Who is Sheriff Houton from Blood Test and what is their importance?

Sheriff Raymond Houton is the officer at La Vista. Houton is actually the father of Nona Swopes though he doesn't know this until many years have passed. By the time he learns the truth about Nona, he has had sex with her numerous times. It's this relationship that makes him agree to help a cult known as "The Touch" with their illegal endeavors in La Vista. He goes so far as to run drugs for them and feeds Alex false information to help Nona and Doug remain hidden with Woody. However, when Doug would have killed Alex, Houton steps in and stops the murder. He is killed by Nona.