year-old victims, one allegedly abused by Day, and the other allegedly abused by Ener.
"Through investigating that and talking to that victim, they developed information about the other child victim with Mr. Ener," said Poole.
Poole described Day and Ener as acquaintances.
According to court documents, Ener admitted to having sex with the girl four or five times over the last two to three years.
"He did admit to these types of allegations and of course these victims are always interviewed by professionals at the Child Advocacy Center and she disclosed the same thing that he had admitted to," said Poole.
Day remains jailed in Montgomery County on the online solicitation charge. A sexual assault of a child charge has also been filed against him in Galveston County.