Bastrop County, TX: (May-16-08) Charlie Littleton, a former Bastrop County jail administrator, filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the county in 2007, stating that several county employees improperly used county equipment and funds, as well as inmate labor to build barbecue pits for profit and do other work on private property.

The allegations were brought against several officials including a former County Commissioner David Goertz and former Sheriff Richard Hernandez. Littleton filed the suit after he lost his job in January 2007. The suit was followed up by an investigation by the TX attorney general's office, which resulted in Goertz and Hernandez pleading guilty to corruption charges in January 2008. Additionally, Bastrop County agreed to pay Littleton $187,500 and full retirement benefits in settlement of the whistleblower complaint.

Under the terms of the deal, county officials and Littleton also agreed not to make disparaging remarks about one another. Further, Littleton's file with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education will be amended to reflect an honorable discharge. [AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN: BASTROP COUNTY SETTLES WHISTLE-BLOWER LAWSUIT]