By Jeff West

SDN Staff Writer

The investigation into whether a jailer allowed a male inmate into the female section resulting in intimate contact remains under investigation, although some progress has been made.

Currently, one female jailer is on administrative leave, but is being paid her salary from her accumulated sick leave, according to records in the county treasurer’s office.

According to Texas Ranger Johnny Billings, “We’ve nailed down some of the allegations and cleared out others.”

Responding to a story printed today in an area newspaper, Billings said the allegations involves one jailer, not several employees.

A primary accuser, Frances Gutierrez, could not actually see any misconduct, but alleges she heard it from an adjoining cell.

“Frances got some help writing out her complaint and so some of the talk that’s going around is from inmates that helped her,” Billings said.

The Ranger said the investigation is trying to determine why a female jailer may have allowed a male trusty into the area.

“If it occurred, did she bring the male inmate in to do some work, such as plumbing, and maybe she just wasn’t watching closely enough,” Billings said.

Some of the less serious allegations were addressed as soon as the front office was made aware, Billings added.

“Lots of the incidents didn’t get to the front and when they did, the sheriff (Darren Jackson) took care of them,” Billings said.

Among the complaints were towels with holes in them. However Billings said the jail, like every entity, has budget concerns and some of the towels do have holes in them.

Complaints by Gutierrez that she was harassed by trusties after she had complained are only partially accurate, Billings said. “There appears to be only one trusty involved and as soon as the sheriff found out, the inmate’s trusty status was revoked, he was locked down and is now in a TDCJ facility.”

Billings said he continues to get conflicting statements from various inmates who are now scattered through the state, making it difficult to find out who is telling the truth.

“We have to set up a conference call with one inmate in state custody, along with her lawyer, and we have to go through TDCJ. She originally told one story and now said through her lawyer that she lied, but wants a sentence reduction before she’ll talk.”

The Ranger said he had investigated the reports when rumors first started around the jail, but said at that time everyone involved denied any wrong doing.

The possible improprieties in the jail first surfaced on April 8. Since that time Sheriff Jackson has no comment other than to say that the investigation had been handed over to the Texas Ranger who said he is forwarding his findings to the district attorney’s office.

Investigators have said they are still trying to determine if any law has been broken, or rather just administrative procedures.