Boredom leads to jail time
Arrests have been made in a three-month crime spree throughout Navasota in which victims were terrorized by bb gun vandals engaging in criminal activity.
On July 29, Navasota Police Officers executed several arrest warrants. Ke’Eric Moore, 18, and Tony Mallard, 18, as well as three juveniles all from Navasota were arrested and charged with criminal mischief, a state jail felony, for damages ranging from $2,500 to $30,000 and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity-Aggravated Assault, a first-degree felony. Moore and Mallard were transported and booked into the Grimes County Jail while the juveniles were released to their parents. Two juveniles from Bryan also face outstanding charges.
Moore and Mallard are both 2019 graduates of Navasota High School. Moore signed a letter of intent in February to play football at Sul Ross State University.
A state jail felony is punishable by a term in a state jail facility ranging from 180 days to two years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
According to Texas Penal Code 71.02 Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity is when a group works together to committ a criminal offense. This is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000.
A crime spree that began in April netted over 40 reports of vehicle and home windows being shot out by bb pellets. There were also reports of several persons being shot as well.
Navasota Police Chief Shawn Myatt said most of the shootings took place between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and occurred in waves. In one morning, officers took reports from 10 citizens that were victims of the vandalism overnight.
Myatt said officers took reports from eight victims who stated they were shot with bb pellets and that the bb pistol resembled a real firearm. The suspects were described as younger males in four different vehicles. Officers began intense patrol throughout the city and located one of the suspected vehicles and initiated a traffic stop. One adult and two juveniles were identified but were released at the time until further evidence could be collected.
Investigators interviewed multiple individuals over the next few days and received confessions from five suspects. The suspects admitted to shooting approximately 70 vehicles and 10 people. Upon questioning, Myatt said the suspects stated they shot the vehicle windows because they were bored. Investigators also learned the suspects knew some of the victims, but the majority were random attacks.
During the course of the investigation, police seized two bb guns including a C02 powered semi-automatic pistol. Reported damages totaled over $15,000 and eight victims reported being shot.