These crazy Texans

[kelroy55]

A South Texas man has been charged with stealing a hearse from outside a church during a funeral.

Kimble County jail records show 19-year-old Omar Alejandro Gutierrez was being held Thursday on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. No attorney was listed for the San Antonio-area man, whose bond was set at $10,000.

Officials said the unoccupied hearse was left running Tuesday morning, amid cold weather, while parked outside a San Antonio church during a funeral.

Gutierrez was located hours later in the Junction area, more than 100 miles away, driving the hearse reported stolen by a San Antonio funeral home.

Officers in Kimble County were on the lookout after getting a report that Gutierrez stopped for a meal but skipped out on paying the bill.
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A white Houston-area man accused of sucker punching an elderly black man has pleaded not guilty to a federal hate crime charge.

Conrad Alvin Barrett entered his plea during a brief arraignment hearing Thursday in Houston federal court.

Investigators said Barrett broke the 79-year-old victim's jaw in two places in a Nov. 24 attack in the Houston suburb of Katy. They say he laughed and shouted "knockout" as the man fell to the ground.

Investigators said Barrett recorded the attack using his mobile phone and shared the video.

The 27-year-old was arrested Dec. 26 and indicted last week. He remains in custody.

George Parnham, Barrett's attorney, said his client has a bipolar disorder and was off his medication when the attack happened.

Barrett's trial is scheduled for March 10.

[Mel]

Maybe he was a coyote looking for a distinctive transport vehicle. As for that other story, that makes me mad. Attacking the elderly is beyond the pale and I hope the Judge throws the book at this punk.