WILSON COUNTY, Texas – Wilson County has decided to pay a former sheriff’s deputy, Irene Hernandez, $200,000 to settle a federal sex discrimination complaint. Hernandez accused her supervisor of making unwanted sexual advances and engaging in inappropriate contact while they were on duty.
The situation escalated as six female employees eventually came forward with complaints regarding several high-ranking members of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). This information was detailed in a statement submitted to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by then-Wilson County Attorney Tom Caldwell in July 2024.
An investigation led by Caldwell the previous year found that allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior within the WCSO were indeed “founded.” This was revealed just months before Sheriff Jim Stewart publicly denied the existence of sex discrimination issues in his department, claiming that Caldwell had not provided him with sufficient evidence to take action.
Hernandez’s Experience
Hernandez reported that her troubles began shortly after she was hired. She recalled, “I listened to a lot of sex talk, I listened to a lot of the investigators talk about women in derogatory ways.”
Hernandez resigned from the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office in February 2024. (KSAT)
One of her most serious concerns was regarding her then-supervisor, Sgt. Richard Nichols. Hernandez reported him to a lieutenant in June 2022, alleging inappropriate contact and unwanted sexual advances during their shifts.
Former Wilson County Sheriff’s sergeant Richard Nichols. (KSAT)
Hernandez later claimed that her confidential allegations were leaked within the agency, leading to other deputies withholding backup during calls after she made her complaint. Nichols left the WCSO in July 2022 and was subsequently hired by the La Vernia Police Department in May 2023.
In June 2023, Hernandez took her ongoing concerns about the work environment to Attorney Caldwell, who initiated his own investigation.
Findings from the Investigation
Caldwell’s investigation expanded to include other female employees, and his report released in October 2023 confirmed that the allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior were indeed “founded.”
Caldwell noted that the perpetrators had never been informed by the department that their behavior was inappropriate or needed to change. He presented his findings to Sheriff Stewart, the Wilson County Judge, and
