Perez Hearing, Afternoon Session Underway
September 26th, 2023 by Joe Burgess
3: pm Update. At 2:25, jail administrator Courtney Hale was called by Gibson. She recalled an earlier meeting with Nichols, Perez and her. Everything seemed smooth, until August, when this situation began.
Hale described that day as her asking Perez to leave, to which he allegedly replied, “I’m the chief deputy, I’m staying.” Next, Hicks asked her about Perez cancelling a special visit for an inmate.
Their relationship was discussed further, and she closed by say that she felt intimidated by his presence at the meeting.
She commented that their relationship changed after the dismissal of her assistant.
She was dismissed at 2:50
2:30 Update. An unrelated jailer was called by Hicks, who told that if Perez had been loud at the meeting, she would’ve heard or seen it.
At 2:20 Hicks sailed that he he no more witnesses to call.
2 pm Update. Around 1:15, Hicks presented a 4 page document, single spaced, for the JPs to consider. Gibson objected, and the 2 attorneys disagreed for several minutes.
Gibson asked Perez about the used of the word “bull$#|+” and other words.
Gibson continued to question Perez for several more minutes, before reading 8 reports from jailers about Perez’ alleged behavior at the meeting in question.
Hicks objected to Gibson’s use of statements instead of having the witnesses testify, so that Perez could face his accusers. Hicks called this “hearsay.”
Call the court members ask Perez, several questions, including “if you have known you were being video, when your reaction has been the same,?“ His answer was along the lines of basically the same.
An emotional Perez teared up, and the court took a 10 minute recess, before Perez stepped down, at 2:10
1:30 Update- The Monday afternoon session of the Jerome Perez grievance hearing, which is being heard about the Drew County Quorum Court as the grievance committee resumed at 1 PM, with Attorney Hicks calling Jerome Perez to testify.
His first topic was his law enforcement background; next was his job description as chief deputy, which he claims were never clearly explained.
Hicks asked Perez about jail issues, and he responded with multiple examples, that he’d been concerned about.
Next Hicks asked Perez about the issues with the jail administrator, but said that there hadn’t been an early meeting with them and Sheriff Nichols.
The recording of the conversation about Perez seeking the sheriff’s job was discussed, and had seemingly been resolved between Nichols and Perez.
The next topic was the jail meeting, and how Perez felt about the jail situation.
Hicks then asked Perez about his relationship with Nichols during the election, which was very strong.
Perez stated several times that he felt like Nichols didn’t “have my back,” when dealing with jail issues.
Perez said that he felt like a “second secretary,” and had not been written up, during his DCSO employment.
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