News Summary
Cedar Park, Texas, is preparing to defend itself against a $5 million lawsuit related to serious allegations against former police officer Keco Motton. The victim claims Motton sexually assaulted her while on duty, and further allegations suggest that the police department failed to investigate prior complaints involving Motton. As additional victims come forward with similar accusations, the city aims to establish its defense, citing that current efforts may be an attempt to shift blame away from the alleged perpetrator.
Cedar Park, Texas is preparing to defend itself against a potential lawsuit following serious allegations against former police officer Keco Motton, who was arrested in May 2023 for allegedly sexually assaulting a domestic violence victim while on duty. The city has received a “notice of demand” letter from the victim’s attorneys seeking a settlement of $5 million.
The allegations against Cedar Park police extend beyond a single incident. There are accusations that the police department “systematically” failed to investigate previous complaints of sexual assault related to Motton. A spokesperson for the city stated that Cedar Park will mount a defense, contending that the focus on the city is an attempt to shift blame away from the perpetrator.
According to court documents, the incident in question occurred while Motton was working as a patrol officer responding to a disturbance. He engaged with the victim and later arranged to meet her at a community park. During their meeting, Motton allegedly requested the victim take photographs of her thigh injuries, which led him to touch her inappropriately. Reports indicate that he also followed the victim to a nearby business and suggested she check for bruises in the restroom, where he attempted to induce her to lower her pants.
Motton served with the Cedar Park Police Department for over ten years before his resignation, which limited the city’s ability to investigate or discipline him effectively. Following his resignation, Motton took his own life at a residence in Killeen, Texas. During an investigation by the Texas Rangers, Motton reportedly admitted his guilt when questioned.
Further complicating the allegations, an attorney representing the initial victim claimed that multiple other women have come forward with similar accusations against Motton. Reports suggest that four additional women have also alleged sexual assault by the former officer, including one incident that took place years before during a domestic violence investigation involving her son.
The victim who originally filed the complaint had previously contacted the city’s internal investigators about her concerns but felt that her complaints were disregarded. Cedar Park’s leadership maintains that they acted quickly by placing Motton on administrative leave and initiating an independent investigation as soon as the allegations surfaced.
Attorneys for the victims argue that there has been a longstanding culture of indifference within the Cedar Park Police Department regarding sexual assault cases, pointing to a pattern in how such allegations have been handled. The city, however, contends that it is being targeted for financial compensation instead of pursuing the estate of the perpetrator.
As the matter progresses to court, Cedar Park has declined to provide further comments. This case has highlighted the critical concerns regarding law enforcement accountability and the handling of sexual assault allegations, raising questions about past practices and future policy changes within the Cedar Park police department.
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Additional Resources
- CBS Austin
- Wikipedia: Cedar Park, Texas
- KVUE
- Google Search: Cedar Park lawsuit Keco Motton
- FOX 7 Austin
- Google Scholar: Cedar Park sexual assault case
- KXAN
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cedar Park Texas
- MSN
- Google News: Cedar Park sexual misconduct
