GALVESTON, Texas – Local 2 Investigates has confirmed that Galveston County District Clerk Jason Murray has turned in his resignation.
The resignation comes after a growing list of criminal complaints filed against him, including assault, driving while under the influence and now sexual harassment.
Murray was elected Galveston County District Clerk and took office in January 2011.
In December 2011, Murray pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife after a Christmas party. She said he fractured her nose when he punched her. She jumped from his moving SUV to escape.
Murray got two years probation for the assault. That's why when he was arrested for driving while under the influence in March he was also charged with violating his probation.
Murray's wife's divorce attorney said the ex-district clerk needs help.
"Mr. Murray's been on a downward spiral for a long time and has been able to keep it under wraps, and only now that his wife is not there to kind of help him keep it under wraps ... you know, it's coming to light," attorney Stephanie Proffitt said. "Everybody's kind of figuring out that he's got some issues."
Long before all of those incidents, Galveston County employee Tina Longcoy reported Murray for sexually harassing another employee when she said he tried to get inside their Austin hotel room during a business trip last summer. Longcoy said she was fired for reporting the incident. She hired attorney Tom Padgett to help get her job back.
"We think she is a very talented individual who lost her job as a result of a man going crazy," said Padgett.
Murray has at least three attorneys for the different criminal charges leveled against him. KPRC Local 2 contacted all of them, but none would comment.
KPRC Local 2 has been told that Murray turned in resignation to the district attorney and at least two district judges late Monday. It is effective May 5.