Felony sex assault charges against former sheriff dismissed

Former Falls County Sheriff Ricky Scaman, indicted last year on felony charges he sexually abused two women, was placed on deferred probation after his no contest plea to one misdemeanor count of official oppression.

Visiting Judge Burt Carnes, of Williamson County, accepted Scaman’s plea bargain on Monday. The deal included an agreement by the Texas Attorney General’s Office to dismiss two felony counts of sexual assault, two felony counts of assault of a public servant and two misdemeanor counts of official oppression in exchange for Scaman’s guilty plea to the Class A misdemeanor count.

Scaman, 49, who had been set for trial in April, also agreed to surrender his state peace officer’s license and pay a $1,000 fine as conditions of the plea bargain. He is working now as a project manager for a McLennan County construction company.

Scaman was named in a five-count indictment in September 2020 that involved two alleged victims — a Falls County employee and a city of Marlin employee. He was defeated for re-election to a second term by Sheriff Joe Lopez while vowing to fight the charges and return to law enforcement.

He was arrested again in August after a Falls County grand jury returned a superseding seven-count indictment that involved three alleged victims and included two counts of sexual assault, second-degree felonies; two counts of assault of a public servant, third-degree felonies; and three counts of official oppression, Class A misdemeanors.

Count one of the indictment alleged Scaman penetrated a woman with his “finger and/or hand” in August 2020. It also alleged he groped, grabbed or touched the woman improperly and pushed her up against a car and pulled her hair while she was responding to an emergency call in her official capacity with the city of Marlin.

Paragraph 3 of Count 1 alleged Scaman sexually harassed a woman by making unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.

The second count of the indictment alleged Scaman pushed a former sheriff’s office employee against a wall and groped or grabbed her in April 2020. It also alleges he sexually harassed her.

Count 3 also alleges Scaman sexually assaulted another woman with his hand in January 2017 and also sexually harassed her by kissing her neck and groping her.

Two other women who alleged Scaman made unwanted advances and sexually harassed them filed federal lawsuits against Scaman four years ago. Those suits were resolved by out-of-court, undisclosed settlements.

A former dispatcher and jailer claimed in her civil case that Scaman called her into his office on more than 20 occasions and licked her face, groped her and sexually assaulted her. The second woman alleged Scaman subjected her to gender discrimination, sexual harassment and created a hostile work environment that forced her to leave her job.