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IPFS News Link • Police Accountability Report

Texas Woman Suing DPS After Roadside Cavity Search

• http://thelibertybeat.com-John Bush

As reported by KPRC Houston, Jennifer Stelly and her boyfriend Channing Castex were pulled over for speeding in Brazoria County in March  2013.  Stelly's boyfriend was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car after he admitted to having smoked marijuana.

According the Stelly,  after the female trooper arrived, "She started going into my clothing and she penetrated areas that I don't wish to disclose at this point.  I was scared. I was violated. I didn't know what to do."  The cavity search took place on the side of the busy highway while  in view of the dashcam.

This isn't the first time the Texas DPS has come under fire for violating women in this regard.  In July of 2012, Angel Dobbs and her niece Kelly Dobs had their "anuses and vaginas" penetrated by trooper Kelly Helleson on the side of the highway in Dallas, TX.

Angel and Kelly Dobbs sued the DPS and were awarded $185,000.  Trooper Helleson was fired and charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of official oppression.  She pleaded guilty to the charge of official oppression and was given two years of probation and a $1,000 fine.  In exchange for the guilty plea, the sexual assault chargers were dropped.

It remains to be seen if Jennifer Stelly's suit will have the same outcome as the Dobbs' case.  Victims and police accountability activists in Texas are hoping that troopers losing their jobs and more women suing the same department for the same egregious violation will help put a stop to the practice.


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