Counselor Arrested For Sexually Assaulting 13-Year-Old Patient With Autism: Police

Police in Dallas, Texas, arrested a 60-year-old counselor last week for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old patient.

The counselor, identified as Troy Jefferson Welty, allegedly sexually assaulted the young girl at his office in the 3000 block of Hood Street in the Dallas neighborhood of Oak Lawn on Oct. 29, the Dallas Morning News reported, citing an arrest-warrant affidavit from Dallas police.

The victim had an appointment with Welty on the morning of Oct. 29 and reported the alleged assault to her mother immediately afterward, the girl's sister told police.

According to the victim's sister, the 13-year-old girl is diagnosed with autism, epilepsy and hydrocephalus — a buildup of fluid in the brain — and has the mental capacity of an 8-year-old.

The mother immediately reported the matter to local police, and Welty was arrested later that day.

The victim told detectives during an interview that the counselor allegedly pulled down her pants and sexually assaulted her, according to the affidavit.

Welty was booked into Dallas County jail but has since posted $50,000 bond.

A look at the profile of Welty on Psychology Today showed that he is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in treating children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities and behavioral problems.

Welty did not have any disciplinary history, and his license remains active, according to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

Last month, a North Texas man who was on probation was sentenced to life in prison for committing child sex offenses and not following the rules that would have allowed him to stay free, KWTX reported.

Christopher Mabe, of Dallas, was convicted on two charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He pleaded guilty in 2018 to sexually abusing two minor girls from when they were about 8 years old until they were 10.

Mabe was already 20 years old when the girls disclosed the abuse and was charged as an adult. However, the parents of the victim gave him a chance at rehabilitation since he committed the offenses when he was a teenager.

However, Mabe did not follow most of the required conditions of his 10-year community supervision, including failing to comply with the sex offender registration, consuming alcohol and illegal substances, being unsuccessfully discharged from sex offender treatment, violating child safety zones and being in the presence of minors.

During his revocation hearing, Ellis County officials testified that Mabe minimized the abuse perpetrated on the two girls and that he failed to take full responsibility for his criminal conduct.

It was revealed during the hearing that Mabe told police he knew he was going to get revoked so he decided to do what he wanted anyway.

A judge found Mabe to be guilty and sentenced him to two consecutive life terms.