FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
February 25, 2008
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Larry Fowler, Sherriff
Parker County Sherriff's Office
817-594-8845 |
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North Carolina Fugitives Captured |
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Weatherford- Parker County Special
Crimes Unit (SCU) Investigators and U.S. Marshals arrested a Mineral
Wells couple in western Parker County Thursday afternoon February
21st ending the fugitives four (4) year run from North Carolina
authorities after being wanted in connection with a Child Abuse case
in 2004. SCU Investigators recently joined the U.S. Marshals Service
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team in Ft.
Worth who made the arrest. According to Sheriff Larry Fowler the
case reportedly stemmed from a 2000 child abuse investigation in
Gastonia North Carolina where the pair apparently fled.
According to Investigators, Johnny Lee Owensby 30 was sentenced
March 11, 2004 for Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Resulting in
Serious Bodily Injury and was ordered to indeterminately serve 29 –
44 months. He then fled before surrendering to begin serving that
sentence. Joy Sue Smith also known as Joy Sue Owensby 29 was
arrested June 23, 2000 on charges of Accessory After the Fact for
Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Felony Child Abuse and Contributing
to the Delinquency of a Minor Child. North Carolina authorities
issued a warrant for her arrest February 12, 2004 after she Failed
to Appear at trial in the case.
Gastonia Detectives involved with the case learned the possible
whereabouts of the couple last week and notified the U.S. Marshals
Office in Charlotte, North Carolina, who coordinated efforts with
the U.S. Marshals Service in Ft. Worth. According to Sheriff Fowler
the investigation led the Marshals Strike Team to an address in
Parker County, Mineral Wells near the old base housing addition in
the 900 block of Morton. SCU members of the Strike Team along with
Federal Marshals set up surveillance on the home around 2:00pm when
they observed the female get into a vehicle and attempt to drive
away. Joy Smith Owensby was taken into custody some blocks from the
home by Investigators and provided them with a pass key to the house
where the male suspect was found.
According to Strike Team Investigators efforts to knock and announce
went unheeded by the male suspect, the Team then entered the home
and took the suspect into custody from his bed without incident.
Johnny Owensby and Joy Smith Owensby remain incarcerated at the
Parker County Justice Center where they will face extradition back
to North Carolina.
Sheriff Fowler said the investigation was a text book example of
collateral efforts and commended the U.S. Marshals Strike Team in
Ft. Worth, Charlotte North Carolina, the Gastonia Police Department
and the SCU. |
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