Texas police officer in rape case faces civil rights charge

SAN ANTONIO - A San Antonio police officer charged with sexual assault in the alleged rape of a woman in his patrol car while on duty is also facing a federal civil rights charge in that case.

Jail records show 40-year-old Officer Jackie Len Neal was booked Wednesday night and freed Thursday on $10,000 bond. The charge involves improper sexual activity with a person in custody. 

Neal was arrested Nov. 23 on a sexual assault charge the day after a 19-year-old woman said she was raped during a traffic stop. Neal was freed on bond following the initial charge.

Neal has been on paid administrative leave since then.

MySanAntonio.com reports the officer denied the assault charges through his attorney.

According to an arrest affidavit, Neal asked the woman to step out of her vehicle after tailing her for several blocks around 2 a.m. on November 22. The affidavit says Neal told the woman her vehicle had been reported stolen. The document says the woman provided the officer with a receipt of the recently purchased vehicle, but the officer asked her to step out of the car to be patted down.     

The affidavit says that Neal then placed the woman in handcuffs and raped her in the back of his police car.

Police Chief William McManus says there's no such thing as consensual sex while on duty.