Gonzales County probation officer Russell Springs has been accused of an inappropriate relationship and sexual conduct with a client.
“On Aug. 13, I was contacted by the Gonzales County District Attorney’s office about allegations against Mr. Springs,” Department of Public Safety agent Dwayne Goll said. Goll is in charge of the investigation in cooperation with the Texas Rangers.
“That day I also spoke with Linda Smith, the chief probation officer of the 25th district,” he said.
As director of the Second 25th Judicial District, including the probation department, which covers Gonzales, Lavaca and Colorado counties, Smith is Springs’ supervisor. Her office is in Hallettsville.
“The buck stops here at my desk, unfortunately,” said Smith during a telephone interview, Aug. 22. The Inquirer contacted Smith to ask for comment on the position of her department in this situation, but she declined offering an explanation of the allegations or any information on the status of the alleged victim’s claim.
“I am not going to comment on this issue,” she said. “Not now, not ever.”
Goll is moving forward with the investigation to determine if formal charges will be filed.
“I have spoken with both he (Springs) and the alleged victim,” said Goll. “It is too early to say when and what charges may be filed against him.”
Goll said the name of the victim is being withheld from the public to protect her identity.
Gonzales attorney Houston Munson is representing Springs in this case. Munson told Inquirer that on Friday afternoon (Aug. 22), Springs met with Linda Smith in her office to discuss the situation.
“After considering his seniority with the probation department, she decided to allow him to retire in lieu of termination, due to the allegations,” said Munson.
According to the Lavaca County Auditor’s office, which manages the district’s payroll, Spring’s has been an employee of the second 25th district since July, 15, 1995.
“During the course of the investigation, he submitted his application to retire,” said Smith during a second interview Tuesday. “He’s been an employee with us for a long time, and he elected to retire instead of being terminated.”
Smith said Springs’ retirement is effective immediately, and that although the paperwork will not be finalized until Aug. 30, he is no longer a probation officer or employee of the Second 25th Judicial District.
"As a county employee, he has been paying into his retirement fund, and can request to withdraw that money at any time," Smith said. "We are not writing him a check to retire, the County matches the amount deposited into the account by each individual."
Munson said no charges have been filed against his client, and he does not know when or if there will be any, now that Springs is retired from the probation department.
“I am not sure if they will take his retirement and service into consideration or what part it will play in this,” said Munson.
When asked when the case against Springs may become official and go to court, Munson reiterated that official charges have not been filed.
“Since the Grand Jury just met in Gonzales last Friday, it may be a while before anything moves forward on this case,” said Munson.
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