In this gripping episode of Lone Star Secrets, host Claire Collins investigates the near-fatal shooting of Sheriff Ricky Dean Smith Jr. inside the historic Dickens County Jail on April 17, 2023. What begins as a story of small-town trust unravels into a chilling confrontation between a sheriff and an inmate with trustee status — Pedro Rojas — who used a jailhouse firearm to turn on the very man who supervised him.

We explore the sheriff’s background, the controversial use of trustee inmates in rural facilities, and the structural and symbolic weight of a jail that has stood since 1909. We also examine the aftermath, local justice practices, and the startling pattern of violence tied to the jail’s long history.

Who is Sheriff Ricky Dean Smith Jr., and how did he survive the April 2023 shooting?

Background on Pedro Rojas and the role of inmate trustees in rural Texas jails.

A historical deep dive into the Dickens County Jail, built in 1909 and still in operation.

The jail’s dual purpose as both a detention center and storm shelter for the community.

Expert insights from:

Dr. Evelyn Hart, Texas Tech criminologist

Sheriff Alan Pierce (Ret.), rural law enforcement expert

Tease of a second, eerily similar case: the 1920 shooting of Sheriff William Bowen Arthur.

Paranormal whispers: Is the jail haunted? Locals say yes...

Sources & References:

• KAMC News – “Dickens County sheriff in stable condition after jailhouse shooting”Link(Accessed May 2025)

• Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) – Dickens County JailLink(Accessed May 2025)

• Texas Historical Commission – National Register of Historic Places, Dickens County JailLink(Search: "Dickens County Jail")

• Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Inmate classification and trustee programs(Used for context on trustee privileges and jail protocols)

• Public Records & Archives – Reports and arrest history related to Pedro Rojas(Information via local law enforcement statements and public filings)

• Local oral histories – Collected from Dickens County residents regarding paranormal claims
  Next Episode Preview:

  “Ghosts & Guns: The Death of Sheriff William Bowen Arthur”We revisit the 1920 killing of another Dickens County sheriff — and ask: why have two sheriffs been shot inside the same jail? Plus, the chilling accounts of paranormal activity that continue to haunt the historic structure.