Hurst police investigated complaints against justice of the peace

Before a longtime Tarrant County employee filed a federal suit against Justice of the Peace Russell Casey, accusing him of sexual harassment, she went to Hurst police with some of the same complaints.

Her case later went to a Tarrant County grand jury, which declined to indict Casey, according to law enforcement officials.

The employee, a county court manager for 22 years, said in her suit that Casey forced her to perform oral sex 20 times over nearly five years and that she was fired when she told him she wanted it to stop.

Casey denies that any of the acts described in the suit happened.

“Those claims have no merit, and they will be vigorously defended in court,” Casey said Thursday.

The Star-Telegram is not naming the woman because of the nature of her accusations.

Casey is peace justice for Precinct 3 with offices in Southlake and at the Northeast Courthouse in Hurst.

Hurst detectives investigated the woman’s complaint and presented their findings to the Tarrant County district attorney’s office, said Hurst Assistant Police Chief Richard Winstanley.

Because the district attorney’s office represents Tarrant County elected officials, the case was turned over to the Texas attorney general’s office, said Samantha Jordan, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.

State prosecutors presented the case to a Tarrant County grand jury, which declined to indict Casey, according to an emailed statement from Teresa Farfan, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office.

“Because the grand jury proceedings are secret, we cannot provide any further information,” Farfan wrote.

Attorney Andrea Loveless, who represents the woman, said her client was not comfortable speaking about the case and that it was an emotional time for her. Loveless declined to comment about the grand jury no-bill.

“I look forward to fighting for [my client’s] right to have her allegations against Judge Casey and Tarrant County decided at trial,” Loveless said in an email. “It is very important that all alleged victims of sexual harassment be comfortable with coming forward and seeking the protection of the legal system.”

The woman’s suit says she was wrongfully fired on Aug. 22, 2014. According to a county official, the woman is still employed by Tarrant County.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 7:51 AM with the headline "Hurst police investigated complaints against justice of the peace."