Galveston County is once again thrust into the spotlight following the indictment of a former jail officer connected to the death of an inmate, Saul Vargas, last September. According to FOX 26 Houston, a Galveston County grand jury found sufficient grounds to charge Skyler Ray Chapman with criminally negligent homicide, a state jail felony. The charge carries potential jail time of up to two years, but not less than 180 days. This development comes after an investigation led by the Texas Rangers and the District Attorney's Office into the incident that occurred on September 10, 2024.
Chapman had been terminated from his position at the Galveston County Sheriff's Office back in January, prior to the indictment. As reported by ABC 13, inmate Saul Vargas's death resulted from deputies' attempts to forcibly restrain him with a taser, leading to him quickly become unresponsive. This occurred after Vargas had been in jail for eight days on charges of evading arrest and burglary of motor vehicles.
In statements obtained by FOX 26 Houston, officials reported that after the tasering, lifesaving measures were promptly attempted, to no avail. Vargas was pronounced dead following the event. The backstory provided by the publication reveals that Vargas had been exhibiting behavior that led deputies to transfer him to another cell, a decision that led to the fatal altercation.
"Our office will prosecute this case vigorously. We will seek the earliest possible trial date that fairness and due process allow. We cannot comment further," Brent Haynes, an Assistant Criminal District Attorney for Galveston County, told ABC 13.
