by carla gray
carla@themonitor.net

SEVEN POINTS‑Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse discussed county leadership, child-crime investigations and community policing during an Oct. 7 meeting of the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce’s Kemp, Seven Points and Tool chapter.
Hillhouse said Henderson County benefits from cooperation among its elected officials. “We’re very blessed here in Henderson County to have the 23 elected officials that are all on the same page and doing what we feel is best for Henderson County,” he said. Although officials do not always agree, they reach resolutions they believe are best for the county, he said, adding that such cooperation is not the norm across Texas.
Hillhouse also discussed the county’s Crimes Against Children Task Force, now in its third year. He said Henderson County has “really set the bar for the state of Texas” as the second such task force established in the state. Texas used the county initiative as a pilot program for other rural counties, he said, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas provided a grant to help launch it.
Six investigators now work exclusively on crimes against children, Hillhouse said. The county contracts with surrounding municipalities, allowing the task force to handle cases previously investigated by local police departments.
The investigators receive specialized training in crimes against children. Hillhouse credited District Attorney Jenny Palmer with developing the idea. “I’m glad she brought it to me and wanted to get something going,” he said.
The task force interviews about 450 children each year in cases involving allegations of abuse or other crimes, Hillhouse said. He said 15 cases went to prosecution from January through August 2026. Four defendants received life sentences, including three who received multiple life sentences, while the other 11 were sentenced to a combined 465 years, he said.
“Henderson County is tired of crime and our kids being victimized,” Hillhouse said. “The judges are tired of it, and the prosecutors are tired of it.” He said investigators, prosecutors, judges and juries have made the cases a priority. “It is a great feeling to finally see the whole thing come full circle,” he said.
Hillhouse said another investigator will join the unit Jan. 1 in a position approved by county commissioners. The investigator will focus on online crimes and efforts to identify online predators.
Hillhouse closed by urging residents to contact the sheriff’s office when they notice suspicious activity. Residents often recognize when a vehicle does not belong on their street or in their neighborhood, he said, and prompt reports can help deputies avoid having to track leads weeks later. 
“The community has reached out. The community has helped us solve a lot of crimes,” Sheriff Hillhouse said. “We have been successful because everybody is working together.”