John Joe Gray

John Joe Gray (born 1950) claims to be a sovereign citizen and was a fugitive from the law. He currently lives on his 50-acre, wooded ranch in Trinidad, Texas. He was involved in the longest-running law enforcement standoff in American history, lasting a few days short of 15 years, before the district attorney dropped the charges.[1]

Biography

The standoff began when Gray jumped bail after being indicted on two counts of felony assault.[2] During a traffic stop in Anderson County, he allegedly attacked Texas Trooper Jim Cleland. A struggle ensued after Cleland reached for a .357 caliber handgun in the car in which Gray was riding. Anti-government pamphlets and references to setting off a bomb on a highway overpass near Dallas were found in the vehicle. Gray was charged with two felonies, assault of a public servant and taking a police officer's weapon.[3] After promising to have no access to weapons while awaiting hearing, he was out on bail when the judge held his bond insufficient and ordered the re-arrest of John Joe Gray.[4]

Local Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt has stated "John Joe Gray is not worth it. Ten of him is not worth going up there and getting one of my young deputies killed."[3]

References

  1. ↑ Fernandez, Manny (January 7, 2016). "Lesson for Stalemated Sides in Oregon: A Texas Standoff Without End". New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  2. ↑ Terry Moran (2010-02-12). "John Joe Gray's Militant Group in Texas Compound". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  3. 1 2 Steve Campbell (2011-05-22). "Authorities ignore fugitive holed up on Texas land for 11 years - Houston Chronicle". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Kevin (30 March 2012). "Anti-government 'sovereign movement' on the rise in U.S.". USA Today. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
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