A Tarrant County juvenile probation officer is behind bars after allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct with a minor in her care, authorities revealed Tuesday.
Alexandria Venable, 34, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and three counts of improper sexual contact with a person in custody. Her bond has been set at $100,000, according to jail records.
The allegations have sent shockwaves through the county’s juvenile justice system. Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare didn’t mince words about the situation: “If the allegations are proven true, punishment should be swift and severe,” he stated. “Tarrant County is a place of law and order, and this matter will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
How did authorities discover the alleged misconduct? According to investigators, the case broke open following a tip to Tarrant County Crime Stoppers last month. During a subsequent interview with an officer from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s inspector general’s office on January 2, Venable reportedly admitted to the sexual contact.
Disturbing Details Emerge
The arrest affidavit paints a troubling picture. It details sexual conversations conducted over the phone and multiple instances of sexual contact with the juvenile at the Tarrant County Juvenile Probation Center, according to footage of the investigation.
Venable has since been terminated from her position. Judge O’Hare confirmed her dismissal while announcing a broader investigation into safeguards for juveniles in custody. “A thorough review must ensue to ensure the absolute best safeguards are in place to make sure nothing like what has been alleged happens to anyone else in Tarrant County custody, especially not to a juvenile,” he emphasized.
The case raises serious questions about oversight and protection of vulnerable youth within the juvenile justice system. Official inmate records list the charges as “AGG SEXUAL ASSAULT CHILD” and “SEXUAL CONT/INTRCRSE W/JUVENILE FACILITY/TJJD,” with the arrest occurring on January 12, 2026.
Child welfare advocates have long pointed to power imbalances in correctional settings that can lead to exploitation. This case appears to represent exactly the kind of abuse of authority that such critics have warned about.
“I look forward to getting a report in short order on what is being done to make sure everything legally possible is in place to protect those in custody,” Judge O’Hare added, signaling that the investigation may lead to systemic changes beyond this individual case.
The criminal investigation remains ongoing, with authorities yet to announce whether they believe there may be additional victims. For now, Venable remains in custody as the case moves toward prosecution.
