Johnson County, Texas, is reeling after Sheriff Adam King was arrested and indicted on multiple charges, including sexual harassment, abuse of office, and retaliation against witnesses. The case, which has unfolded over the past two months, has sent shockwaves through the community and raised serious questions about accountability and leadership in law enforcement.
According to Johnson County Jail records and multiple news outlets, the 57-year-old sheriff was taken into custody on August 27, 2025, following a grand jury indictment. King, who has held the office since 2016 and was serving his third term, faces one count of official oppression—sexual harassment (a Class A misdemeanor)—and two third-degree felony counts of corrupt influence: retaliation against a witness. The charges stem from a series of alleged incidents involving multiple female employees at the sheriff’s office between February 2024 and July 2025.
The investigation began after a written complaint was received by Johnson County officials on June 30, 2025. Judge Christopher Boedeker, speaking to NBC 5, explained, “Given the nature of the claim and the fact that the claim was against an elected official, we immediately referred that to the Texas Rangers for an independent investigation.” To ensure impartiality, a Ranger from another county was assigned. The investigation ultimately culminated with King’s indictment on three charges.
The indictment paints a disturbing picture of King’s alleged conduct. He is accused of making repeated sexual and harassing remarks to female employees. According to the court documents cited by The Dallas Morning News and FOX 4, King told one employee that if she kept “losing weight,” he would “do ungodly things” to her. On another occasion, when the same woman wore white slacks to work, King allegedly commented, “Back in my younger days, you wouldn’t want to know what I did to women wearing white pants.”
The allegations do not stop there. The indictment details how King is said to have pressured a female employee to “disrobe” before he would sign any documents. When she asked what time she should arrive at work, he allegedly replied, “It depends if you’re wearing clothes or not.” The indictment also accuses King of making other inappropriate comments, such as telling female employees they needed to wear makeup to work, and remarking during a weekly, all-female tea event, “Don’t tell people/your husbands sheriff puts his cream in your tea.”
In addition to the harassment allegations, King is charged with retaliating against employees who reported his conduct. The indictment states that after learning a female employee had filed a human resources complaint and spoken to the Texas Rangers, King attempted to obtain her home address “knowing the fact would cause a reasonable person to feel harassed, terrified, intimidated, alarmed or tormented.” He also allegedly threatened to handcuff and book her into the county jail. Chief Deputy James Saulter, who reported the allegations, was also threatened by King, a move that prosecutors say violated the state’s whistleblower act.
King was booked into the Johnson County jail on the evening of August 27, 2025, according to jail records. He bonded out the following morning, with bond set at $25,000. By Thursday morning, King had voluntarily placed himself on administrative leave. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying, “Sheriff King has taken this step in the interest of transparency and to allow the legal process to proceed without distraction.” Captain Ben Arriola was appointed as acting sheriff effective immediately.
Judge Boedeker, in an email to The Dallas Morning News, confirmed that the indictments were the result of a weeks-long Texas Rangers investigation. “While Mr. King is entitled to a presumption of innocence, no person is above the law,” Boedeker stated. He emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the importance of due process, echoing similar sentiments in interviews with FOX 4 and NBC 5.
The sheriff’s office, in its public statements, has asked for patience and understanding from the community as the legal process unfolds. “This is a hard time for the folks at the sheriff’s office as well,” Boedeker told NBC 5. “We have a lot of great officers out there… they’re out there still doing their jobs, still keeping us safe, and we hope that this doesn’t reflect poorly on the rest of the people that are in the office.” The office reiterated its commitment to public trust, accountability, and community safety.
King’s attorney, William Mason, was expected to release a statement, but as of Thursday afternoon, had not commented on the charges. King’s name no longer appeared on the jail roster by Thursday, and there has been no announcement regarding his next court appearance.
The process for removing an elected official in Texas is complex and, according to Boedeker, has not yet been initiated in King’s case. It involves a registered voter filing a petition, after which a regional administrative judge can assign a judge and prosecutor to investigate. Until then, King technically remains the sheriff of Johnson County, though he is not currently performing his duties.
For the citizens of Johnson County, the allegations against King are both shocking and deeply unsettling. The charges—sexual harassment, abuse of office, and retaliation—strike at the heart of public trust in law enforcement. The case also highlights the challenges of holding elected officials accountable, especially when the alleged misconduct involves those in positions of significant power and authority.
As the legal process moves forward, the community—and indeed, much of Texas—will be watching closely. The Texas Rangers, the investigative arm of the Department of Public Safety, have not yet issued a public statement about the ongoing case. Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office continues its daily operations under the leadership of Acting Sheriff Ben Arriola, striving to maintain stability amid the turmoil.
King’s arrest and indictment serve as a sobering reminder that no one, regardless of position, is above the law. The path ahead will test not only the county’s justice system but also the resilience and unity of its law enforcement community. For now, all eyes remain on Johnson County as it grapples with the fallout of these serious allegations and awaits the next chapter in a story that has already left a significant mark on its history.
