Hernandez is under indictment for abuse of official capacity.

"I think everybody makes mistakes," said county Judge Ronnie McDonald. "He realizes that he's made some mistakes, and it's time to move on."

Hernandez and county Commissioner David Goertz were accused of using county inmates to do work for personal profit.

"He felt that he didn't want to drag his family through this entire process," McDonald added.

Commissioners will meet next Tuesday to start the process of appointing another sheriff, but for now Ronnie Duncan is in charge.

"I think that he made the right decision, and I respect him for that," Duncan said. "Everybody has been down because of that, but we have a job to do no matter who the sheriff is."

Hernandez's trial will be in Harris County, in Houston.