Ex-Wichita County sheriff's deputy back in jail on weapons charges

A former Wichita County sheriff’s deputy on probation for violating the civil rights of female prisoners went back to jail.

Brett Alan Brasher, 52, was arrested Tuesday on three charges of possessing firearms in violation of the probation terms of a felony conviction.

Brasher was being held Wednesday in Wichita County Jail in lieu of $110,000 bail, according to online jail records.

If he is convicted, Brasher could end up serving prison time. Anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.

Sheriff David Duke said his office received complaints that Brasher was firing guns on some property in rural Wichita County.

Duke also said Brasher had filed a report with the Wichita Falls Police Department that some guns he owned had been stolen from a camper on land where he hunted deer.

“He’s a convicted felon. He’s not supposed to have any firearms,” Duke said.

The sheriff said his office also got a complaint that Brasher shot a couple of dogs near his home.

Duke said a search warrant at Brasher’s house turned up four firearms and some ammunition. He said more charges related to firearms are likely to be filed.

Brasher, a deputy who volunteered to work in the women’s section of the Wichita County Jail, was charged in February 2022 with official oppression and civil rights violations against some of the women inmates, according to court records. The following September a grand jury added a charge of compelling prostitution.

In total, Brasher faced 13 criminal charges, but in February 2023, he entered a plea arrangement in 30th District Court to have some of the charges dismissed in exchange for guilty pleas to others.

Thirtieth District Judge Jeff McKnight convicted Brasher, placed him on probation for five years total and suspended prison sentences that could be as long as 10 years. He was also required to surrender his Texas peace officer’s license for life.

A conviction for a probation violation could lead to re-imposition of the prison time.