Three Howe, TX, Firefighters Charged with Sexual Encounters with Junior Member
Sexual encounters with a junior firefighter have led to criminal charges against three Texas firefighters.
The alleged incidents occurred in 2022 while the 16-year-old was a junior member of Howe Volunteer Fire Department.
Two were placed on leave from their full-time jobs at the Allen and Irving Fire Departments while another resigned from the Melissa Fire Department hours before his arrest, WFAA reported.
The three firefighters were arrested last week.
Howe Firefighter David Perez-Glass, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting the underage girl repeatedly between January 2022 and January 2023. the incidents occurred at the fire station and a storage facility, charging documents revealed.
Perez-Glass, who allegedly threatened to kill the victim if she told anyone about the incident, was charged with three counts of sexual assault by a child. He remained in jail Monday.
Court documents also revealed that when a Howe firefighter, a witness to the abuse, complained to officers about Perez-Glass' "inappropriate sexual advances" she was chastised for "jumping the chain of command."
She left the department after the meeting while Perez-Glass was named firefighter of the year.
Once Irving Fire Department officials learned of his arrest, they placed him on leave.
Last month, Howe Fire Chief Robert Maniet resigned, city officials confirmed.
No details of his departure were announced.
Another Howe firefighter, Dalton McCaslin, who also had a sexual relationship with the teen, was charged with three charges of sexual assault of a child. He posted bond and was released Friday.
His employer, the Allen Fire Department, placed him on leave.
Howe Firefighter Joshua Ryals was charged with two counts of indecency with a child. After allegedly kissing the girl and asking her to touch him, he reportedly told her: "You're 16, what am I doing?"
Hours before he was arrested, he resigned from the Melissa Fire Department.
Howe Director of Public Safety Jake Sullivan wrote in a statement: "There was immediate attention and response" upon learning of the allegations..."
The Howe Police Department turned the investigation over to the Texas Rangers.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.