A Bruceville-Eddy police officer was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child and prostitution of a minor after he allegedly arranged sex with a teenage boy.
Nathaniel Lawrence, 32, was booked into the McLennan County Jail on Jan. 26 and is being held on a $40,000 bond, according to online records.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators were contacted about a possible domestic minor sex trafficking victim who was at the McLane Children's Hospital.
Hospital staff told the investigator that a boy was possibly receiving financial benefits from adult men in exchange for sexual acts.
The teenage boy told the investigator he was receiving money or goods in exchange for sex after meeting men on a phone app. With the victim's permission, the investigator observed communications with a phone number where a man was asking questions such as "when can we hook up again?"
At this time, the victim stated "oh the police officer."
According to the affidavit, the boy said he met Lawrence on the app and Facetimed twice before meeting him.
The affidavit states around Thanksgiving night, Lawrence picked the boy up from his residence and the two drove to a desolate road where they had sexual intercourse.
With the victim’s permission, the investigator posed as the boy, using his phone to exchange messages with a phone number registered to Lawrence, according to the affidavit.
During the exchanges, Lawrence indicted he wanted to engage in intercourse with the minor again.
The affidavit also states, "it should be noted, upon viewing the child, it is apparent he is a minor."
