Jury deliberates late into night in trial of Johnson County Sheriff Adam King
The jury is deliberating in the criminal trial of Johnson County Sheriff Adam King, who is accused of retaliating against a chief deputy who reported allegations that King sexually harassed another employee.
Jurors deliberated until almost 10:30 p.m. Monday before going home for the night. They will resume deliberations at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Cleburne Times-Review reported.
Prosecutors rested their case on Thursday, July 2, after about two weeks of testimony at the Guinn Justice Center courthouse in Cleburne.
On Monday morning, July 6, the defense rested its case without calling any witnesses. Earlier in the trial, defense attorneys had said they thought King would testify.
On Monday afternoon, the judge read the jury charge, giving the panel their instructions for deliberations, and attorneys for both sides made their closing arguments. Deliberations began just after 4 p.m.
Prosecutors have argued that Chief Deputy James Saulter was placed on leave last year and later fired by King because Saulter reported allegations that King sexually harassed training coordinator Anna Goodloe.
The defense has argued that Saulter was initially disciplined for spreading rumors about King having sex with former office manager Karen Charles, not for reporting Goodloe’s allegations. Saulter was fired in May of this year after failing to appear for a mandatory interview tied to an internal affairs investigation of alleged timekeeping discrepancies, according to testimony.
A judge allowed King to return to work following his August 2025 indictment, but he was ordered to avoid contact with witnesses in the case.
If the jury finds him guilty on the corrupt influence retaliation charge, King could face a sentence of two to 10 years in prison, or probation, as well as fines of up to $10,000. If there is a guilty verdict, the trial would move into a punishment phase with additional testimony that jurors would hear to help them decide on the sentence.
Other charges in the indictment are pending and could be tried at a later date.
This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 5:47 PM.
