Two aggravated kidnapping charges against Houston-based YouTuber Corey Pritchett Jr. were tossed out Wednesday after the complaining witness asked prosecutors to back off, according to court records. Pritchett had been accused of abducting two women and threatening them with a handgun during a late-November 2024 outing that ended with his arrest in January 2025. The dismissal closes this chapter for now, although prosecutors still have the option to refile or take a different path.
How Investigators Say the Night Went Off the Rails
According to KTRK/ABC13, investigators say the two women met Pritchett at a Houston-area gym and spent the day with him, including an ATV ride and a bowling trip, before the night took a sharp turn on Interstate 10. Court documents state that Pritchett allegedly sped west, waved a gold handgun out of his vehicle's sunroof, fired a shot out the window and threatened to kill the women as they tried to calm him down. The women told police Pritchett eventually pulled over near Sealy, ordered them out and drove off, leaving them on the highway. Data from one of their phones showed they were stranded at about 1:18 a.m.
Witness Backs Off, Case Gets Dropped
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the two aggravated kidnapping counts were dismissed Wednesday after the complaining witness asked that the case be dropped. Court records included a quoted threat — "I'm going to (expletive) y'all and then kill y'all" — and described the women walking along the highway for roughly an hour before a passing driver stopped and helped them.
Why a Victim's Change of Heart Is Not the Last Word in Texas
Under Texas law, it is prosecutors, not victims, who decide whether to move forward with or dismiss criminal charges, and a witness recanting does not automatically end a case. A Texas Court of Criminal Appeals opinion, summarized on Justia, and a local legal primer from Texas Defenders both note that an Affidavit of Non-Prosecution or a complainant's request can influence a prosecutor's decision but does not tie the State's hands. If prosecutors believe there is enough independent evidence, they may refile charges down the line.
YouTube Fame, Divorce Reveal and What Comes Next
Pritchett has nearly 4 million subscribers on his personal YouTube channel and told viewers in a March 10 video that he was divorced, the Houston Chronicle reported. With the criminal counts now dismissed, the court record will reflect that outcome, but it does not shut the door on potential civil lawsuits or future criminal filings if prosecutors later develop new evidence.
