Former Leon County sheriff’s deputy faces life in prison over child sex abuse allegations

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CENTERVILLE, Texas (KBTX) – A former Leon County sheriff’s deputy faces the next 25 years in life in prison if convicted after being charged with multiple child sexual abuse in 2020.

Robert Joe Stanford, who served as a jailer and peace officer in Leon, Madison and Walker counties for the past eight years, is now on the other side of the law.

He is accused of committing two or more acts of sexual abuse which occurred at least 30 days apart and is charged with one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, which carries a penalty of from at least 25 years to life imprisonment.

According to the indictment, Stanford allegedly inappropriately touched a child under the age of 14 on multiple occasions between January and June 2020.

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A personal status report from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) reveals that during this time he was employed with the Buffalo Police Department and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Records indicate that Stanford also worked at the Normangee Police Department as a peace officer and at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office as a jailer.

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In 2021, he accepted a deputy position with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

Stanford was arrested this month in Leon County while still employed there as a deputy.

A booking report obtained from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office shows he was released the same day after posting a quarter-million dollar bond.

According to Stanfords TCOLE service record, he received training in identifying victims of exploitation, missing children and human trafficking throughout his career.

Leon County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed that the Texas Rangers were called in to investigate the allegations, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is pursuing the case after Leon County District Attorneys have recused themselves.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), division of the Texas Rangers, confirmed to KBTX on Thursday that it conducted an investigation and submitted its findings to the Montgomery County prosecutors office, but declined to comment on those findings.

At the request of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and with their assistance, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Ranger Division, conducted an investigation into this case and submitted its findings to the District Attorney’s Office. .

For more information on this, we refer you to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office will not release any additional information related to Stanford’s case or employment. TCOLE’s records show that his service with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office ended on June 20, however, the Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed this information.

According to Montgomery County prosecutors, Stanford is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement confirmed to KBTX that it had not received a report regarding Stanford’s arrest. However, their rules allow up to 30 days to make this report. They also noted that disciplinary action is usually taken after the court has ruled on the case, except in specific circumstances involving arrests or felony charges.

Editor’s Note: To protect the identity of the survivor, we are withholding details that have been made public in this case.

Copyright 2023 KBTX. All rights reserved.

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