Grapeland Woman Receives Deferred Adjudication on Aggravated Assault Charges

Pulled Gun on GPD Officers

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – A Grapeland woman – arrested in May of 2017 for pointing a pistol at Grapeland Police officers – was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication late last week.

Ashley Lanell Hanson-Hadley, 36, pleaded guilty to the crime in January of this year and entered into plea negotiations with the Houston County District Attorney’s office, prior to her sentencing.

According to Assistant District Attorney Roger White, Hanson-Hadley was “… offered deferred adjudication because of mitigating factors like her mental status and the fact she had never been charged with any type of felony.”

“In addition,” White continued, “with deferred adjudication, we still have the full range of punishment at our disposal should she not adhere to the conditions. If she were to violate the terms of her deferred adjudication – because a deadly weapon was involved – she would be required to serve at least half (10 years) of her sentence (20 years) before she would become eligible for parole.”

“This will give her a chance to prove she can stay on the right track,” he added.

An affidavit of probable cause, filed by Grapeland Police Department Lt. Ronnie Howell at the time of the incident, indicated Hanson-Hadley’s arrest stemmed from events which occurred on April 13, 2017

According to the affidavit, Grapeland PD Officer Tyler Moore was dispatched to Hanson-Hadley’s residence at 302 Darsey in reference to a welfare check.

“Hanson-Hadley had been texting family and friends earlier in the evening that she was going to harm or possibly kill herself,” the affidavit reported.

Once Moore arrived at the location, the affidavit indicated Hanson-Hadley would not answer the door. Howell was requested at the scene where the law enforcement officers asked for and “… received permission from the property owner to enter the home by force, in order to conduct the welfare check.”

Upon entering the residence, the officers verified Hanson-Hadley’s presence by speaking with her but they were unable to make visual contact.

“She refused to come into the living room so we could see her,” the affidavit stated. “She then told us she had a pistol, was holed up in a back bedroom and refused to come out.”

Following the officers’ determination of Hanson-Hadley’s physical well-being and because of officer safety concerns, along with her irate temperament, the affidavit stated Moore and Howell left the residence.

“We were called back to the scene minutes later via a HCSO (Houston County Sheriff’s Office) dispatch which told us that Hanson-Hadley wanted us to come fix the door we entered by force,” the legal document stated.

“HCSO dispatch told us over the radio, ‘She said you better hurry up and get over there or else you’d better bring the coroner,’” the report stated.

The officers returned to the residence and were met by Hanson-Hadley who “… opened the door and pointed a silver colored pistol at me (Howell),” according to the affidavit.

The report indicated Howell began negotiating with Hanson-Hadley to put the gun down. While he negotiated with her, the affidavit further stated Hanson-Hadley began to yell/curse at Howell and said he was the reason her Hydrocodone prescription had been discontinued.

She eventually ceased her verbal tirade, lowered the gun and closed the door. Hanson-Hadley was later taken into custody and placed under observation before being charged on May 9, 2017 with the first degree felony of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant.

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