MARION – Two people are facing multiple charges after Williamson County Sheriff’s Investigators disrupted a jailhouse conspiracy to extort the dismissal of felony charges and receive a financial “payday.”

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office says Alexis D. Horton and Nathan D. Behrens are lodged in the Williamson County Jail for Conspiracy to Defraud a Governmental Entity – a Class 3 felony, Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice – a Class 4 felony, Filing a False Police Report – a Class 4 felony and Obstruction of Justice – a Class 4 felony.

Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop around 6:40 a.m. on Aug. 5 which resulted in the arrest of Behrens and Horton, who are both prior convicted felons. They were arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine (15-100 grams), Possession of Controlled Substance, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. During the traffic stop Deputies recovered a handgun, methamphetamine, and controlled substance.

While there was no previous complaint filed with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 1, Williamson County Investigators became aware of a letter being circulated on social media. The author of the letter suggests that an assisting deputy on the traffic stop, “reached his hand inside the female’s panties and inserted a finger into her vagina.”

A subsequent investigation into the incident, including interviews of both Horton and Behrens, has discovered an elaborate plan by the suspects in this case. Investigators have uncovered a conspiracy to extort the dismissal of felony charges and an attempt to receive a financial “payday”.

The false allegations of misconduct, and more egregiously the offense of sexual assault, is something that law enforcement takes very seriously. Video reviewed by investigators show the retrieval of contraband, but in no way demonstrates any inappropriate conduct.

While Horton had bonded out of jail and Behrens remained in the custody of the Williamson County Jail on the current charges as well as a Department of Corrections hold for violation of his parole, investigators reviewed jail telephone communications between the two.

These recorded telephone conversations unveiled an elaborate plan to levy false allegations of inappropriate contact against a deputy with the expectation of using it to seek the dismissal of criminal charges and to financially gain through civil litigation.

Investigators conducted interviews of both Horton and Behrens which resulted in at least one confession by the female that the alleged conduct never occurred and that it was intended to get charges dismissed and result in a financial “payday”.

As a result, Horton and Behrens were reunited at the Williamson County Jail on the charges we mentioned at the beginning of this story.

Sheriff Jeff Diederich stated, “In Williamson County if you commit a crime, you will be held accountable. Attempts to levy false allegations will not result in the dismissal of your pending charges but rather the addition of more charges.”

The deputy who is the subject of this false allegation is a decorated military veteran and a highly respected member of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

“The attempt by these convicted felons to falsely discredit this Deputy is unacceptable and resulted in considerable time and resources being expended at the taxpayers’ expense. I will be forwarding a summary of these direct costs to Williamson County State’s Attorney Ted Hampson and seeking restitution from these Felons on behalf of the taxpayers,” said Sheriff Jeff Diederich.

The men and women of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office are held to the highest standards, and we are committed to keeping our community safe, identifying criminal activity, and protecting our residents, visitors, and their property.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank State’s Attorney Ted Hampson for his assistance.

If you have any information concerning this or any other investigation, please contact the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at 618-997-6541 or the Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 800-414-TIPS (8477).

Your information is important, and all callers may remain anonymous.