Harris County jailer accused of letting inmates fight faces criminal charge

A jailer was arrested for allegedly allowing two inmates to fight. A jailer was arrested for allegedly allowing two inmates to fight. Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Harris County jailer accused of letting inmates fight faces criminal charge 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Harris County jailer was hit with a misdemeanor charge of official oppression for allegedly encouraging inmates to fight each other, according to court filings.

Gene Ramirez, who was hired by the Harris County Sheriff's Office last year, was relieved of duty after the district attorney accepted the charge, according to HCSO spokesman Jason Spencer.

The 28-year-old's alleged role in jailhouse brawling came to light after an inmate's mother accused the guard of allowing another prisoner to attack her son.

The sheriff's office launched an internal investigation and tracked down surveillance footage from the 1200 Baker Street jail pod where the fighting inmates had been housed.

Inmate Steve Vasquez Jr. approached the jailer and made hand gestures that appeared to be a request to fight another inmate, according to papers filed in Harris County court.

Then, Ramirez made a gesture seemingly granting the request, and Vasquez allegedly started chasing his mark around the cell block for several minutes before cornering him in the vestibule.

"At that point, a fight ensues," deputy Nicholas Hoschar with internal affairs wrote in a sworn statement. "During the fight, the camera inside the pod control center shows the defendant not taking any action to prevent the fight from occurring."

Ramirez waited a few minutes before calling for help to break up the brawling, according to court documents.

Neither inmate involved was seriously injured, though afterward they both told investigators that Ramirez had okayed the fight.

Union chief David Cuevas, who heads up the Harris County Deputies Organization, referred all comment to attorneys.

"I don't know the specifics of the particular charge," he said, "but being that it is now in the legal process all comments would be deferred to his attorney."