Harris Co. employees fired in connection to alleged sex scandal at county jail

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Six people entrusted with keeping law and order are now accused of violating the rules of the Harris County Sheriff's Office and breaking the law.

On Friday afternoon, Sheriff Adrian Garcia discussed the problem when he announced the results of an internal investigation.

The alleged sexual misconduct happened inside two jail facilities on Baker Street in downtown Houston -- the bigger detention center and across the street at the minimum security location.

Garcia says at both locations, the sexual activity happened inside the laundry room where there are no surveillance cameras. That's changing...and so is his staff.

"Their actions are inexcusable," said Garcia. "Today, I fired employees who have been employed here for over 10 years."

Among those fired were four detention officers and one deputy. Additionally, a deputy resigned and another retired while under investigation.

They join former Deputy Tony Richards as casualties of the probe that started in August of last year. He was fired in February and is now charged with having improper sexual activity with an inmate.

The others, according to the sheriff, are accused of either having sex with inmates or with other employees or as supervisors looking the other way.

"While people are in our custody, we have laws and rules to abide by," Garcia said.

Dean Sierra was checking into jail for the weekend for driving with a suspended license when we told him about he sex accusations.

"It doesn't surprise me at all," he said.

"I hear it a lot, I really hear it a lot so it doesn't shock me," said Montasha Curtis, who was in downtown to post a bond.

None of the others involved in the scandal have been charged so far, but the case is being referred to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Garcia didn't name them Friday, but said some of them have been working at the sheriff's office for more than 10 years.

Garcia said he blames the previous administration for a culture that allowed this. He also said the sheriff's office already has taken additional measures, like installing more cameras at the jail to make sure this situation isn't repeated.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest details.

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Two charged in connection with kidnapped boy

  ALVIN, TX (KTRK) -- There are new developments on a kidnapping case out of Alvin today.

Police have charged two people with aggravated kidnapping and plan more arrests today. This, after a one-year-old boy was grabbed from his stroller yesterday.

Manuel Recendez's mother says three men and two women took her son around 5:30pm, then fled. The boy was dropped off at Southeast Memorial Hospital by four women last night after police negotiated his release.

Detectives started talking to the suspects when they phoned the victim's family.

"The identity of one of the suspects was known by the family," said Detective Bobby Taylor with the Alvin Police Department. "Detectives were able to get on the phone with him and I think through a third party, made arrangements for the child to be dropped off at the hospital and be examined."

it is not clear why the boy was taken.

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Brothers charged in connection with assault, robbery of one of their girlfriends

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two brothers have been charged in connection with assaulting and stealing money from one of their girlfriends.

On the night of May 6, court documents state Colin Vernon Smith asked his girlfriend where the cash was that she received from an auto accident settlement. She says when she told Colin Smith that he could not have the money, he became very angry, pushed her out of a chair, then grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head on the floor several times. The girlfriend alleges that he then hit her in the face twice.

After telling him that the money was in a dumpster in the hopes of getting him out of the Clear Lake area residence, she says Colin Smith called his brother, Justin Smith, who went to the dumpster to look for the strong box with the cash in it, but it was not there.

Investigators say Colin then told Justin to leave the residence, at which point Colin then hit his girlfriend and began to choke her. She says she finally relented and told him the money was in her child's toy box. She says Colin took the money and put it in a backpack.

According to court documents, the girlfriend says Justin, who police say was present when Colin took the month, told her he was sorry that his brother beat her up, but that he needed the money.

The girlfriend was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and other injuries, court documents show.

Colin Smith, 26, and Justin Smith, 24, are charged with aggravated robbery. No bond has been set in either case.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Dad charged in connection with toddler's death

Osman Irias, 21, has been charged with injury to a child in connection with the death of his toddler son

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 21-year-old father is charged with injury to a child in connection with the death of his two-year-old son.

On Saturday, authorities were called to an apartment in the 5700 block of Thousand Oaks Circle in northwest Houston. Paramedics treated a two-year-old boy on the scene, and then transported him by ambulance to Northwest Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Osman Irias told police that he was home alone with his two children -- the two-year-old victim and his four-year-old sister. Court documents state that Irias left the children to take a shower, and when he returned, he reportedly found the boy convulsing on the floor.

Irias told police he's the only caregiver for the children, and that the boy's mother was deported and has been in Guatemala for the last year. Irias added that the boy has suffered previous injuries from falling, but he didn't take him to a doctor for fear CPS would become involved.

An autopsy showed the toddler had more than 86 bruises, fractured ribs and contusions. The doctor who performed the autopsy told police the injuries were consistent with child abuse, and would not result from a fall.

According to court documents, Irias, 21, is accused of kicking the boy, and hitting him with his hand and another object. Irias is charged with injury to a child. Bail has been set at $500,000.

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Father charged in connection with toddler's drowning

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A father is facing a felony charge after his daughter drowned in the family's bathtub.

Randall Lee Johnson, 26, is charged with injury to a child by omission. On April 6, Johnson's 16-month-old daughter, Teddi Johnson, drowned in the bathtub.

According to court documents, a deputy arriving at the mobile home found the bathtub had overflowed, spilling water into the bathroom. Witnesses said Teddi been in the tub for a bath, along with her two-year-old sister. The water was reportedly running, and the girls' father was in another room taking a phone call.

Johnson's girlfriend went to check on the girls and discovered Teddi floating in the tub and attempted to perform CPR. She was taken to Hermann Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Johnson reportedly admitted smoking marijuana on the day of the drowning. Teddi's cause of death was drowning, and the manner of death is listed as homicide on the autopsy report.

Bond in the case has been set at $30,000.

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Mother charged in connection to girl's death appears in court

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mother charged in connection with the death of her four-year-old daughter made her first appearance in court overnight.

Maciel Delosangeles Sandoval is charged with injury to a child. She has also been placed under an immigration hold because she may be in the country illegally.

Sandoval and her roommate, Judith Herrera-Garcia, 35, were both arrested Monday. According to court documents, police found bruises and minor cuts all over Betsobeth Sandoval. Police say the women told them they did not get medical attention for Betsobeth because they were afraid of Child Protective Services.

Neighbors say they are still in shock.

"It's sad, it's discouraging, and it's scary to know that she would even have a parent that would allow something like that to happen to her," said neighbor Topeka McNeil.

Police say they are also speaking with Herrera-Garcia's 14-year-old son.

As for Sandoval, she is being held on an immigration detainer charged with serious bodily injury to a child. Her bond is at $60,000. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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