Tyler

By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer

Smith County Precinct 1 Constable Henry Jackson was released from jail late Tuesday after a judge agreed to lower his bonds.

Jackson, 55, who already faces seven felony counts of tampering with governmental records and three misdemeanor counts of official oppression/sexual harassment, was arrested Monday for violating his conditions of release by allegedly breaking the law. The constable was charged Friday with working security after his license was suspended.

Jackson’s bonds were lowered from $1,050,000 to $525,000 by 241st District Judge Jack Skeen Jr. during a hearing Tuesday.

The defendant’s pre-trial supervision officers filed a bond violation report Monday and Skeen had revoked Jackson’s bonds, which had been $50,000 on each of his seven felony charges. The judge tripled them to $150,000 apiece and set a new condition of bond, ordering Jackson to not operate his security business while his license is suspended.

Jackson’s defense attorneys then filed a motion to reduce the bond amount.

Skeen said it was “standard practice” for the court, after receiving a bond violation report, to revoke the bond and triple a defendant’s bonds.

Tyler defense attorney Tonda Curry, who is acting as special prosecutor in the case, called four witnesses — two pre-trial service supervisors and two Texas Department of Public Safety troopers who investigated Jackson’s case.

After their testimony and a brief recess, Ms. Curry and defense attorneys Michael Heiskell, of Forth Worth, and Michael Todd, of Dallas, announced they had reached an agreement to lower Jackson’s bonds.

Heiskell and Todd had not yet called their handful of witnesses, which included Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton and former commissioner Andrew Melontree, before the agreement on bonds was made.

Jackson’s new misdemeanor charge stems from him allegedly working security for his company Fail Safe Security Agency July 4 at the Fed Ex Building in Tyler. His security license had been suspended in May after he was indicted on 10 charges.

Jackson was indicted on seven felony charges of tampering with governmental records and three misdemeanor charges of official oppression/sexual harassment. He is set to go to trial on the misdemeanor charges Aug. 4 and the felony charges on Aug. 18.

The tampering charges arise from alleged false filings made by Jackson regarding his private security company, Fail Safe Security Agency, Ms. Curry said.

On seven occasions, from August 2006 through February 2008, Jackson allegedly made false entries in governmental records with the intent to defraud the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau.

Jackson was also indicted on three counts of official oppression for alleged sexual harassment while acting as a public servant. Jackson allegedly made unwelcome sexual advances to three women, some of whom were employees, on Dec. 15, 2006, March 11, 2007, and July 1, 2007, according to the indictments.

Henry Jackson
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