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When detention officers are charged with sexually assaulting inmates and county commissioners face embezzlement allegations, you might expect local officials to welcome accountability reporting. Instead, Comanche County officers chose intimidation and constitutional violations when a journalist arrived to investigate.
The reporter had barely begun reviewing public records about a detention officer's rape charges when courthouse staff called police. What followed was a masterclass in how not to handle transparency requests.
The Investigation That Made Officials Nervous
The story that brought the journalist to Lawton involves serious allegations of a pattern of corruption. A Comanche County detention officer sits in jail on second-degree rape charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a female inmate in her cell. Meanwhile, a county commissioner faces embezzlement charges for reportedly diverting county funds for personal use.
Court documents reveal disturbing details about the detention center incident, describing how the assault "occurred for approximately 5 seconds before he heard a noise, zipped his pants up and left quickly." When investigators noticed both the detention officer and commissioner were seeking sexual favors from people under their authority, they began wondering if a broader pattern was emerging.
When Public Records Requests Become "Disturbances"
The journalist's first stop was the court clerk's office to review case files. He was quietly flipping through documents when officers approached and interrupted him. When he explained he was exercising his constitutional right to review public records, the situation escalated quickly.
"You got to love when you're silently flipping through records and documents trying to read stuff for an investigation when an officer comes up to you interrupts you and then when you start talking to him says you're creating a disturbance," the journalist noted.
The Follow and Intimidate Strategy
After the initial confrontation, Officer Hector Vonas began following the journalist around the building. When questioned about this surveillance, Vonas admitted he was acting on orders from Lieutenant Gonzalez. The journalist explained how this behavior was "chilling the Constitutional activity" he was engaged in.
The situation became more concerning when the officer's taser was visibly positioned and ready. "Why do you have your taser out?" the journalist asked. The officer claimed it was because he was left-handed, but the positioning suggested otherwise.
Lieutenant Gonzalez Loses His Cool
When the journalist requested to speak with Lieutenant Gonzalez about the harassment, things went from bad to worse. Gonzalez initially tried to move the conversation away from the public area where courthouse employees were working.
The breaking point came when Gonzalez walked away mid-conversation. The journalist called this behavior "idiotic," which apparently was the excuse officials needed. Despite the journalist's calm demeanor and legitimate purpose, Gonzalez ordered him to leave the entire building under threat of arrest.
The Constitutional Violation Admission
In a remarkable moment captured on video, Lieutenant Gonzalez explicitly stated he was giving a "direct order to walk out of the building under threat of arrest." This admission provided clear evidence of a constitutional violation, as the journalist had been peacefully requesting public records in a public building.
When asked what he was being kicked out for, officers claimed he was "creating a disturbance." Their definition of disturbance apparently included quietly reviewing documents, asking for public records, and having conversations with helpful courthouse staff upstairs who were "extremely helpful" and "being nice."
What Happened Next Will Surprise You
The journalist chose not to take the arrest that day, having already captured enough evidence of constitutional violations for a federal lawsuit. But he made a promise that would set up an even more dramatic confrontation. He announced he would return the next day, this time prepared to be arrested if officials continued their unlawful behavior.
The question remains: what happened when he came back with backup, bail money, and multiple cameras rolling?
Watch the full confrontation to see how far Comanche County officials were willing to go to stop accountability reporting about sexual assault and corruption.
