Montgomery Co Deputy Indicted for Excessive Force

**Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy Indicted, Terminated Following Excessive Force Allegation**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX** – A Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy has been indicted by a grand jury on a Class A Misdemeanor Assault charge, stemming from an alleged excessive force incident during an arrest last December. Deputy Jesse D. Hendrix was officially terminated from his position with the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office two days after the indictment was handed down on May 8, 2024.

The charge against Deputy Hendrix originates from an incident that occurred on December 14, 2023, in the Valley Ranch area of Porter, Texas. The allegation centers on Hendrix’s use of excessive force during the arrest of a resident.

Following the December incident, Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden promptly requested an independent criminal investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Internal Affairs Division. This action underscored the Constable’s commitment to transparency and accountability within his department.

MCSO Internal Affairs, under the supervision of Sgt. Jeff Smith and Captain Jimmy Williams, initiated a comprehensive criminal investigation later that same month. As a direct result of the ongoing inquiry, Deputy Hendrix was placed on administrative leave with pay on December 18, 2023, just days after the incident occurred.

After conducting a thorough investigation, MCSO Internal Affairs concluded its findings and presented the evidence to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in April 2024. First Assistant District Attorney Mike Toth and his team subsequently brought the case before a Montgomery County grand jury to determine if sufficient probable cause existed for a criminal charge.

On May 8, 2024, the grand jury returned an indictment against Hendrix for a Class A Misdemeanor Assault. In Texas, a Class A Misdemeanor carries a potential penalty of up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $4,000, or both. His bond for the charge has been set at $1,000.

Immediately following the indictment, Deputy Hendrix’s employment status was adjusted from administrative leave with pay to administrative leave without pay. Two days later, on May 10, 2024, his employment with the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office was officially terminated.

The legal process for Deputy Hendrix will now proceed through the Montgomery County court system. Further details regarding the case are expected to emerge as it progresses through the judicial system.