Houston County deputy fired after child sex crime arrest

HOUSTON COUNTY — The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has fired one of their staff, after learning former Deputy Skyler Laza was arrested on alleged child sex crime charges. According to our news partner KETK, Laza was arrested late Wednesday afternoon by the DPS Criminal Investigation Division at his home in Palestine and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. That evening, Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge traveled to the Anderson County Jail, where Laza was being held and terminated him as a deputy in Houston County.

In a statement from Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge, “The allegations and supporting evidence against Laza are truly disturbing. It is sickening to me that a person who sought a position meant to help those in our community, especially the most vulnerable, our children, would be the very person arrested for abuse. My office will continue to work with the investigating agencies and assist in every way possible to ensure that Laza, and anyone else involved in these heinous acts of abuse against this juvenile victim, are punished to the fullest extent of the law.”