Oh Deer!

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – It was a phone call with an unexpected result. On Nov. 5, a male subject identified as 59-year-old Mickey Ray Carr from Galveston, called the Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and stated he was holding a man at gunpoint.

An affidavit of probable cause indicated Carr informed the HCSO dispatcher “… that the man he was holding at gun point was operating a tractor out there and it was against the game laws.”

After the call was received, HCSO Deputy William Gardner was dispatched to the area, across from the Houston County Airport, approximately one mile east of Crockett on State Hwy. 7.

While he was on his way to the location, Deputy Gardner was made aware Carr had sent the tractor operator back towards the area from where he came, but had kept the tractor. The deputy also was informed Carr would meet him at the entrance to the deer lease.

Once Gardner arrived at the scene, he met with Carr and the tractor operator. As he questioned the two men, the deputy learned the acreage was leased to Carr for deer hunting as well as to another individual for cattle grazing.

The affidavit reported the individual who leased the property for cattle also owned property adjacent to the deer lease “… and there is an open gate between the two properties which allows the cattle to roam between the properties.”

While he continued to speak with Carr and the tractor operator, Gardner ascertained – at approximately 7:30 a.m. – the tractor operator was mowing the field adjacent to the deer lease while Carr was attempting to hunt.

According to the legal document, “Mickey Carr, upset about the mowing, had exited his deer stand and walked to a visible location before waving his arm and flipping (the tractor operator) the middle finger.”

The affidavit further asserted the tractor operator said he thought Carr might need some assistance and as a result drove the tractor to Carr’s location.

“Once (the tractor operator) arrived at Mickey Carr’s location, Mickey pointed his revolver pistol at (the tractor operator) and threatened to shoot (the tractor operator) if he did not get out of the tractor,” the report stated.

After he exited the tractor, Carr ordered the tractor owner to run back to the adjacent property owner’s land and to leave the tractor.  As he began to walk back towards the other property, the affidavit reported “… Mickey Carr fired his pistol into the ground and yelled for (the tractor operator) to ‘run.’ (The tractor operator) told Deputy Gardner that he was scared Mickey Carr was going to shoot him.”

A warrant was issued for Carr’s arrest and he was booked into the Houston County Jail on Nov. 25 on one count of aggravated assault. His bond was set at $20,000 and posted the same day.

The aggravated assault charge is a considered a second degree felony. Under Section 12.33 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

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