A Montgomery County grand jury has handed up a murder indictment against a Magnolia man in a New Year’s Day shooting that left Clarence "Tom" Modlin III dead in Porter. Vernon James Cradier, 55, is charged in the killing and is being held without bond following his arrest on the warrant. According to deputies, the confrontation that ended in gunfire unfolded at a home on Alexander Lane in Porter shortly after midnight on Jan. 1.
Investigators say Cradier admitted firing the shots, and the case was put before a grand jury because of the circumstances, according to Click2Houston. Deputies called to the scene just after 1:20 a.m. found Modlin with an apparent gunshot wound, and first responders pronounced him dead on site. Click2Houston also reports that Cradier stayed at the residence after the shooting and was later taken into custody on the warrant. He is currently in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.
Accused Was Out On Bond From Road‑Rage Case
Cradier was already out on bond on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge tied to a 2025 road‑rage incident in Magnolia, according to the Houston Chronicle. In that earlier case, Sheriff Wesley Doolittle stepped in after witnessing a physical confrontation in traffic, and deputies said a firearm was produced during the clash.
Investigation And Case Status
With the grand jury returning the indictment earlier this month, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is now set to prosecute the case. The sheriff’s office credited its Major Crimes detectives and Crime Scene Investigators for the work that led to the warrant, Click2Houston reported. Cradier remains in the Montgomery County Jail without bond, and officials have not announced a court date. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators.
