A Comal County courtroom bailiff with nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience was terminated last month after a sexually explicit video played from his cell phone during a live courtroom proceeding. The incident occurred while a jury trial was underway in a human trafficking and online solicitation of a minor case. Following a sustained internal investigation, Sheriff Mark W. Reynolds rescinded Bailiff William Reed’s commission, citing violations of sexual harassment and professional conduct policies.
Inappropriate Video Seen on Bailiff’s Desk
The incident happened on April 9, 2025, during a recess in District Court #4. According to a formal written complaint from a courtroom staffer, Judge Stephanie Bascon had asked for Reed to return with the jury. When the staffer approached Reed’s desk—after hearing cell phone notification sounds—the staffer discovered his phone plugged into a charger and lying face up. On the screen was what the staffer described as graphic adult content.
“When I walked over to his desk in the courtroom,” wrote the staffer, “I observed his cell phone plugged into a charging cord, laying face up where I could clearly see what appeared to me to be a pornographic video of a woman’s legs spread apart, but wearing lace panties, followed by her very large breasts barely covered by a bra.”
Startled, the staffer uttered, “Oh, my,” which drew the attention of Judge Bascon. The judge quietly asked, “Is everything okay?” to which the staffer responded, “No.” The staffer was then taken outside the courtroom and asked to explain what was seen. That same afternoon, the staffer was instructed to report the incident to Court Administrator Steve Thomas.
“I was shocked and offended by what I had seen,” the staffer added in the memo, “especially that it was so easily in view for anyone that might have walked up to his desk area.”
Reed Admits to Using Facebook Reels at Work
Reed submitted a written response on April 15, 2025, in which he admitted to having used his cell phone to watch videos during court breaks via the Facebook Reels feature—referred to in his statement as “Reelz.” He denied intentionally exposing others to inappropriate content but acknowledged that sexually suggestive material sometimes appears in the feed.
“I was using my cell phone and was viewing Facebook,” Reed wrote. “I was watching Reelz from that website. I do know that Facebook has some adult content and it does come up on the feed… I cannot deny that this could have been on my phone, but I did not see the actual image that is being discussed as the Reelz had scrolled through by the time I returned from my break.”
He said the last video he remembered watching was one “on making a wood table.” Reed expressed regret and embarrassment, adding, “This is certainly not anything I would have intentionally ever shown… or any other co-worker.” He promised to delete the app going forward, noting, “I hope that if I am granted the opportunity to stay at the courthouse, I can apologize profusely for this horrible situation.”
Internal Interview: Prior Exposure to Adult Content at Work
Reed was interviewed on April 16 by investigators and confirmed that Facebook Reels regularly shows content based on algorithmic behavior. He admitted that there has been sexually suggestive content before while at work, stating, “I believe it has” appeared on his phone previously. He also acknowledged that he frequently used his phone during court proceedings to scroll through social media or play games such as solitaire.
When asked whether a digital search of his phone would reveal explicit material, he replied that it “would likely be present.” Although he stated he intended to delete the app, he had not yet done so at the time of the interview because Human Resources had instructed him not to delete any data or apps until the investigation was complete.
Sheriff’s Office Sustains Four Violations
Lieutenant Michael Guerra conducted the internal investigation and concluded that Reed violated four policies: sexual harassment under the County’s employee handbook, creating a hostile work environment, professional misconduct under the Sheriff’s General Orders, and conduct reflecting discredit on the agency. Chief Deputy Jones reviewed and concurred with the findings.
Sheriff Mark Reynolds followed with a formal notice of termination, writing on April 23: “I have lost all confidence in your ability to effectively perform your duties to this office… This has left me with no choice but to rescind your commission with the Comal County Sheriff’s Office.”
Reed was ordered to return all county-issued items, including keys, badge, and identification.
A Career Spanning Nearly Two Decades
According to public records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), Reed’s law enforcement career began in the 1990s in Arizona, where he held a peace officer license from March 1995 to February 1997. In Texas, his first appointment was as a jailer with the Comal County Sheriff’s Office in 2005. He later became a reserve peace officer in 2009, and then a full-time deputy beginning in January 2011.
His TCOLE license was still listed as active as of May 20, 2025.
Trial Context Heightened the Impact
The timing of the incident added to its severity. The court was in the midst of a jury trial involving charges of human trafficking and online solicitation of a minor. The court employee emphasized in the complaint that the trial had already involved explicit testimony and images: “The trial we’ve been in this week… has consisted of sexually explicit witness testimony as well as sexually explicit exhibits displayed on the big screen in the courtroom, which makes this incident even more uncomfortable for me.”
The staffer added that Reed had been “very preoccupied with his cell phone during the trial and not watching the gallery,” which the staffer described as an ongoing pattern.
Despite expressing regret over reporting a colleague she described as “a very nice person and an experienced courtroom bailiff,” she ultimately stated that his conduct “created an offensive work environment.”
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