ELLIS COUNTY — Five volunteer firefighters are off the job in Ellis County. They and one other person face serious charges for what investigators say they did to a recruit.
The Texas Rangers investigated what’s described as a hazing incident and sexual assault that happened in January at the Ellis County Emergency Services District No. 6 Volunteer Fire Department outside Waxahachie.
Rangers said the sixth person arrested in the case recorded the act on her cell phone.
In a community where volunteer firefighters are held in high regard, people here were caught off-guard by these allegations. Court records paint a picture of a party-like atmosphere at the station house while members of the department sexually assault a new recruit.
After being arrested Monday night, five Ellis County volunteer firefighters woke up in jail Tuesday morning. Each faces charges of aggravated sexual assault. All but one have bonded out.
- Alec Chase Miller, 28, of Waxahachie
- Casey Joe Stafford, 30, of Midlothian
- Keith Edward Wisakowsky, 26, of Waxahachie
- Preston Thomas Peyrot, 19
- Blake Jerold Tucker, 19
Court records say the volunteer firefighters first attempted to sexually assault the recruit using a broomstick. When that failed, they switched to a chorizo sausage.
Waxahachie resident Brittany Parten, 23, is charged with using her phone to document the sexual assault. Investigators say the participants can be heard “yelling and laughing with excitement” during the incident.
Reaction in Waxahachie was swift.
“How sad, very sad,” Trish Geer said. “I think that’s tragic.”
Richard Rozier, who served as president of the board that oversees the volunteer fire department until late last year, said he’s shocked and disappointed by the accusations.
“There was never any kind of indication that any of this kind of thing had happened or was happening,” Rozier said. “I think if we’d have known something like that going on […] action would have been taken obviously to stop it, and even deal with those who may have participated in it.”
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