A sheriff’s office near Wichita Falls is steeped in controversy as its sheriff was indicted and the staff involved in the proceedings against him have been officially excused from duty.
Four Clay County employees have been put on paid administrative leave due to their involvement in a recent criminal case against Sheriff Jeff Lyde, Captain Randy J. Hanson told the press on January 19.
The letter from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) outlines the decision, explaining that it is meant to ensure that Lyde is able to perform his duties as sheriff while abiding by the conditions of his $15,000 bond for criminal charges as well as a temporary restraining order prohibiting retaliatory action against the complainants.
The move to place the CCSO staff on paid administrative leave was in line with recommendations given to Lyde by the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) after he solicited them for legal advice. According to Randall D. Moore, TMPA lawyer, this is common practice when employees allege an adverse or hostile work environment.
According to indictments filed on Thursday, December 29, 2022, Lyde faces two charges of “sexual harassment by verbal conduct of a sexual nature” and one charge of “sexual harassment by physical conduct of a sexual nature,” as well as three charges of official oppression in connection with these allegations.
These charges add to several other accusations of misconduct involving Lyde since he became sheriff in 2021, including an alleged Fourth Amendment violation and two counts of official oppression.
Lyde is most recently being accused of slapping a female employee on the buttocks, sexually harassing a female employee by calling her “Star Trek” and telling her he “wanted to go where no other man had ever gone,” and discussing the breasts of multiple CCSO employees as well as showing pictures of breasts on his computer, according to copies of the indictments obtained by KFDX.
Attorney Frank Douthitt filed a petition with 97th District Judge Jack McGaughey to remove Lyde from office on January 3, which was followed by the granting of a restraining order to protect the four CCSO employees from retaliation.
A hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday to decide whether Lyde should be removed from office; however, it has been postponed for two weeks after Moore filed a motion to remove Judge McGaughey due to concerns over his impartiality.
While the motion is being handled by the court, Lyde is still acting sheriff. However, according to Lyde’s bond conditions, he cannot have any contact with the three women who have accused him of sexual harassment; hence the decision to place those involved in the indictments on paid administrative leave.
There is no end date provided for the CCSO employees’ leave, yet their rankings, pay, and evaluations will not be negatively affected. They had to turn in county vehicles, were told to not conduct county business, and must stay in regular contact with Capt. Hanson.
Dallas faces high numbers of sexual assault and related cases in the first month of the year. There were 26 sex offenses reported in the first two and a half weeks of 2023. These current numbers indicate that the crime spree that swept across the metroplex last year has not abated as city council members strategize to improve public safety.
