SAN ANTONIO – Less than eight months after being removed from his role as the executive director of the Bexar County Military and Veterans Services Department, Keith Wilson is now taking legal action against the county. He claims he faced retaliation and discrimination after reporting serious workplace issues.
Wilson, who had been in charge of the department since September 2022, filed a 41-page lawsuit on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. In his lawsuit, he named Bexar County and Larry Roberson, the county’s chief civil attorney, as defendants.
According to Wilson, after he reported allegations of workplace discrimination involving his former deputy director, Nancy Taguacta, county leadership began to scrutinize him more closely. He argues that this scrutiny led to disciplinary actions and investigations against him.
The lawsuit alleges that the county publicly damaged his reputation by accusing him of inappropriate conduct, including claims that he accessed sexually explicit material on his county-issued phone. Wilson disputes these allegations, stating that the investigators relied on outdated internet data from his personal Google account, some of which was from before he even worked for Bexar County.
Wilson’s lawsuit claims that the county retaliated against him in violation of federal employment discrimination laws. He specifically accuses Roberson of violating his constitutional rights. In one notable instance, Roberson allegedly told Wilson that he would not “survive” an investigation by the county’s Ombudsman.
Wilson is seeking compensation for lost wages, damages, attorney’s fees, and either reinstatement to his former position or compensation for future lost earnings. He has requested a jury trial to resolve the matter.
Background of Workplace Complaints
The lawsuit details that Wilson began receiving complaints in late July and August 2025 from employees alleging that Taguacta was involved in bullying, harassment, and retaliation against staff. One notable complaint had the heading “ONLY FEMALES BEING TERMINATED,” indicating a serious concern about gender discrimination.
Other complaints raised issues regarding the treatment of employees suffering from mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Wilson reported these complaints to Bexar County Ombudsman Allison Highley in August 2025, asking for an investigation to address the issues properly.
The Ombudsman’s investigation later substantiated the complaints against Taguacta in October 2025. Despite this, Taguacta, who had been with the county for over three decades, was permitted to resign and retire instead of facing termination. Allegedly, the county even offered her a $25,000 separation payment.
Moreover, Wilson’s lawsuit claims that complaints about Taguacta had been made years before he became director, yet he was never informed of these issues despite being criticized later for not addressing them.
Performance Improvement Plan and Investigation
In October 2025, County Manager David Smith placed Wilson on a 90-day performance improvement plan. Wilson claims he was told that Roberson wanted to “wipe the leadership slate clean” in the department. The plan outlined several areas of concern regarding Wilson’s leadership and conduct.
Wilson disagrees with these findings, arguing that his role required him to be out in the community rather than confined to his office. He had not faced any formal disciplinary actions in his prior three years with the county.
Despite Wilson proposing a departmental action plan to improve training and organizational processes, the county continued to rely on the original performance improvement plan to justify further scrutiny against him. He filed a formal grievance alleging retaliation in December 2025, only to be placed on paid administrative leave shortly afterward.
Outside Investigation and Termination
The lawsuit raises eyebrows about the county’s decision to hire an outside law firm for the investigation into Wilson. Bexar County hired Caldwell Clark Fanucchi & Finlayson, PLLC, with a budget of up to $100,000. Wilson argues that this investigation commenced soon after he lodged his complaints about retaliation.
The legal filing states that the investigation grew beyond the initial complaints identified in his performance plan and instead became a way to find justifications for his termination. Wilson was interviewed for over five hours by an outside investigator, but he claims he was never allowed to respond to many accusations that were later used against him.
On February 17, Wilson filed a formal retaliation complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Less than a month later, on March 10, Bexar County Commissioners voted to terminate his employment while he was away at a ski resort.
County’s Response to Allegations
Bexar County has previously denied Wilson’s claims of retaliation, stating that their actions were based on legitimate concerns about his leadership and conduct. The county contends that Wilson’s referral of employee complaints to the Ombudsman was a normal aspect of his managerial duties, not an act of opposition to discrimination.
Wilson, however, argues that the timing of the county’s actions and the shifting justifications they provided demonstrate a clear case of retaliation against him. The EEOC issued Wilson notices of his right to sue in August 2026 after concluding its investigations without determining whether any federal laws had been violated.
