FROM THE AUSTIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’s OFFICE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On April 9, 2024, the Austin County Sheriff’s Office received reports that an armed man was waving a firearm and shooting at vehicles near Millheim on FM 949 in Austin County, Texas.
Officers also receive reports that a man had committed an armed robbery in the vicinity of the shootings.
Sheriff’s Office deputies immediately responded and took a suspect into custody for Aggravated Robbery (First Degree Felony) and Deadly Conduct (Third Degree Felony).
The suspect was identified as Joseph Mesa, 35, of Sealy.
Mesa had previously made a $100,000.00 bond for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and has been indicted for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child (1″ Degree Felony).
Mesa was set to appear on April 9, 2024 for his Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child charge.
The afternoon of April 9th, the Austin County District Attorney’s Office requested that Mesa’s bond be forfeited and that a warrant be issued for Mesa for failure to appear at his April 9″‘ court date. Judge Jeff Steinhauser signed the warrant and set Mesa’s bond at “No Bond.”
Sealy Police Department had been working an independent investigation on the morning of April 9, 2024 involving allegations that Mesa had kidnapped an adult female in Sealy earlier in the day. The female was later found by Austin County law enforcement and received medical treatment.
Sealy Police investigators coordinated with the Austin County Sheriff’s Office and Austin County District Attorney’s Office throughout the day. Sealy investigators also continued their own independent investigation of the Sealy Incident.
On April 10, 2024, Sealy Police investigators obtained warrants charging Mesa with Aggravated Kidnapping (1″ Degree Felony), Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2nd Degree Felony),
Attempted Murder (2nd Degree Felony), and Interference with an Emergency Call (Class A Misdemeanor).
On April 10, 2024, Judge Daniel Leedy set bonds totaling $750,000.00 for the Sealy charges.
Mesa remains in the custody of the Austin County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have any information related to this incident, please call the Austin County Sheriff’s Office at 979-865·3111 or Sealy Police Department at 979-885·2913 immediately.
As this remains an ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.
**Arrests and Indictments are allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. A suspect Is presumed
innocent unless convicted through due process of law.**