SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS (KLTV) - Family members tell us Johnny Vargas, Jr., was one of a group of deputies who met up for a night out at the adult club, Time Out, located outside of Tyler.
We dropped by the home of Vargas's father Wednesday afternoon.
Johnny Vargas, Sr., declined to speak with us on-camera, but said his son lost his job for something he had nothing to do with.
Vargas, Sr., said his son admitted to his superiors at the Smith County Sheriff's office that he was at the club the night before former deputy Albert Hill was arrested. Hill resigned from the Smith County Sheriff's Office after he was found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle in a Tyler neighborhood. Tyler Police performed a sobriety test on him. Officers also found alcohol containers in his vehicle.
Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith refused to speak on camera about Vargas's firing. However, over the phone, he said his department hires and fires people all of the time. The sheriff's office launched an investigation into the deputies' alleged night out at "Time Out", but Smith would not tell us whether Vargas's firing was a result of that investigation.
We're told former deputy Vargas was with the sheriff's office for nearly 8 years.
Vargas's father said Lt. Larry Wiginton and Chief Deputy Bobby Garmon where the ones who told him he was no longer with the department.
Vargas reportedly turned in his uniform, badge, and gun, Wednesday afternoon.
Sheeesh, cops go to strip clubs all the time. What's Smith County's problem?