Here's why former Clay County Sheriff Lyde didn't serve his full sentence behind bars
A former Clay County sheriff toppled from elected office by his conviction did not have to serve his full sentence behind bars.
Jeffrey Lyde, a controversial and colorful sheriff, left Hardeman County Jail with four days of street credit garnered during his release for medical issues. In the eyes of the law, he has been punished for two misdemeanor convictions handed down by a jury Sept. 15.
“He served more than he probably would have anywhere else," Hardeman County Sheriff Pat Laughery said in an interview. "He was wanting me to give him two for one or three for one. I wouldn't do it."
In Texas, sheriffs have the discretion to shave days off a sentence for good behavior.
How the former Clay County sheriff ended up in jail
Lyde, 56, ended up serving his time at the Hardeman County Jail in Quanah because counties closer to Clay either had witnesses in his cases or his former employees on staff.
He was sentenced to 30 days in jail Oct. 10 in the wake of a jury finding him guilty of official oppression and tampering with a governmental document, both committed while he was sheriff. Lyde illegally held a man in the Clay County Jail July 12, 2021, and tampered with documents related to charges against the man.
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He voluntarily surrendered his peace officer credentials as part of a punishment deal.
Why former Sheriff Lyde didn't serve the full sentence in jail
Laughery was notified by one of Lyde's lawyers about a court case setting a precedent that meant the sheriff had to give him credit for the time he was out of jail because of medical issues.
The lawyer was lead defense attorney Bob Estrada of Wichita Falls.
"It's solid law from the Court of Criminal Appeals," Estrada said in an interview. "What the case says, is that if someone is released by mistake, through no fault of their own, that their street time counts as if they were actually in custody.”
The ruling is from approximately 15 years ago and regarded a case involving Stephanie Ann Bourg. It originated in the 245th District Court of Harris County.
Estrada said anyone who knows to ask for street credit for an erroneous release gets it, and he used the case years ago in another situation.
Lyde turned himself in Nov. 27 to the Hardeman County Jail to begin serving his sentence.
On the night of Dec. 6, he was transported to Hardeman County Memorial Hospital in Quanah for "potentially life threatening medical issues," Laughery said in an earlier media release.
Since he needed a higher level of care, he was transported to United Regional Health Care System in Wichita Falls, Laughery said. The Hardeman County Sheriff's Office didn't have the manpower to station a deputy at the hospital in Wichita Falls.
So Lyde was released from jail Dec. 7.
His wife, Rhonda, has said his blood pressure was spiking very high, and he was experiencing heart palpitations.
Senior Justice Lee Gabriel, who presided over Lyde's cases, signed an order for the former sheriff to turn himself back into jail by noon Dec. 12. Lyde complied.
Former Sheriff Lyde's demeanor behind bars
Laughery said Lyde was a fair prisoner.
"He didn't give us no trouble," Laughery said.
Lyde did have medical issues, and the Hardeman County Sheriff's Office has to follow legal requirements when it comes to that, Laughery said.
"Anyway, he's done with me. Or I'm done with him, I should say," Laughery said.
More: State law brings the hammer down on former Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde
Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Why former Sheriff Lyde didn't serve his full sentence behind bars
