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Former Federal Agent Sues Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Former Federal Agent Sues Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

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Michael J. Lombard, a former federal law enforcement officer, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and former deputy Bradley Gober, alleging retaliation, false arrest, and systemic misconduct. The case, filed in the Southern District of Texas, details a years-long saga of harassment, abuse, and alleged failures by the Sheriff’s Office to protect Lombard and his family while targeting him for prosecution.

The allegations center on the actions of former deputy Gober, who resigned from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in September 2024. Gober’s resignation followed his reassignment to courthouse security duties in August 2023, a move the lawsuit suggests reflected internal acknowledgment of his improper handling of Lombard’s case and related misconduct. Despite Gober’s departure, the lawsuit contends that his actions are emblematic of broader systemic issues within the Sheriff’s Office, including a culture of retaliation against victims and indifference toward allegations of abuse.

A Career in Law Enforcement and the Start of Harassment

Michael J. Lombard, who previously served as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and earlier worked with the U.S. Secret Service, found himself at the center of a nightmare when his wife’s ex-husband, identified in court documents as “JS,” began a campaign of harassment in 2018. The harassment began with derogatory and threatening messages sent to Lombard’s wife, including false claims that she would soon be arrested. Over the following years, the threats escalated, culminating in an alleged stalking incident in 2021 when JS tracked the family during an out-of-state vacation and sent over 50 photographs of nearby locations to intimidate them.

Despite numerous complaints to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Lombard alleges that deputies failed to take the harassment seriously. He and his wife provided extensive evidence, including text messages, photos, and detailed records of JS’s actions, yet the Sheriff’s Office allegedly dismissed or ignored the severity of the threats. Lombard asserts that this inaction emboldened JS to continue his behavior.

Allegations of Physical Abuse Ignored

The lawsuit also highlights allegations of physical abuse by JS against his children, who are Lombard’s stepchildren. On July 1, 2022, JS allegedly threw his 13-year-old daughter into a wall, causing visible injuries. When deputies responded, they reportedly told the child that JS had the right to discipline her as he saw fit. A month later, on August 6, 2022, JS allegedly struck the same child with cables, leaving her bruised and unable to lift her arms. Deputies again failed to arrest JS or provide medical assistance, despite video evidence of the attack. Instead, they arrested the injured child after she attempted to document JS’s marijuana-growing operation by breaking into a locked room in his house.

The lawsuit alleges that these incidents reflect a systemic failure by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to protect victims of domestic violence and abuse. Lombard contends that deputies routinely sided with JS, the alleged abuser, while neglecting their duty to investigate and intervene. Even when child protective services became involved and sought protective orders against JS, the Sheriff’s Office allegedly continued to disregard evidence of his abusive behavior.

Harassment Allegations Against Lombard

In November 2021, JS turned the tables by accusing Lombard of harassment, claiming that Lombard had sent him numerous threatening text messages. Deputy Bradley Gober took the lead on the investigation, despite Lombard’s concerns about JS’s credibility. The lawsuit accuses Gober of conducting a flawed and biased investigation, failing to corroborate JS’s claims or examine evidence that contradicted them.

Gober allegedly claimed that the harassing messages could be traced to an IP address associated with Lombard’s government-issued computer. However, Lombard argues that this connection was fabricated or misinterpreted, as his computer was secured by a virtual private network (VPN) and other cybersecurity protocols. Despite these inconsistencies, Gober continued to pursue charges against Lombard, culminating in his arrest in July 2023.

Retaliation for Filing a Misconduct Complaint

In April 2023, Lombard filed a formal misconduct complaint against Gober and other deputies, accusing them of failing to protect his family and mishandling his case. The lawsuit alleges that Gober retaliated against Lombard by intensifying the investigation into the harassment claims. Shortly after Lombard’s complaint, Gober prepared an arrest affidavit that Lombard contends contained false statements and omitted critical exculpatory details, including JS’s history of filing false claims and his extensive criminal record.

Lombard was arrested on July 18, 2023, processed as an arrestee, and released on bond. His mugshot was publicized, causing significant damage to his reputation. The lawsuit alleges that the arrest and subsequent prosecution were maliciously motivated and lacked probable cause. Lombard asserts that Gober and the Sheriff’s Office acted out of retaliation for his complaints and sought to silence him.

Dismissal of Charges and Expungement

The criminal charges against Lombard were dismissed in March 2024 after prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed. His record was expunged in June 2024. By that time, Lombard had endured nearly a year of public humiliation, emotional distress, and financial strain. He was forced to hire a criminal defense attorney to clear his name and fight the charges.

The lawsuit contends that the arrest and prosecution were part of a broader pattern of misconduct within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, which Lombard accuses of failing to uphold its duty to protect victims and enforce the law impartially.

Systemic Issues Within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Lombard’s lawsuit points to broader systemic problems within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, alleging a culture of indifference to victims of domestic violence and harassment. The complaint cites other incidents, including the 2024 death of a three-month-old infant in an abusive household after deputies failed to intervene during a welfare check. Lombard argues that these failures stem from inadequate training, poor supervision, and a deliberate disregard for victims’ rights.

The lawsuit accuses the Sheriff’s Office of failing to follow state-mandated protocols for handling abuse cases, such as referring reports of child abuse to the Department of Family and Protective Services. Lombard contends that these systemic failures left his family and others vulnerable to harm.

The lawsuit, filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleges violations of Lombard’s First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. It claims that his arrest and prosecution were acts of retaliation for exercising his constitutional right to petition the government for redress of grievances. The complaint also alleges false arrest, malicious prosecution, and a failure by the Sheriff’s Office to adequately train and supervise its deputies.

Lombard is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to prevent similar violations in the future. The lawsuit also calls for systemic reforms within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to address what it describes as a culture of misconduct and negligence.


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