Former APD commander indicted on sexual assault and official oppression charges

A Travis County special grand jury on May 5 returned an indictment charging former Austin Police Department Commander Wade Lyons with sexual assault, a second-degree felony, and official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.

The charges against a former commander come amid ongoing public attention on how Travis County handles cases against law enforcement officers. District Attorney José Garza’s office has pursued charges against a number of officers in recent years, an approach the DA has publicly defended and that law enforcement organizations have publicly criticized.

An indictment is a grand jury’s finding that a case should proceed to court; it is not a finding of guilt. Lyons, like anyone charged, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This story will be updated as the case moves through the Travis County courts.

Sources: Travis County District Attorney’s Office; Fox 7 Austin. Facts as of July 6, 2026.