Bexar County detention deputy accused of ignoring jail inmate’s beating

Jean Camacho-Morales, 33, facing criminal charges

SAN ANTONIO – A Bexar County detention deputy has been arrested for his alleged role in the brutal beating of a jail inmate.

Sheriff Javier Salazar made the announcement late Tuesday night, saying that Jean Camacho-Morales, 33, faces a number of charges, including aggravated assault.

The arrest stems from the attack Monday afternoon on a 44-year-old inmate in a shower at the Bexar County jail. Sources identified a suspect in the attack as Justin Rodriguez, 25, and he was charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony, jail records show.

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The inmate, who remains in a hospital, reportedly suffered facial fractures, broken vertebrae and had to be hooked up to a ventilator for a while, Salazar said.

He says although the beating, itself, was committed by fellow inmates, Camacho still played a role in it.

“While this poor victim is lying back there in a shower, beaten pretty severely, he stood by and did nothing, and then allowed the attack to continue,” Salazar said.

Additionally, he said, Camacho then delayed reporting the incident and lied about what happened.

“He allowed this man to lie there in a pool of his own blood for several minutes, probably upwards of a half hour during which time other inmates that were involved actually were able to clean up,” Salazar said.

Investigators with the sheriff’s office and Federal Bureau of Investigation later were able to determine the truth by reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses, he said.

Salazar said at one point, Camacho identified several inmates as suspects in the beating when they, in reality, had tried to help the victim. He said this was done to throw investigators off track.

In addition to the criminal charges he faces, Camacho also will be fired from his job, Salazar said.

He said one of the inmates involved in the attack already has been arrested and more arrests are expected.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that the beating was gang-related, Salazar said.


About the Authors:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.

Tim has been a photojournalist and video editor at KSAT since 1998. He came to San Antonio from Lubbock, where he worked in TV and earned his bachelor's degree in Electronic Media and Communication from Texas Tech University. Tim has won a handful of awards and has earned a master's in Strategic Communication and Innovation from Tech as well.