Johnson County Sheriff Arrested on Charges of Abuse of Office and Witness Retaliation
Johnson County Sheriff Adam King was arrested Wednesday on charges of abuse of office and witness retaliation after he allegedly sexually harassed female employees and threatened retaliation against those who reported it.
King was indicted on two charges of corrupt influence: retaliation against a witness, which is a third-degree felony, and one charge of abuse of office, in addition to a charge of official oppression — sexual harassment, a Class A misdemeanor, court records show. He was booked into the Johnson County jail Wednesday evening. King did not appear in a search of the jail log on Thursday.
The arresting agency was the Texas Rangers, jail records show.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post Thursday that King placed himself on administrative leave, and that captain Ben Arriola was appointed as acting sheriff.
Background Information
Johnson County is located immediately south of Tarrant County. The county seat is Cleburne. King, a Republican, was first elected as sheriff of Johnson County in 2016.
Allegations Against Sheriff King
According to the indictment, King is accused of sexually harassing multiple female employees of the sheriff’s office between February 2024 and July 2025. The indictment said King made several sexual remarks to female subordinates, including telling them they needed to wear makeup to work and telling one employee if she kept “losing weight” he would “do ungodly things” to her.
The indictments also accused King of retaliating against two employees who reported the harassment in violation of the Texas Whistleblower Act, including threatening to arrest a female employee whom he allegedly had harassed. King also tried to obtain her address after finding out she had filed a human resources complaint against him and spoke to the Rangers about the allegations, the indictment said.
Response from Sheriff King’s Attorney
Bill Mason, King’s attorney, denied the allegations and called them “politically motivated” in a statement sent Thursday evening.
“We live in a time of politically motivated criminal prosecutions. Add the allegations against Sheriff Adam King to that list,” Mason said. “Sheriff King would not, and did not, do anything wrong, inappropriate, or illegal.”
Mason said the trial will expose the “politics that led to these false accusations,” and said he is confident King will be found not guilty.
Investigation and Indictment
Johnson County Judge Christopher Boedeker said via email that the indictments are a result of a weekslong investigation by the Rangers. Boedeker said as soon as county officials were aware of the allegations, they referred the case to the Rangers.
“While Mr. King is entitled to a presumption of innocence, no person is above the law,” Boedeker said.
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Next Steps
“Sheriff King has taken this step in the interest of transparency and to allow the legal process to proceed without distraction,” the statement said.
Conclusion
The arrest of Sheriff Adam King on charges of abuse of office and witness retaliation has sent shockwaves through the community. As the case unfolds, it is essential to remember that King is entitled to a presumption of innocence. The investigation and indictment are a result of a thorough investigation by the Texas Rangers, and the case will be tried in a court of law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the charges against Sheriff Adam King?
A: King was indicted on two charges of corrupt influence: retaliation against a witness, which is a third-degree felony, and one charge of abuse of office, in addition to a charge of official oppression — sexual harassment, a Class A misdemeanor.
Q: What is the alleged misconduct?
A: According to the indictment, King is accused of sexually harassing multiple female employees of the sheriff’s office and retaliating against two employees who reported the harassment.
Q: Who is investigating the case?
A: The Texas Rangers investigated the case, and the indictments are a result of their weekslong investigation.
Q: What is the next step in the case?
A: The case will be tried in a court of law, and King is entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
