Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declined to issue a formal opinion on whether Johnson County Sheriff Adam King can remain in office after the suspension of his peace officer license.
The request came from Timothy Good, district attorney for Johnson and Somervell counties, who asked Paxton on Oct. 9 to weigh in on whether King’s license suspension affects his eligibility to serve and how it impacts his deputies.
King, in his third term, faces multiple criminal charges related to sexual harassment. Court documents allege he made repeated sexually charged remarks toward female employees, showed favoritism to women who spent time alone with him, and threatened his chief deputy to remain silent.
In August, a grand jury indicted the 57-year-old sheriff on two felony counts of retaliation against a witness and one misdemeanor count of abuse of office. On Oct. 1, he was indicted on one count of aggravated perjury.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement suspended King’s license on Sept. 9. King placed himself on administrative leave in August but was allowed by a judge to return to law enforcement duties on a restricted basis following a court hearing on Oct. 2.
Good argued in a supplemental brief to Paxton on Oct. 20 that King’s license suspension renders him ineligible to serve as sheriff.
King’s attorneys maintain that TCOLE has confirmed he may continue in his role. King has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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