FALLS COUNTY, Texas – It’s not the publicity one would want just six weeks out from an election, but it’s the latest update added to Falls County Sheriff Ricky Scaman’s public profile.

The Texas Rangers arrested Scaman and booked him into the Bell County Jail, where he faces a total of five charges including two charges of Felony Assault of a Public Servant, one sexual assault charge
and two misdemeanor charges of Official Oppression.

Scaman’s bond amount totaled to be nearly $200,000.

Roughly a year and one month ago, Scaman and Falls County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Marlin PD because Marlin PD Chief Nathan Sodek committed suicide as a result of a sexual assault investigation.

Around this time last year, Cedric Davis was serving as Marlin PD’s interim chief – replacing Sodek.

“Right now, it’s a sad day for Falls County,” Davis said in response to Scaman’s arrest.

Now, there’s a similar circumstance at the Sheriff’s Department around the corner.

“The allegations of Sexual Assault and Official Oppression as a long time peace officer, it’s just a road we don’t go down. So it’s stunning right now,” Davis shared.

As Marlin’s city manager, he still sees Falls County with an outsider’s perspective.

He says the issue surrounding Scaman’s arrest and ones similar stems from officers losing sight of the ultimate objective of law enforcement.

“Everything is about doing right by the public, and it’s not about self. The hurdles that we seem to be running into or the brick walls that we’re running into in Falls County and Marlin seems to be about self,” said Davis.

He predicts the news will have an impact on leaders of other law enforcement agencies, causing them to take a closer look within their departments.

“All of the police chiefs, they will make sure their personnel is definitely doing the right thing. They’ll probably go back and look at their policies and procedures and have a conversation with their personnel,” Davis told FOX44 News.

When we reached out to Falls County Judge Jay Elliot, he told us at the time he had just learned of Scaman’s charges and offered no comment.

No further details were released.