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Hardin County Jail. Courtesy photo. -
Gordon.
A Hardin County man who received a life sentence to Texas imprisonment – plus 160 years – for multiple child sex crimes, died in the Hardin County Jail on Jan 31.
Ronnie Lee Gordon, 64, of Silsbee, died about 3:30 p.m. in the jail after having a “medical emergency,” reported Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.
Davis noted that jail staff and paramedics worked on Gordon and performed CPR, but efforts were unable to save him.
“It appeared that he suffered some type of medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest,” the sheriff advised. “CPR and life-saving measures by jail staff and Acadian Ambulance paramedics were unsuccessful.”
Davis added that, as with any in-custody death, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office conducts an internal investigation; the Texas Rangers will conduct a separate investigation.
Jan. 13, Hardin County 356th District Court Judge Steve Thomas handed down what is reported as the stiffest sentence ever in Hardin County to Gordon, who was found guilty of 10 charges, all related to sexually abusing two children.
After the trial, Gordon was booked immediately into the Hardin County Jail.