Overview
- A judge declared a mistrial on Tuesday after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict in the two-week criminal trial of Sheriff Adam King, with one juror reporting they could not be persuaded to change their view.
- Prosecutors accused King of retaliating against Chief Deputy James Saulter for reporting a 2025 sexual harassment complaint and presented testimony about office cameras, recorded conversations, and personnel actions.
- The defense rested without calling witnesses and King did not testify, with his lawyers arguing that Saulter’s discipline stemmed from unrelated misconduct rather than whistleblowing.
- King remains Johnson County’s elected sheriff and is allowed limited office access under court orders that bar contact with witnesses while other charges from the 2025 indictment remain pending.
- If retried and convicted on the felony retaliation count, King could face two to ten years in prison or probation and fines up to $10,000, and removing an elected sheriff would require a separate civil action under Texas law.