Deputy, detention officers fired in sex probe at county jail

"This kind of conduct has always been wrong," Sheriff Adrian Garcia said on Friday at a news conference at the county jail. (Photo by Mike Glenn/Chronicle) "This kind of conduct has always been wrong," Sheriff Adrian Garcia said on Friday at a news conference at the county jail. (Photo by Mike Glenn/Chronicle) Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Deputy, detention officers fired in sex probe at county jail 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A widening sexual misconduct investigation at the Harris County Jail has led to five additional firings, including a supervising deputy, Sheriff Adrian Garcia said Friday.

The firings include four civilian detention officers and take to six the number of employees who have been fired in the investigation that began in August 2011, Garcia said. Earlier this year, another deputy was indicted in the case, then fired.

The allegations involve sexual misconduct between jail staff and other employees as well as between jailers and inmates.

The supervisor was fired for overlooking what was happening at the jail, Garcia said.

Garcia said another deputy resigned during the internal affairs investigation while another supervisor chose to retire.

Garcia declined to identify the five recently fired but said they were veteran employees who had been with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for more than a decade.

"I will not hesitate to punish those few employees who break the law or egregiously violate the rules," Garcia said.

Garcia said he did not know whether the fired employees also will face criminal charges.

"That's up to the (Harris County) District Attorney's Office," he said.

He said the sexual activity happened in the laundry rooms at the 1200 Baker and 1307 Baker jails.

The inmates having sex with the jailers were adult women. When asked how many were involved, Garcia said only, "numerous."

The internal investigation began last year when an inmate was found with a pair of tennis shoes, considered contraband.

"Then the ball of yarn began to unravel," Garcia said.

Garcia wouldn't elaborate on the details of the case but said the internal investigation was "long and complicated."

So far, former Harris County sheriff's Deputy Tony Richards is the only jailer to face criminal charges in the sexual misconduct case.

Richards, who worked in the laundry unit, was fired Feb. 22 following his indictment for allegedly having sex with a jail inmate.

"When people are in our custody, we have laws and rules to abide by," Garcia said. "This kind of conduct has always been wrong."

In November, the 21-year department veteran was suspended for 10 days after supervisors took photographs of him sleeping in the jail laundry.

Richards was charged with improper sexual activity with a person in custody and later released after posting $2,000 bail.

Garcia's predecessor, former Sheriff Tommy Thomas, also dealt with jail staffers having sex with inmates.

Since 2007, there have been more than 20 officers and civilians who were either suspended without pay or fired for having inappropriate relations or contact with inmates, including kissing, intimate touching, indecent exposure, providing contraband or engaging in sexual relations, according to a Houston Chronicle review of disciplinary records.

For example, Garcia fired two deputies in 2010 who were trading cigarettes and soft drinks for sexual favors from female inmates who were assigned to wash cars at a department garage.

Garcia said disciplining employees who don't measure up is part of his job. He said most of the staff, both licensed peace officers and civilians, follow the rules.

"You deserve the public's trust. You have earned it," Garcia said. "The few employees I'm talking about today owe you an apology."

Jim Pinkerton contributed to this report.

mike.glenn@chron.com