Three Liberty County Fire Marshal officials have been arrested after a Texas Rangers investigation. ABC 13 reports they are accused of committing crimes while on the job. The arrests raise questions about the actions of these officials and the safety of the community they were supposed to protect.
The Charges and Officials Involved
William “Bill” Hergemueller, the 63-year-old Fire Marshal of Liberty County, is charged with several crimes. These include official oppression, tampering with evidence, tampering with government records, and theft of property. He also works as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the county and as a firefighter for the Highway 321 Volunteer Fire Department.
Erskine “Nat” Holcomb, 64, who is a deputy fire marshal and the chief of the Cypress Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, faces charges of tampering with government records and theft of property.
Jesse McGraw, 49, a deputy fire marshal and assistant chief of the Highway 321 Volunteer Fire Department, is charged with tampering with evidence and tampering with government records.
Lack of Proper Licenses
The investigation revealed that none of the men had the required licenses to do their jobs. According to court records, they were not certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP). This means they were not legally allowed to perform fire inspections, approve plans, or investigate fires. Despite this, the men conducted fire inspections for schools, businesses, and even daycares. They also performed fire investigations and signed official documents that they should not have been able to sign.
Cargo Theft at Crash Scenes
One of the most serious accusations is that the men stole items from crash scenes. On December 19, 2022, an 18-wheeler overturned on US-59 in Liberty County. The truck was carrying frozen items, including duck meat, cheese, and croissants. Hergemueller and Holcomb, along with others from their hazmat company, went to the crash scene. The affidavit states that they drained diesel fuel from the truck into a large drum and then took food items from the trailer for their own personal use.
Later, they responded to another fatal crash on FM 787. In this incident, they are accused of taking an aluminum ramp, rims, and a bumper cover from the crash scene. According to court records, Hergemueller asked Holcomb to put the ramp in his vehicle.
Misusing Official Authority
All three men were part of the South Liberty County Hazardous Materials Team. This nonprofit group is contracted to provide hazmat services to Liberty County. Hergemueller, who led the team, is accused of wearing his fire marshal uniform to gain early access to crash scenes. His team then performed hazmat work, which was separate from his duties as fire marshal.
Court records also show that Hergemueller used his position to force towing companies to pay fees to his hazmat team. He allegedly told the towing companies that they had to pay these fees to work in Liberty County, and he collected several thousand dollars through this scheme.
The Aftermath
All three men were arrested but quickly released on bond. Liberty County officials have not yet commented on the employment status of the men or whether they will face any further consequences. The public is left wondering how these men were able to hold such important roles without proper licenses and what impact their actions may have had on safety in the community.
