A former officer at the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility in Mart has been charged with official oppression after an alleged assault on a youth in custody.

Desmond Bridges, 46, of Harker Heights, was named in a sealed indictment issued April 2, 2026. The indictment alleges that Bridges struck a juvenile, identified in court records by the initials “J.J.,” in the torso with his hand in October 2025 while acting as a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional officer.

Bridges was arrested May 5 and released the following day after posting $4,000 bail, according to KWTX. Official oppression is a Class A misdemeanor under the charge described in the report.

The Office of Inspector General referred the case to the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office for review. An indictment is an accusation, not a finding of guilt, and Bridges is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The facility is operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, not the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. That distinction was misstated in the original automated draft and has been corrected.

Source: KWTX — indictment and arrest details.