A former Progreso police officer accused of sexually assaulting two prisoners in his custody will likely go to trial in early March.
Matthew Lee Sepulveda is accused of sexually assaulting prisoners on two separate occasions while he served as a police officer with the Progreso Police Department.
The two assaults — allegedly against a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old teen — occurred less than two days apart in the summer of 2019.
The assaults first came to light when the 20-year-old man made an outcry to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office just hours after being released from police custody on June 29, 2019.
During the course of their investigation on that case, sheriff’s investigators found evidence in the form of jail surveillance video that showed Sepulveda may have assaulted another prisoner. Investigators identified the teen boy, who confirmed that Sepulveda had assaulted him.
The Monitor does not identify victims of sexual assault.
According to affidavits from both the man and the teen, Sepulveda took them into custody after minor traffic violations. Once at the Progreso city jail, Sepulveda allegedly performed oral sex on them.
In late July of that year, sheriff’s deputies jailed Sepulveda on multiple state charges of sexual assault, official oppression and violating the civil rights of a person in custody. He was later released on bond.
In October 2019, Sepulveda was again taken into custody — this time by federal agents — on civil rights charges.
According to the two-count indictment handed up by the federal grand jury, Sepulveda is accused of sexually assaulting the two victims “while acting under color of law,” and willfully depriving them of due process, “which includes the right to bodily integrity.”
Count two of the indictment also states that that deprivation of rights “resulted in bodily injury, and included aggravated sexual abuse, attempted aggravated sexual abuse, and kidnapping.”
Sepulveda has remained out on bond since November 2019.
Federal prosecutors estimated it will take approximately one to two days to present their case against Sepulveda.
Meanwhile, Sepulveda’s attorney, Mauro L. Reyna, asked for additional time to secure a DNA expert.
“I was a little disappointed that you didn’t already have this expert given I gave you several months to get him,” Crane said.
A moment later, both Reyna and the prosecutor agreed a March trial date would work, unless Sepulveda chooses to change his not guilty plea.
“If you all work it out before then, please let us know … otherwise, at this point, you’re up first in March,” Crane said.
Court records show jury selection has been set for March 2.
