WATCH: Clay County sheriff addresses official oppression charges

HENRIETTA, Texas (KAUZ) - Clay County Sheriff Jeff Lyde held a press conference on Tuesday, addressing recent official oppression charges against him.

Lyde said the charges arose after the county justice of the peace failed to magistrate the individuals involved within the 48-hour time period.

The full press conference can be found below:

The justice of the peace Lyde is referring to is John Swenson. Lyde said that on Saturday, July 10, Sarah Johnson and Landon Goad were arrested and brought to jail for assault - family violence charges. That same day, Swenson was notified about the arrest.

Swenson was reportedly then back at the jail on Sunday to magistrate two other people but not Johnson and Goad. Lyde said Swenson then came back on Monday, but again did not magistrate neither Johnson nor Goad once again.

“I’m saying that is his job, to sign the releases and he failed to do so,” said Lyde. “Standing in this room there’s probably over 100 years of law enforcement experience and tens of thousands of affidavits; I’ve never seen this before. I’ve never seen this kind of behavior at any time on an affidavit because it’s standard practice.”

Both Goad and Johnson were eventually released on Tuesday. Lyde said he does not know if Swenson will face repercussions after the incident.

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