Montague County, TX ex-sheriff pleads guilty to sexual coercion of inmate

Tursday, January 29, saw former Montague County Sheriff Bill Keating's official downfall. He is now officially a federal felon, and for the 1st time in almost 40 years, is a private citizen. However the disgrace that comes from having to give up a lifelong career pales to that he'll face as a federal prisoner folling his May 1 scheduled sentencing. That's when Keating faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for violating a female inmate's civil rights by sexually coercing her.

In November, Keating and his deputies found traces of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at the home of a man whom they were arresting on a warrant. The former sheriff threatened to take the man's girlfriend to jail as well, unless she had sex with him. Authorities say he then drove her to a rural road and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

He also demanded sex from her on other occasions, court documents show, and forced her to agree to be a Montague County sheriff's department informant.

"I have a feeling that this sort of thing is more widespread than we know," said federal prosecutor Rick Calvert. "We want this to be an eye-opener for individuals who hold positions of public trust. Even if you are the elected sheriff, that doesn't mean you are above the law."

The Montague County DA Jack McGaughey expects to hand state indictments to Keating and some of his employees in the next two weeksalleging that they had sex with inmates and allowed contraband to get into the lockup. McGaughey's office called in the FBI and Texas Rangers after tips about official misconduct at the lockup. Recliners were found in some cells, along with pills. Current Sheriff Paul Cunningham had to transfer prisoners to surrounding lockups due to inoperable fire and security systems.

Keating was formerly the city manager of Watauga and for a time served as the city's police chief. He started his career in Fort Worth in 1969. After Watauga, he became a constable in Montague County before being elected sheriff in 2004. He was defeated in last year's March primary but continued to serve until Cunningham took office January 1.