Published: March 03, 2008 10:34 am      

Lake area business owner booked

Cook charged with sexual assault of a child

KAUFMAN — A Gun Barrel City businessman was arrested Feb. 22 by the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force — and indicted by a grand jury on the same day — on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to Sgt. Richard Gaddis of the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department.

It was the second time in less than four months, and in two different counties, that Curtis Edward Cook, owner of Cedar Creek Vision in Gun Barrel City, has faced such charges.

Cook posted a $40,000 bond after being arrested on aggravated sexual assault of a child charges in Henderson County last November.

That case is pending a grand jury ruling.

On the latest charges, Cook was out on bail Monday, Feb. 25, after posting $150,000 in bonds — $50,000 on each of the alleged three incidents, according to the grand jury indictment.

Cook was arraigned in Judge Howard Tygrett’s 86th District Court on Feb. 22.

Cook was back at his business last Tuesday when the Cedar Creek Pilot attempted to contact him for comment. An employee, after a brief consultation with Cook, returned to the telephone and said, “There will be no comment.”

The U.S. Marshal’s Task Force in this area is comprised of law enforcement officials in the northern district from the Terrell, Forney and Kaufman County sheriff’s departments.

The alleged incidents — including those in Henderson County — are reported to have occurred last October and November.

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Charles Stiff contributed to this story.