Search Continues for Fourth Suspect in Home Invasion

Warrants Obtained for Arrest

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – The fourth suspect in a June 12 home invasion in Houston County has been identified and warrants have been obtained for his arrest on charges of aggravated robbery and indecency with a child.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Jay Barrett, Jose Vasquez and Xavier Alazae Deshawn Mitchell kicked in the front door of a Crockett residence during the early morning hours of June 12 in an attempt to steal cash and weaponry.

Barrett, 17, Jose Vasquez, 19 and Fabian Vasquez, 18, were identified as suspects during the initial stages of the investigation. Mitchell and a juvenile female were later identified as suspects in the crime.

Mitchell is described as a 5’06” African American male weighing approximately 150 pounds. He had previously lived on Jasmine Drive in Baytown.

A tip led Houston County Sheriff’s Office Investigators to Kentucky where Barrett, F. Vasquez and J. Vasquez were apprehended. HCSO Investigators Jerry Kaelin and Mike McCreight traveled to the Bluegrass State to extradite the trio back to Texas.

When the investigators arrived, Kaelin questioned F. Vasquez about the incident and “… he provided a full confession regarding the aggravated robbery in Houston County and provided details of the others’ involvement,” according to the affidavit.  “The vehicle the suspects were apprehended in was used during the course of the Houston County robbery and contained evidence, which included black ski masks, used during said criminal episode.”

On Friday, June 23 Barrett, F. Vasquez and J. Vasquez were returned to Crockett where all three were booked in to the Houston County Jail on first degree felony charges of aggravated robbery.

When the crime was committed, the residence was occupied by an adult male, along with a female and male juvenile.

“Barrett was identified by two of the occupants of the home – by sight and sound of his voice. Barrett was armed with a handgun, which appeared to be semi-automatic and black, according to the victims, and the other suspects were armed with baseball bats,” the affidavit reported.

The affidavit indicated the three suspects were unable to locate any cash or firearms in the residence so they proceeded to steal flat screen television sets, a laptop computer and gaming consoles.

During the commission of the robbery, the affidavit reported Mitchell went to a room where the female juvenile was located “… and questioned her about her sexual experience and then had her by force, lift her shirt, where she was fondled for his sexual gratification.”

“The male juvenile,” the probable cause document further stated, “remained in his bed and Barrett came into his room and placed a gun to his head.”

After leaving the scene of the home invasion, the affidavit reported the suspects fled south on State Highway 19 – towards Trinity – in two vehicles. A time stamp on video surveillance equipment, located at a business in Lovelady, captured the vehicles traveling through the town at approximately the same duration of time it would have taken to leave the crime scene and reach the point where they were caught on video.

The victims of the home invasion were interviewed at the Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and indicated “… they were 100 percent certain that Barrett was one of the suspects and identified him through a driver’s license photo. Barrett was a previous neighbor of the victims, who is well known by them,” the probable cause document stated.

The affidavit also revealed Barrett had contacted one of the juveniles, via Facebook, on June 12.

The criminal offense of aggravated robbery is classified as a first degree felony and according to Section 12.32 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than five years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Barrett, Vasquez and Vasquez are currently held in the Houston County Jail on individual bonds of $225,000.

If you know the current location of Xavier Alazae Deshawn Mitchell, call Crime Stoppers at (936) 639-TIPS, visit www.639TIPS.com, or use Crime Stoppers’ app (www.639TIPS.com/app/). Calls and tips directly to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and an anonymous tip that leads to an arrest might be eligible for a reward.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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