TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The previous Smith County elections administrator who was arrested after she put a colon-cleansing medication in her co-workers’ drinks with out their data agreed to 18 months of deferred adjudication Wednesday.
In June, Denise Ann Hernandez, 54, of Athens, was initially arrested on two counts of assault inflicting bodily damage.
On Wednesday, Hernandez appeared in Smith County’s County-Courtroom-at-Legislation No. 2 for a plea listening to. As a part of the settlement, Hernandez pleaded responsible to the 2 assault fees. She’s going to serve 18 months of deferred adjudication, which is like probation.
The 2 victims agreed that Hernandez’ sentence was applicable, in keeping with Paul Clarkston, the court docket supervisor for County-Courtroom-at-Legislation No. 2.
Based on a earlier East Texas Information story, the assault occurred on or about April 27, 2021, within the Smith County Courthouse annex constructing on E. Ferguson St. in Tyler, within the elections division. A detective learn the written statements of the victims of the alleged assault, in addition to the statements of witnesses who had data of the incident. The act of the colon cleanse being added to the sufferer’s drinks with out their data and with disregard to their pre-existing medical situations brought on their situations to be amplified and brought on them ache, the detective acknowledged.
One of many victims gave the detective a press release and informed him that Hernandez was her supervisor within the elections division and that they have been working collectively on April 27. She mentioned she was telling one other coworker about one thing she was involved about when Hernandez left the room. When she got here again, she allegedly gave every of them a cup of pink liquid that Hernandez described as Spark Vitality Drink. They each drank the drinks. Hernandez requested them if that they had completed their drinks, which that they had.
They are saying she then positioned a canister of colon cleanse on the counter and began making enjoyable of them for ingesting it and singing, “You simply drank colon cleanser!” in a infantile method.
The subsequent day, Hernandez continued to make enjoyable of the ladies, one among whom had a medical situation that was made worse by the colon cleanse liquid. The affidavit mentioned she skilled ache, in addition to the embarrassment inflicted by Hernandez. She mentioned that she was afraid to say something as a result of Hernandez was a bully and he or she didn’t wish to lose her job.
The girl mentioned she determined to file fees in opposition to Hernandez, stating that Denise finds it humorous to choose on them at work, and known as her a bully, in keeping with the arrest affidavit. She mentioned there have been earlier incidents whereby Hernandez would poke the girl’s breast or make enjoyable of her in different methods.
An arrest warrant was issued on Could 26 by Decide Kerry Russell. Hernandez was arrested on June 1 on two fees of assault inflicting bodily damage and held on a complete bond quantity of $20,000. She bonded out the identical day.
The knowledge within the affidavit was redacted to guard the victims’ identities and their medical situations.
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