kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and KilleenFive Accuse Hill County Sheriff Of Sexual Harassment

Shocking stories resonate from inside one Central Texas Sheriff's Dept.

"You're walking down the hall trying to work and do things, and he's behind you trying to unclasp your bra strap," says one alleged victim.

"Sexual comments constantly about nasty things, oral sex or having sex with people to get...promotions," says another.

These women are talking about Hill County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyon.

They and three other current and former Sheriff's Dept. employees, including one man, filed sexual harassment complaints against Lyon with the county.

"I forwarded those to the proper authorities, being the District Attorney of Hill County and being the Texas Rangers," confirmed County Judge Justin Lewis.

District Attorney Dan Dent says as D.A. he works closely with the Sheriff's Dept. and has known many of the people involved for years. He took himself off the case once the complaints arrived in his office.

"It was pretty obvious, that it was a pretty clear case that I needed to recuse myself from," he said. District Judge Bob McGregor appointed McLennan County-based attorneys Bill and Susan Johnston in his place.

Complaints range from alleged dirty comments, to the Sheriff exposing himself in the office, and asking for sex.

"He has done that - exposed himself, hip thrusts," said one of the complainants.

But the allegations come at a time when Lyon concentrates on his April re-election. And his lawyer Vic Feazell says the timing is too suspicious, and that it's part of a plot to put his opponent in office.

"This is totally dirty politics and nothing else. It's a crazy right wing faction of the Republican party trying to take out a really good Sheriff," he said.

Those involved say they were scared to come forward earlier because many are single parents and rely on their jobs with the department.

"He would come in and say stuff like "If I'm making anybody uncomfortable..." put a disclaimer on out there, where you felt like if you were to say anything you were gonna lose your job," one person said, "it doesn't have anything to do with an election, it has to do with doing what's right," she continued.

A high-ranking county official who asked not to be named wrote in a statement "I don't believe that long-time county residents and Sheriff's Dept. employees would subject themselves to the public scrutiny and embarrassment of an investigation and trial if these allegations were not true. No one is above the law. Elected officials should have honor and integrity. This is an embarrassment for Hill County and it's sad that the actions of one bad apple gives all elected officials a black eye."

Currently, the Texas Rangers are not investigating the case. They say the Johnstons need to send a written request before they will launch such a high profile investigation of a public figure.

Reporter: Rebecca Schleicher/Photographer: Thuan Nguyen

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