Officials with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) confirmed that two former employees were arrested Sunday for their alleged involvement in the failure to render aid to an inmate at the Clements Unit in Potter County.
According to TDCJ officials, staff at the Clements Unit entered the inmate’s cell at approximately 3:19 a.m. after he allegedly “lit a fire in his cell and had become unresponsive.” The inmate, whose name has not been released by the TDCJ, was pronounced dead at 4:09 a.m.
The two employees, identified as 39-year-old Crystal Janelle West and 33-year-old William Eugene Romero, were arrested on the unit’s property. TDCJ confirmed that West faces an alleged manslaughter charge, while Romero faces an alleged criminally negligent homicide charge. Both are no longer employed by the agency.
“The agency is working closely with OIG and the Special Prosecution Unit so that those staff who allegedly failed to act will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” TDCJ officials said in a statement to High Plains Pundit. Officials added that due to the ongoing criminal case, no further information would be released at this time.
Records from the Potter County Sheriff’s Office indicate that neither West nor Romero was granted bond following their arrests. Jail records corroborate the charges, listing West’s alleged manslaughter and Romero’s alleged criminally negligent homicide.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by the TDCJ Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Special Prosecution Unit, which oversees criminal cases involving prison employees. The department has emphasized its commitment to holding staff accountable when failures in duty occur.
While details about the inmate’s identity or the events leading up to the fire remain limited, the case has raised questions about safety protocols and staff response procedures within the Texas prison system. According to the TDCJ, staff members are trained to respond immediately to emergencies in housing units, including fires, medical incidents, and other threats to inmate safety.
This incident marks a rare occurrence in the Texas prison system, where allegations of criminal negligence by staff result in arrest. Advocates for prison reform and criminal justice accountability have frequently called for stricter oversight and transparency when prison personnel are involved in incidents that result in inmate injury or death.
The TDCJ has not released additional information regarding the timeline of events inside the inmate’s cell prior to the arrival of staff. The department also has not commented on whether any other employees might face disciplinary or criminal actions.
As the investigation continues, local authorities and the TDCJ have pledged to provide updates when appropriate. Meanwhile, West and Romero remain in custody, facing the legal proceedings associated with the charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
The Clements Unit, located in Potter County, houses a large number of male inmates and has previously reported incidents requiring emergency intervention by staff. Officials have reiterated that maintaining inmate safety is a top priority and that any failure to fulfill this duty is taken seriously by the agency.
