San Angelo Woman Sues Dealership Owner for Sexual Assault

Warning: This article contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault and harassment that may be disturbing to some readers.

SAN ANGELO, TX — A former secretary and salesperson at a San Angelo car dealership has filed a lawsuit accusing her ex-boss of sexual assault, harassment and retaliation over a nearly 12-year period.

The woman sued Billy Sawyer, owner of Billy Boy's Fine Cars, 700 S. Irving St., and the business itself in Tom Green County's 391st Judicial District Court.

The suit alleges Sawyer subjected her to repeated unwanted sexual advances, including verbal comments, physical groping and a forced sexual encounter in 2018, before firing her in 2024 after she rejected his propositions.

The woman, who began working at the dealership on Sept. 19, 2012, claims Sawyer regularly made vulgar comments to her in the office, such as "you smell like sex."

He also allegedly asked invasive questions about her sex life, including whether she thought he would be better at sex with her.   

The petition details multiple instances of unwanted physical contact. Sawyer allegedly groped her buttocks and breasts while she walked around the office and, on one occasion, while driving, touched her breasts and genitals, smelled his fingers and stated, "You know the rules."

In another incident, he reportedly exposed his penis to her while urinating into a cup in his office and, when she objected, replied, "Oh don't tell me you've never seen anything like this before."

The most serious allegation describes a 2018 event where Sawyer threw a hotel key at her and threatened to terminate her if she did not meet him there. According to the suit, he forced her to remove her clothes, groped her and penetrated her with his fingers without consent, then warned, "If I ever hear you tell anyone, I'll deny it and make sure you never get another job."

Following the 2019 death of the woman's husband, Sawyer allegedly told her, "Now that he's dead, you can be my mistress."

In January 2024, she said Sawyer accidentally called another employee and asked if she wanted to have sex before realizing his mistake and hanging up.

He later told her he was in love with her and said, "Whenever you're ready, you can be my mistress. I will take care of you. You won't have to work or worry about anything."

The woman claims Sawyer repeatedly threatened termination if she refused his advances, such as calling her on weekends and saying she would be fired if she did not meet him at bars. On Feb. 9, 2024, days after she rejected him and sold a car at a reduced price — a practice she says was common — Sawyer fired her, accusing her of stealing money by lowering the price.

The lawsuit also includes a breach of contract claim related to a vehicle the woman purchased from the dealership. After her termination, the business allegedly repossessed the vehicle without proper notice or allowing her to retrieve personal items.

She seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, including compensatory and exemplary damages, attorney's fees and costs. She filed a charge with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division and received a right-to-sue notice before proceeding.

Sawyer and Billy Boy's Fine Cars filed a response on April 8, 2025, entering a general denial of all allegations and requesting the court deny her claims. They also sought their own attorney's fees and costs, and objected to assigning the case to an associate judge for trial.

The case remains ongoing, with no resolution reported as of Nov. 28, 2025. Court records indicate the woman requested a jury trial. 

Court records show a notice of intent to dismiss was issued on Oct. 27, 2025, with a dismissal hearing scheduled for Dec. 12, 2025.