GROVETON — A former Trinity County Animal Control Officer will spend 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to the first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Brandon Daniel Furman, 53, pleaded guilty to the charge Dec. 2 before John Wells III, 411th District Court judge.
Sheriff Woody Wallace said Furman was employed by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the offense, which occurred in June of this year.
“His conduct was a grave betrayal of the trust placed in him by this office, the residents of Trinity County, his family, and most of all his young victim,” Wallace said. “This office is deeply sickened by his actions. We are grateful that this painful matter has reached its conclusion.”
The plea agreement was made in consultation with the victim’s family so the child would not be required to endure the emotional and embarrassing burden of testifying in open court, he said.
Furman, 53, was arrested in early July after the Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the crime, which was said to have occurred over a short period of time this year.
Precinct 2 Constable Mark Cole investigated the complaint as Furman was a county employee in order to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
Furman was immediately removed from duty and placed on administrative leave, and following the investigation, the arrest was made.
