The former chief deputy of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has filed a petition seeking to remove Sheriff Adam King from office, escalating a legal fight that already produced a mistrial earlier this month.
James Saulter, who previously served as the top deputy under King, filed the petition citing a section of Texas local government code that permits an elected official to be removed for incompetency and misconduct, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
If the petition moves forward, a jury will decide whether King should be removed from his position.
The petition follows a criminal trial this year in which Saulter accused King of firing him in retaliation for a sexual harassment investigation. That case ended in a mistrial, and no date has been set for a new trial.
During the proceedings, Saulter told jurors he was placed on administrative leave and later terminated after bringing a female employee’s complaints to the Texas Rangers. Saulter said the employee alleged that King routinely sexually harassed her.
Prosecutors called more than 20 witnesses during the trial. The defense rested without calling any witnesses, and King did not testify.
King’s attorneys argued that the disciplinary actions against Saulter were unrelated to the whistleblowing report, telling jurors that Saulter was already under internal investigation for allegedly falsifying timesheets when he was dismissed.
King was arrested on August 27, 2025, and charged with one misdemeanor and two felonies related to official oppression, sexual harassment, and retaliation against a witness. He was indicted several days later, with the indictment accusing him of sexually harassing multiple female employees at the sheriff’s office.
If convicted, King faces up to 10 years in prison.
A new jury will be selected for the retrial once a date is set.
Provided by Dallas Express
