Grand jury indicts three involving armed robberies, kidnappings
Jul. 2—Three people have been indicted on multiple counts alleging they were involved in armed robberies and abductions near Celeste in late March.
The Hunt County grand jury issued the indictments June 25 against Scott Patrick Cathcart, 24, of Point, Justin Ray Bishop, 36, of Quinlan and Connie Scherie Dodd, 36, of Celeste. Each of the defendants were charged with two indictments of aggravated robbery and two indictments of aggravated kidnapping.
The Hunt County Sheriff's Office reported that at around 4:30 p.m. March 25, the office received a report of a female in the middle of the roadway on County Road 1017, stating she had been held captive and escaped.
When deputies arrived in the area, they located a white male walking down County Road CR 1017, who had obvious injuries and also stated that he and his girlfriend had been held against their will. Deputies were unable to locate the female subject in the area, but were later notified that the female subject had received a ride to the Dollar Store in Celeste. Both subjects were transported to Hunt Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Patrol deputies and investigators went to the residence where the offense had been reported to have occurred. No one was located at the residence.
The two victims were further interviewed and said they were held against their will and assaulted inside the residence on County Road 1017 by three individuals.
A search warrant of the residence was served on the morning of March 26, during which evidence was seized confirming the reported criminal offenses, at which time Bishop and Dodd were taken into custody.
Cathcart was arrested on April 6.
Cathcart and Bishop remain in custody in the Hunt County Detention Center, each in lieu of $900,000 bond on the indictments. Dodd has been released on $900,000 bond.
Aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping are both first degree felonies, with each count punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of up to life in prison.
Arraignment hearings on the indictments have not yet been scheduled with the 196th District Court.
