Bell County authorities concluded an intense daylong search on Friday with the capture of fugitive James Kerton, a 46-year-old from New Jersey, who is now facing multiple charges, including assault on a public servant, after initially eluding law enforcement officers earlier that day, according to KWTX.
The manhunt began before the sun crested the horizon when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper happened upon Kerton camping illegally near a rock quarry entrance at about 5:30 a.m.; the trooper detected the scent of marijuana, which led to the discovery of Kerton's active New Jersey warrant for sexual assault, and when the trooper attempted to detain him, Kerton assaulted the officer and fled into the encroaching woods, disappearing from the law's immediate grasp, as reported by KWTX. The search involving the Texas Department of Public Safety and Bell County Sheriff’s Department focused on the area around FM 2484 and Iron Bridge Lane before temporarily being called off, while authorities continued their efforts to locate Kerton.
Resuming their search, deputies eventually spotted Kerton near Stillman Valley Road based on reports from citizens who saw him walking in the area around 6:15 p.m., leading to a second foot pursuit through rough terrain once Kerton dashed into the woods, as indicated by CBS Austin. The capture involved a brief struggle, but the fugitive was successfully apprehended and taken into custody.
The Bell County Sheriff's Office detailed the charges Kerton is now facing are comprehensive, including failure to identify as a fugitive and evading arrest on foot, from both the morning and evening incidents, his bonds tallying up to the weighty sum of $280,000, the alleged details of the assault on the public servant will be scrutinized by the Bell County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and presented to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office, signalling a protracted road ahead for Kerton through the justice system.
