Board to discuss VFD future after sex assault scandal

ELLIS COUNTY — The Ellis County Emergency Service District #6 board will meet Monday evening to discuss the future of the volunteer fire department currently under scrutiny after five fire fighters were arrested last week for aggravated sexual assault and the top two brass were arrested for allegedly covering up the incident.

A meeting, open to the public, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13 at the ESD #6 VFD building located at 1816 FM 66 in Waxahachie.

The board will discuss retaining an interim fire chief, if needed.

Additionally, members of the board will discuss ESD #6 VFD's future with the Emergency Service District, discuss cancellation of the relationship with the fire department and discuss other ways to provide other fire prevention and fire fighter services to citizens within the district's boundaries.

According to the published meeting agenda, "Any individual may address the Emergency Service District Board of Commissioners on relevant issues affecting the District, after completing the proper form, for not more than 5 minutes. Any comment from a member of the public requiring deliberation or decision, the District Board will not comment or deliberate except as authorized by section 551.042 of the Government Code. The Secretary must receive the filled out request 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the Regularly Scheduled Meeting."

Click here to read the full meeting agenda.

Firefighters Lt. Keith Wisakowsky, 26; Lt. Alec Miller, 28; Blake Tucker, 19; Casey Stafford, 30; and Preston Peyrot, 19; were arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault on Monday, April 6. Their bonds were set at $75,000 each. Brittany Leanne Parten, 23, was arrested and charged with improper photography or visual recording. Her bond was set at $25,000.

Fire Chief Gavin Satterfield (left) and Assistant Chief Billy Getzendaner (right) were arrested for tampering with witnesses in an alleged sexual assault incident that netted five fellow volunteer firemen.

Chief Gavin Satterfield, 31, and Assistant Chief Billy Getzendaner, 34, were arrested Thursday, April 9 for tampering with a witness, a first degree felony, related to the incident. Their bonds were set at $40,000 each.

The charges stem from a sexual assault complaint filed with Deputy Corporal Joshua Atilano with the Ellis County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, March 31.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit signed by Ellis County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Curtis Polk on April 2, a sworn complaint filed by Texas Ranger Adam Sweaney states the incident took place on January 20 at the Ellis County Emergency Service District #6 Volunteer Fire Station located at 1816 FM 66 in Waxahachie.

Chief Satterfield is claimed to have said the incident was "funny shit" after watching video of the alleged assault.

On Thursday, April 9, three days after the arrests of the five fire fighters and following the arrests of the top two brass the same day they were arrested, the board held an emergency meeting in which the board voted unanimously to suspend Chief Satterfield and Assistant Chief Getzendaner.

The board also voted to have Ellis County Fire Marshal Joe Stewart oversee the remaining firefighters.

Top (left to right): Keith EdwardWisakowsky, Alec Chase Miller, BlakeJerold Tucker.Bottom (left to right): Casey Stafford, Preston Peyrot, Brittany Parten.

In graphic detail, the arrest affidavit for one of the five accused firefighters states, "John Doe #72 stated that on 01-20-2015, (Blake) Jerold Tucker, Casey Joe Stafford, and Keith Edward Wisakowsky bent him down over a couch and held him face down. Keith Wisakowsky left to retrieve a package of chorizo sausage from a refrigerator. (Blake) Tucker and Casey Stafford held him down and pulled his pants down exposing his anus. Keith returned and inserted the foreign object (chorizo sausage) inside his rectum causing him pain. John Doe #72 stated that the chorizo sausage was removed from his anus and cut out of the package with a knife by Keith Wisakowsky. John Doe #72 stated that Keith Wisakowsky gave the chorizo sausage to Blake Tucker who then attempted to place the sausage back into his rectum but it did not penetrate him. John Doe #72 stated he was then released and he crawled into a nearby bathroom with the smashed up sausage still in-between his butt cheeks and threw up. John Doe #72 stated he removed the sausage from his butt cheeks and took a shower to clean up. While John Doe #72 was taking a shower an unknown person took his clothing from the bathroom. John Doe #72 stated he exited the bathroom in a towel looking for his clothes and Blake Tucker took his towel causing him to have to cover his genitals with his hands. John Doe #72 stated he ran out of the building to his vehicle to retrieve some shorts."

According to the affidavit, Ranger Sweaney and Ellis County Criminal Investigator Joe M. Fitzgerald interviewed witness and participant Preston Thomas Peyrot.

"During the interview Peyrot said he retrieved a wooden stick "broom stick" and gave the "broom stick" to Keith Wisakowsky. Preston Thomas Peyrol explained this was the first object they tried to use to stick into John Doe 72's rectum. Peyrot said Blake Jerold Tucker, Casey Joe Stafford, Keith Edward Wisakowsky and he continued to hold John Doe 72 down and put the "broom stick" under his pants and in-between his butt cheeks. The broom stick did not penetrate his anus. During the concert of the act one (1) of the parties said "I have something better" and went to the refrigerator and returned with the chorizo sausage," the affidavit states.

Additionally, Ranger Sweaney obtained cell phone video of the incident recorded by Parten.

"All the parties are seen on video and overheard yelling and laughing with excitement," the affidavit states.

According to Peyrot's Facebook page, he began working as a volunteer firefighter at ESD #6 VFD in January. According to Lt. Wisakowsky's LinkedIn account, he began volunteering at the department in February 2011. A photo on the ESD #6 VFD Facebook page shows Lt. Miller receiving the Officer of the Year award in December 2014.

The arrest warrant affadavits for Chief Satterfield and Assistant Chief Getzendaner states, ""As a result of these acts, Emergency Services District #6 Chief Gavin Lawrence Satterfield and ESD #6 Assistant Chief William "Billy" Getzendaner held a private meeting at the ESD #6 Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Satterfield and Assistant Chief Getzendaner held the meeting inside their office. The prospective witnesses (Blake) Jerold Tucker, Casey Joe Stafford, Keith Edward Wisakowsky, Preston Thomas Peyrot, Alec Chase Miller, and (victim) John Doe #72 said Assistant Chief Getzendaner laughed and chuckled stating he saw the video and made the statement, "This is funny shit." John Doe #72 stated that Assistant Chief Getzendaner followed his statement up with, "We can't be sticking chorizo up John Doe #72's butt."

Assistant Chief Getzendaner is accused of telling the victim not to do anything about the incident and directing the accused to delete the video and keep their mouths shut.

"John Doe #72 said the prospective witnesses and Assistant Chief Getzendaner laughed at his comments together. John Doe #72 stated that Assistant Chief Getzendaner informed the prospective witnesses that John Doe #72 could do something to "us" and looked at John Doe #72, and said, "But you're not going to." John Doe #72 realized neither Assistant Chief Getzendaner nor Chief Satterfield were going to take any disciplinary actions towards the actors. Assistant Chief Getzendaner told the prospective witnesses that this could be Sexual Assault, to keep the knowledge of the sexual assault in-house, delete the video, and keep their mouths shut," the affidavit continued.

"During the interviews of the prospective witnesses, (Texas) Ranger (Adam) Sweaney and Investigator (Joe M.) Fitzgerald were informed that Assistant Chief Getzendaner and Chief Satterfield advised the actors and the victim, that if they did not heed their instructions to withhold information regarding the sexual assault from person(s) outside of the ESD #6 Fire Department, there would be consequences because law enforcement would investigate this as a Sexual Assault."

Peyrot and Miller both were interviewed by investigators and admitted to the alleged sexual assault according to an affidavit.

The individuals were booked into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center and have since bonded out.