A Hays County corrections officer has found himself on the wrong side of the jail cells after allegations of sexual misconduct with an inmate led to his arrest, as reported by KXAN. Corrections Officer John Duran, 45, was taken into custody and charged with Official Oppression and Tampering with a Governmental Record, according to a statement from the Hays County Sheriff's Office.
The issue came to light on April 4 when an inmate informed a corrections supervisor of Duran's alleged misconduct, sparking an internal investigation that was promptly initiated but later suspended when the allegations began to shape up as criminal in nature, an update detailed by CBS Austin revealed. The steps taken in the aftermath included Duran being separated from all female inmates and the Hays County Criminal Investigation Division stepping in to conduct a separate probe into the accusations, leading to Duran's subsequent arrest and the charges presented.
While he now faces the legal consequences, Duran, who has been a part of the Hays County Sheriff's Office since July of the previous year, finds himself on administrative leave; during this time, he has not been a subject of any other internal inquiries as per the Sheriff's Office's records.
Speaking on the matter, Sheriff Anthony Hipolito emphasized the department's unwavering commitment to integrity and professional standards, "We hold our personnel to the highest standards, and any violation of that duty will be met with swift accountability to ensure the safety and dignity of those in our care," he stated, his words captured by a CBS Austin report.
The Sheriff's Office plans to continue its internal investigation into the incident apart from the ongoing criminal process, with a commitment to releasing the findings upon the investigation's conclusion, leaving the community and especially the victim looking for accountability and assurance that justice, though perhaps slow, is indeed being served.
