A Johnson County grand jury indicted Sheriff Adam King on multiple counts including two charges of corrupt influence for retaliation and one count of official oppression tied to sexual harassment. He surrendered to his own jail, posted $25,000 bond, and was quickly released.

County Judge Christopher Boedeker confirmed the indictments followed a Texas Rangers investigation sparked by a complaint filed on June 30 by a sheriff’s office employee. “As soon as county officials were made aware of the allegations, we referred the case to Texas Rangers to ensure an independent investigation,” Boedeker said. He noted that Rangers from another county were assigned to avoid conflicts.

“During the course of the investigation, Mr. King engaged in behavior that formed the basis of the Retaliation charges,” Boedeker explained. The grand jury met recently and returned the indictments.

Reports say the sheriff cannot contact the witnesses, enter county facilities, or carry a firearm off-duty. He remains in his elected position, now in his third term. Before this scandal, King was commander of the South Texas Officers and Prosecutors Human Trafficking Task Force.

The indictment laid out shocking claims of sexual harassment. One witness said King told her to remove her sweater covering a V-neck blouse, saying she had to “disrobe” before he would sign job documents. He allegedly told her, “If you keep losing weight, you’re gonna make me do some ungodly things to you.”

On another occasion, seeing the woman in white pants, he allegedly said, “Back in my younger days, you wouldn’t want to know what I did to women wearing white pants.” When she told him she would be at work at 6 a.m., King allegedly responded, “Six o’clock? That’s early enough that you don’t have to wear any clothes!” Later, when she asked what time he expected her, he said, “It depends if you’re wearing clothes or not.”

He allegedly told another female employee, “You look good… you look really good.” The sheriff also drew attention to his bare leg after removing an ankle holster and told a deputy, “Your wife likes to look at my leg.”

Speaking to a group of female staff, King reportedly said, “Don’t tell people/your husbands sheriff puts his cream in your tea.” He was also accused of buying jewelry and taking women to lunch if they spent time with him.

Another statement said he told a female worker, “Mmm… you’re looking good, keep losing weight. Your clothes are too baggy; you need some smaller clothes.” He allegedly held hours-long closed-door meetings with female subordinates.

The second indictment focused on retaliation, claiming King threatened his own chief deputy with personnel actions after the harassment was reported. A third indictment alleged retaliation against the original witness. He allegedly threatened to handcuff her and “book her into the county jail.”

Judge Boedeker said, “I have not received a resignation from him at this point.” He emphasized, “I think we trust the criminal justice system to do the right thing and find the truth, and while Mr. King is entitled to a presumption of innocence, no one is above the law.” He added that Captain Ben Arriola would serve in King’s place.

The retaliation counts are third-degree felonies in Texas, punishable by two to ten years in prison. The official oppression charge is a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year behind bars.

This scandal is a reminder that corruption and abuse can even infect law enforcement. Conservatives know real accountability means no one stands above the law. Texas Rangers and a grand jury sent a clear message—power must serve the people, not be abused.