Sheriff James E. Villanueva
Sheriff James E. Villanueva was elected in 2024 and took office on January 1, 2025. Villanueva was born and raised in Sweetwater, Texas and is a 1988 graduate of Sweetwater High School. He has been a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church since childhood and he and his wife, Stacy, have four wonderful children. He is the 22nd Sheriff of Nolan County.
About
James E. Villanueva began his law enforcement career with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office in 2006, and during his tenure there, he served as a County Jailer, Patrol Deputy, Criminal Investigator and Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division. In the forensics realm, Villanueva attained two core certifications from Cellebrite, a software system used to collect, review, and analyze the data of electronic devices.
Villanueva has attained the highest level of certification with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and holds a Master level certification as a Peace Officer and a Jailer license.
Villanueva was born and raised in Sweetwater, Texas and is a 1988 graduate of Sweetwater High School. He has been a member of Holy Family Catholic Church since childhood. He and his wife, Stacy, are proud parents of four wonderful children.
Dedicated to service beyond law enforcement, Villanueva graduated from Leadership Sweetwater in 2021 and was named Reader’s Choice Police Officer of the Year in 2022. He is an active member of the Sweetwater Lions Club, Sweetwater Rifle and Pistol Club, and serves on the board of directors for Tri-County Helping Hands, also known as Operation Brown Bag. At the state and regional levels, he is a member of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas and Western States Sheriffs' Association.
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In 2024, Villanueva was elected Sheriff of Nolan County and took office on January 1, 2025. As Sheriff, he leads the county’s largest government office, overseeing 45 employees and managing an annual budget of more than 4 million dollars.
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“I have had the honor of serving with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and I understand the importance of creating a safe and secure environment for us to live, work, and raise our families. Serving in a leadership role in my hometown is both an absolute honor and privilege and provides me with the opportunity to give back to the community that raised me. I have a deep personal interest in Nolan County and the safety and security of its citizens, and I look forward to making a positive impact on the place that shaped me into the person I am today.”