Records reveal details of police officer's sexual assault charges

By Christie Post  and James Clark

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Jason Hignight, 32, resigned as a Lubbock police officer shortly before detectives arrested him Tuesday evening. Hignight is charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child.

"We police our own. And when something like this happens we handle it aggressively and that's why I'm here today. We're out in front of this," said Captain Greg Stevens, Lubbock Police Department.

According to the police reports, Hignight's two adopted daughters, ages 16 and 12, were interviewed by police about the allegations after the mother of the girls brought them to the police department.

According to an arrest warrant, Hignight's wife walked in him exposing himself with one of the victims. The 16-year-old victim told police that the sexual assaults have been going on for three years.

That same victim said in the warrant Hignight had been "feeling on her, they have had sex, and she has given him oral sex." She advised it occurred when Hignight was off of work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

In the warrant, the 16-year-old victim described one incident where "she had her head under a blanket and was giving him [Hignight] oral sex." She said a 12-year-old family member saw this incident. She told police it occurred repeatedly in many locations around Lubbock, including their current residence.

"You sit back and you think is there something we missed that we could have seen," said Stevens.

The 12-year-old victim told police in the warrant Hignight would usually touch her inappropriately when they were watching movies. She said her mother was not present when the sexual abuse happened.

"When something like this crops up from the criminal side and the administrated side, time is an essence when you begin investigating, because you have to get at it as quick as possible because you have victims you have to look after," said Stevens.

According to Hignight's Facebook page Hignight had an interest in foster care. In the picture from Facebook dated April 2009, Hignight commented that he was planning on adopting six children. LPD told us there were five children living in the home as of yesterday.

Hignight has been a Lubbock Police Officer since January 4, 2010 and police said he was still on a probationary status. The human resources section of the City of Lubbock's website says that an employee of the department has a probationary period of either 12 to 18 months starting on the first day of employment. His probationary period would of ended July 4, 2011.

LPD said they do an extensive background check on every incoming officer. "It's exhaustive, there's a polygraph exam. There's a lot of things in place. But the process in any profession, they're not fool proof," said Stevens.

Captain Greg Stevens said police learned of the accusations Tuesday afternoon around 2:30pm, and Hignight was arrested at about 9:30 PM that same day.

Stevens added that this is an ongoing investigation and no other details can be made available at this time.

Hignight is in jail on a $200,000 bond.

We learned Wednesday that the two adopted daughters are with Hignight's wife who is not in contact with her husband.