DOJ Employee Arrested in Texas for Allegedly Drugging Girlfriend
Local authorities report that a Department of Justice employee was arrested in Texas on Friday, accused of spiking his girlfriend’s drink.
Justin Anthony Banta, 38, who works at the Bureau of Prisons, is facing serious charges including capital murder, tampering with physical evidence, and altering Parker County Sheriff’s Office announcements, as revealed in a press release on Monday.
According to police, Banta’s girlfriend had expressed a desire to have a baby but also suggested buying abortion pills online. It is alleged that he provided these pills on the same day she had a six-week doctor appointment.
The release mentions that on that same day, the girlfriend saw Banta at a coffee shop in Tarrant County. She grew suspicious that he may have added abortion-inducing pills to her drink without her knowledge. The following day, she experienced severe fatigue and heavy bleeding, which prompted her to go to the emergency room. Tragically, she reported losing her baby on October 19th.
Banta works as the chief of the network management department at the Gran Prairie Office Complex in Gran Prairie, Texas.
BOP director William K. Marshall, III, emphasized in a statement, “Let me be clear: people wearing Prison Bureau uniforms are held to the highest standards. The men and women who work hard in corrections deserve respect, while those who abuse their authority will be held accountable.”
Marshall further stated, “We will use all necessary authority and tools.”
Investigators believe that Banta may have attempted to erase evidence by performing a remote reset of his phone after a department recording.
Banta’s attorney, Michael P. Heskell, told a news outlet that the accusations have caused significant stress. “He continues to assert his innocence, having cooperated with investigators fully, even allowing them to seize his cell phone. These are just allegations, and Justin looks forward to clearing his name in court,” Heskell stated.
The Parker County Sheriff’s Office did not offer immediate comments on the matter.
