A citizen arrested for a social media post has sued the public officials responsible, alleging multiple violations of his constitutional rights and federal law.
Brandon Grable and CJ Grisham, attorneys for Hood County resident Kolton Krottinger, filed the civil lawsuit on January 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Named in the lawsuit are Sheriff Roger Deeds, former Deputy James Luckie, and District Attorney Ryan Sinclair in their personal capacities, and Hood County itself.
The Hood County Sheriff’s Office arrested Krottinger on November 5, 2025, for “online impersonation” in the third degree. He was released on a $10,000 bond that banned him from using social media. The arrest made national news, with many saying Krottinger was arrested for having posted a meme.
Krottinger’s attorneys wrote that the post in question was a “satirical political meme” that was posted by the Hood County Sheepdogs page on Facebook in early October. While Krottinger is the page operator, his attorneys wrote that one of the page administrators posted the meme, not himself. A month later, Hood County Justice of the Peace Earl Gillum “discharged the charge” against Krottinger, and on December 22, Ellis County District Attorney Lindy Beaty rejected prosecution due to “insufficient evidence.”
