Ex-Deputy Indicted for Perjury, Held Without Bond

LIBERTY, Texas – A former Liberty County Sheriff's deputy is being held without bond following his indictment on charges stemming from an alleged attempt to cover up a use-of-force incident.

Jason Grindstaff, 41, was arrested on May 20, 2024, after a Liberty County grand jury returned an indictment on May 16, 2024. He is charged with aggravated perjury and lying to an internal affairs investigator. The charges are the result of a monthslong investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers into Grindstaff's conduct and subsequent statements regarding a use-of-force event that occurred on October 24, 2023.

According to court documents, prosecutors allege that Grindstaff knowingly provided false information in his official incident report following the October encounter. Further allegations state that he continued to offer untruthful testimony during a formal internal affairs inquiry conducted by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

District Judge Chap Cain III has ordered that Grindstaff remain in custody at the Liberty County Jail without bond.

Grindstaff had been employed by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office for just over a year, having joined the force in February 2023. His tenure ended on March 26, 2024, when he was terminated from his position.

The allegations in the current indictment are not the first time Grindstaff has faced legal scrutiny regarding his conduct in law enforcement. Prior to his employment in Liberty County, Grindstaff served with the Conroe Police Department. During his time there, he became the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit concerning a 2013 traffic stop.

In that case, a federal jury found Grindstaff liable for the use of excessive force against a civilian. The litigation concluded with a $1.2 million judgment against him, highlighting a history of concerns regarding his adherence to use-of-force policies.

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office has not released specific details regarding the nature of the October 24 incident that triggered the Texas Rangers' investigation, citing the ongoing nature of the criminal proceedings. The Texas Rangers, an investigative division of the Texas Department of Public Safety, are frequently called in to conduct independent inquiries into potential criminal misconduct involving law enforcement personnel to ensure impartiality.

Aggravated perjury is a third-degree felony in Texas, punishable by two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Lying to an internal investigator often carries significant professional consequences, though in this case, it has escalated to criminal charges due to the alleged deception surrounding a violent encounter.

Court records indicate that Grindstaff is currently awaiting further scheduling for his trial. No attorney of record was immediately listed in the public docket for this case.