30 Years Handed Down to Man Who Assaulted Police, LIVINGSTON, April 20, 2010 - On April 13, 2010, Ray Anthony McGowen, Jr. was sentenced to thirty years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for four counts of Aggravated Assualt on a Public Servant stemming from a series of events that occurred on December 31, 2009. On that date, it is alleged that McGowen carjacked a vehicle in Harris County and drove to the town of Porter in Montgomery County where he robbed a fast-food restaurant at gun-point. As he was fleeing the scene of the armed robbery, a police officer attempted to pull him over and McGowen refused to stop. McGowen then evaded arrest, traveling on Highway 59 until he arrived in Polk County. Officers with the Splendora Police Department, Patton Village Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office followed McGowen onto Cemetery Hill where he turned onto Liberty Street. Officers were able to box McGowen in, but Mcgowen still refused to get out of his vehicle. As officers approached McGowen on foot he attempted to run over the four officers attempting to apprehend him. The officers, fearing for their safety shot at the vehicle, striking it several times, however, McGowen was able to drive off and turn onto Highway 146. Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Livingston Police Department located McGowen on Mimosa where he abandoned his vehicle and a short foot chase ensued. McGowen was captured and arrested.
A Polk County Grand Jury indicted McGowen, age 21, on four counts of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant for attempting to run over the four officers, first degree felonies, and one count of evading arrest, a state jail felony. After plea negotiations Assistant Criminal District Attorney Kaycee Jones recommended a thirty year sentence in prison for the charges of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant and a two year sentence in state jail, the maximum allowed for evading arrest. 258th Judicial District Judge Elizabeth Coker approved the sentencing recommendation on April 13, 2010. McGowen will have to serve half of the thirty year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
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