Johnson County Sheriff Adam King has been arrested and charged with sexual harassment and witness intimidation.
King was indicted and arrested on Thursday for “Corrupt Influence: Retaliation Against a Witness” and “Abuse of Office: Official Oppression – Sexual Harassment,” according to a statement from Johnson County Judge Christopher Boedeker. This followed an investigation by Texas Rangers.
The 57-year-old sheriff was booked in the Johnson County Jail on August 27, according to CBS Texas. His bond was set at $25,000.
“King did bond out and is not currently in jail,” Boedeker told The Dallas Express. “He is still in office but is on administrative leave and has designated [Capt.] Ben Arriola to serve in his place for the time being.”
Johnson County officials learned the sheriff allegedly committed “sexual harassment, official misconduct, and witness retaliation” on June 30, according to the statement. Then, they referred the case to the Texas Rangers, who assigned a Ranger from another county for an “independent investigation.”
During the investigation, King allegedly “engaged in behavior” that became the basis for his retaliation charges.
Sexual Harassment
While acting in his official capacity as sheriff, King allegedly committed “sexual harassment” against an employee with “unwelcome sexual advances or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature,” according to the indictment, obtained by The Dallas Express.
The sexual harassment allegations took place from February 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, the indictment said. King allegedly did the following to the victim:
- Telling her to “remove her sweater” covering a V-neck blouse, telling her to “disrobe” before he would sign any documents.
- Saying, “If you keep losing weight, you’re gonna make me do some ungodly things to you.”
- When she wore white slacks to work, he said, “Back in my younger days, you wouldn’t want to know what I did to women wearing white pants.”
- Learning the victim would arrive at work early the next morning, saying, “Six O’Clock? That’s early enough that you don’t have to wear any clothes!”
- When she asked what time she should arrive, he replied, “It depends if you’re wearing clothes or not.”
King also allegedly engaged in “persistent leering and staring at female subordinates.” He allegedly did things like the following to other women:
- Saying during a weekly, all-female teatime he hosted, “Don’t tell people/your husbands’ sheriff puts his cream in your tea.”
- Telling a female employee to “Back up, I need to look at your feet” – then silently staring at her feet.
- Giving “benefits and/or perks” to married women, like taking them to lunch, buying them jewelry, and giving special access to his office.
- Having “one-on-one, closed-door meetings” with women, sometimes for hours.
Witness Intimidation
The sheriff also faces charges of witness retaliation against a female employee and a deputy, according to the indictment.
King allegedly threatened the female employee as “retaliation” on July 21. After hearing she filed an HR complaint and cooperated with Texas Rangers, the indictment says he spread word he was seeking her home address, aiming for intimidation. He also allegedly threatened to place her “in handcuffs and book her into the county jail.”
The sheriff also allegedly threatened a deputy on August 13, who “in good faith reported a violation of law,” according to the indictment. This was “retaliation” for cooperating with other investigators.
Voters first elected King as sheriff in 2016, according to WFAA. He previously served as commander of the South Texas Officers and Prosecutors Human Trafficking Task Force.
“We trust the criminal justice system to find the truth and to deliver justice,” Boedeker said in the statement. “No person is above the law, but every person is entitled to his day in court.”