Kyle McClenagan/HPM
The exterior of the Harris County Civil Courthouse in Downtown Houston on April 9, 2026.
A Houston-area family is suing a former Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy who’s been criminally charged with sexual assault of a child, according to court records.
The lawsuit — filed last week and seeking $1 million in damages — names 35-year-old Nicholas Burbridge, Harris County, and the owners of an online dating app called “Pure” as defendants. At the center of the lawsuit are allegations against Burbridge, accusing him of allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in March of 2026. The alleged victim, her parents, and her great-grandfather are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Burbridge was arrested on Aug. 3 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. Later that same month, Burbridge was released after posting a $150,000 bond. He has also been charged with solicitation of a prostitute, which allegedly occurred in August 2025.
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According to the lawsuit, Burbridge pretended to be a 16-year-old on the Pure Dating App in March of 2026. Burbridge then allegedly arranged via the app to meet the 13-year-old girl and personally picked her up and transported her to his residence in Tomball, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges Burbridge then gave the victim edibles from a dispensary, which allegedly caused the 13-year-old girl to lose consciousness.
In a statement to Houston Public Media on Tuesday, Burbridge’s attorney, Cordt Akers, said the allegations were false.
“The facts of this case have not changed a bit, but their story changes every time they tell it — especially now that there is money to be made,” Akers said. “Let me be crystal clear: Mr. Burbridge did not commit this act — this new lawsuit reads more like a reach for a payday than a pursuit of the truth.”
The lawsuit also accuses Harris County of having failed to “investigate, discipline, or otherwise act” upon the alleged solicitation of a prostitute in August 2025. The plaintiffs argue that the county’s alleged failure escalated Burbridge’s “predatory conduct and enabled him to continue misusing his authority.”
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Burbridge was terminated on March 6.
The Harris County Attorney’s Office, which represents the county in civil legal matters, said via a statement to Houston Public Media on Monday, it had not yet been served.
“We take any allegations of this nature very seriously,” Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin said. “To our knowledge, the county has not been served with any lawsuit related to these claims at this time. We also cannot comment on active or pending litigation.”
The dating app Pure, which the lawsuit accuses of failing to properly verify Burbridge’s age, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Along with the $1 million in damages, the lawsuit is also seeking attorney fees.