Scaman now tethered to Falls County

Former Falls County Sheriff Ricky Scaman was given a rude awakening on Thursday, Nov. 12, when he was informed he would soon be issued an ankle monitor. 

The ousted official was stripped of his duties in early October after being named in an indictment where he was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of assault on a public servant, and two counts of official oppression on Sept. 21.

The ankle monitor is the only thing allowing Scaman to stay out on parole. A visiting judge was asked to include this to be sure that the accused would continue to follow the guidelines set by his bond conditions. Scaman can neither leave Falls County, nor can he on premises at the Falls County Jail without express permission from and planning with Falls County Officials. The elected official also now needs permission when investing more than $99.99 on purchases for the department instead of the standard $500.

After a loss to Democrat Joe Lopez on Nov. 3, county commissioners opted to pursue legal action against Scaman to ensure that required documentation concerning the Jail Commissary and equipment inventory records for the tri-annual audit are turned over to the auditor’s by the Dec. 5 deadline given to the county by The Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

“We need to get the account audited so we aren’t in noncompliance,” County Judge Jay Elliott told reporters that day. “We need to ensure the guns and equipment we get through governmental programs are accounted for.”

This was decided during the Nov. 9 meeting and then discussed again a week later, citing that the incoming Sheriff hopefully wouldn’t have the same problems.

“We have a new guy coming in,” Elliott said during the Nov. 16 meeting. “We have to know what he’s walking into.”

The last time Falls County was audited was in 2013, according to Elliott. He says that he, as well as other pertinent officials, have requested the files many times and have been asking for them for months.