Johnson County Sheriff Indicted on New Charge
Johnson County Sheriff Adam King, who was arrested in August after being accused of sexually harassing his female employees and retaliating against employees who reported it, was indicted Wednesday on a new charge, according to online court records.
The embattled law enforcement official is now charged with aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony, records show.
According to the county’s online records, King was booked Wednesday evening at the Johnson County jail. He did not appear in a search of the jail log Thursday morning.
The New Indictment
According to the new indictment, King is accused of making a false statement to a grand jury while under oath on Aug. 27, which is the same day he was indicted and arrested on the official oppression charges. The indictment alleges King told the grand jury he did not change the schedule of the employee who reported him for sexual harassment, and if her schedule did change, it was the result of a subordinate.
The indictment said King’s statement conflicted with four other witnesses, including acting Johnson County sheriff Ben Arriola, County Judge Christopher Boedecker and two chief deputies of the sheriff’s office, who testified that King had spoken of changing the employee’s schedule after learning she had made a report of sexual harassment against him.
Prior Charges
King was indicted in August 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.
In the earlier indictment, King was accused of sexually harassing multiple female employees of the sheriff’s office between February 2024 and July 2025 and retaliating against two employees who reported the harassment.
The arresting agency in August was the Texas Rangers.
Reaction from the Sheriff’s Office
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post two months ago that King had placed himself on administrative leave, and that Arriola, a captain at the department, had been appointed acting sheriff.
The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to The Dallas Morning News’ request for a comment.
Support for the Sheriff
In September, about 200 Johnson County citizens gathered at a conference hall in Cleburne to express support for King and his family.
Bill Mason, the sheriff’s attorney, denied the allegations against the sheriff and called them “politically motivated” in a statement.
Response from the Sheriff’s Attorney
Mason said in an emailed statement late Wednesday that the indictment’s timing was “deeply disturbing,” as he said a hearing was scheduled for Thursday morning to determine whether King could return to work.
“Just when this could not be more desperate or ridiculous, the prosecuting attorney has now concocted an even more absurd allegation,” Mason said. “Power is a dangerous thing.”
Crime in The News
Conclusion
The new indictment against Johnson County Sheriff Adam King is a significant development in the case against him. The accusation of aggravated perjury adds to the list of charges King is facing, including corrupt influence, abuse of office, and official oppression. As the case continues to unfold, it will be important to follow the developments and see how the legal process plays out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Johnson County Sheriff Adam King accused of?
A: King is accused of sexually harassing multiple female employees of the sheriff’s office, retaliating against employees who reported the harassment, and making a false statement to a grand jury while under oath.
Q: What are the charges against King?
A: King is charged with aggravated perjury, corrupt influence, abuse of office, and official oppression — sexual harassment.
Q: Who is the acting sheriff of Johnson County?
A: The acting sheriff of Johnson County is Ben Arriola, a captain at the department.
Q: What is the next step in the case against King?
A: A hearing was scheduled for Thursday morning to determine whether King could return to work. The case will continue to unfold as the legal process plays out.
