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“I Fought the Law and the Law Won”

Saturday Evening Disturbance Leads to Felony Charges

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A disturbance on Saturday evening, July 15 led to the arrest of a Crockett man on two felony charges after he made inappropriate remarks to several juveniles and threatened to knock the teeth out of a police officer’s face.

Larry Wayne Carter, 51, was taken into custody and charged with one count of obstruction or retaliation and one count of abandoning or endangering a child.

Crockett Police Officer Matthew Van Egmond was dispatched to an address in the Lewis Circle area of Crockett at approximately 7 p.m. on July 15 in reference to a man making threats to a husband and wife, according to an arrest report filed on the matter.

When the officer arrived at the location, he met with the couple who were being threatened.

“(The husband) stated that he was around the block and saw his cousins running to him yelling that someone was talking dirty to them and asking them to take pictures of their bodies and ‘booties.’ (The husband) stated he came over to talk to the man and the white guy came out with nun-chucks and said, ‘Come get some.’ The argument then got heated,” the arrest report stated.

As Van Egmond continued his investigation, the arrest report indicated he spoke with two of the husband’s cousins who confirmed a man – later identified as Larry Carter – had offered the cousins candy and asked if “… he could take pictures of their booties.” Carter also made several graphic sexual propositions to the underage cousins, according to the report.

The police officer left the initial location he responded to in order to gather more information on the allegations, but was dispatched back to the original location – approximately 45 minutes later – in reference to another disturbance.

Upon his return, Van Egmond spoke with Carter’s wife who said after Van Egmond had left the scene, she had gone outside “… to lock her van and someone came up to her and threatened her,” the arrest report stated.

While the officer was speaking to the woman, Carter emerged from the back of the residence and began to talk with Van Egmond.

The arrest affidavit reported Carter’s speech was slurred to the point the officer had difficulty understanding what was being said.

The CPD officer asked Carter if he could come outside to continue the conversation and to better understand what was being said.

“Carter then approached the screen door and stated, ‘Do you want to see the only thing you’re going to get here?’ and then grabbed his genitals,” the arrest report stated.

Carter continued his profanity-laced tirade, the affidavit indicated, and threatened Van Egmond.

“I’ll come out and talk to you. I’ll come out and knock your (expletive deleted) teeth out of your (expletive deleted) face. You (expletive deleted) fat piece of (expletive deleted),” Carter said, according to the arrest report.

Other officers with CPD had arrived at the scene by this time, and according to the legal document, when Carter said “Don’t (expletive deleted) with me. I’ll kill you,” the affidavit reported “… Lt. (Lonnie) Lum and I then entered the residence and placed Carter in hand restraints for obstruction or retaliation.”

Carter was transported to the Houston County Jail and was booked into custody on one count of abandoning or endangering a child and one count of obstruction or retaliation.

The child endangerment charge is considered a state jail felony. According to Section 12.35 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony shall be punished by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days. In addition to confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

The obstruction or retaliation charge is considered a third degree felony. According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Carter is being held at the Houston County Jail on bonds totaling $10,000.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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