A Dallas County Animal Control Officer is in custody and being charged with four sexual abuse charges, following his arrest by the Selma Police Department Monday evening.

Christopher Allen Triplett, 43, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of second-degree sodomy with a female under the age of 16-years-old. He is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail under a bond totaling $120,000.

According to Lt. Curtis Muhannad with the Selma Police Department, Triplett reportedly formed a relationship with the female juvenile who was working at the Selma Animal Shelter under the summer youth work program.

“Mr. Triplett formed a relationship with the juvenile, which led to sexual encounters between the dates of June 18 and June 29,” Muhannad said. “He would pick up the juvenile and transport her to locations in Sardis to perform these sexual acts.”

The charges are all Class B felonies.

Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard said Tuesday afternoon that Triplett was fired by the Dallas County Commission and they are beginning work now on posting the job description.

“After learning of the charges, it was a quick decision to let him go,” Ballard said. “We hope to have the job description up very soon and have started the process of hiring someone for that position.”

The county’s animal control officer is under the control of the Dallas County Commission and works in conjunction with the city of Selma.