Area man now on the federal radar

Several agencies — including federal authorities — have now joined the hunt for a Brownsboro man.

Joshua Paul Calhoun, 28, of Brownsboro, is under indictment for the March 4 theft of an airplane from the Athens Municipal Airport. He later crashed the plane one mile outside the city limits in a pasture.

The Henderson County Grand Jury met June 4 and indicted Calhoun on a charge of with theft in excess of $100,000.

He failed to show for his arraignment in the 173rd Judicial District Court on July 23rd. District Attorney Scott McKee’s office requested a warrant for Calhoun.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court, the same day Calhoun was due in court he attempted to re-enter the United States at the international bridge between Mexico and the U.S. in Roma. When questioned about the purpose of his trip to Mexico, Calhoun told agents he was a doctor who had gone south of the border to scout locations for a new office, according to the federal complaint.

A check of a criminal database revealed an active warrant for his arrest. Bridge security asked him to step outside of his truck, but Calhoun took off instead.

A female agent — who had reached into the driver’s side window for the keys — sustained bruises, a scratched right elbow and back injuries.

According to a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent’s deposition, she was dragged between 30 and 40 feet by Calhoun’s truck.

Federal, state and local authorities were alerted to Calhoun’s flight but neither he nor his truck has been located.

He was last seen driving a 1993 Ford F-250 with the license plate 1BL-318. Calhoun now faces federal charges for his high-speed flight from the immigration checkpoint in addition to the state theft count.

“I am very concerned of his whereabouts and what he may do next” said District Attorney Scott McKee. “Our office will work with state and federal authorities to attempt to locate and detain him before he hurts himself or someone else.”

McKee indicated that he has contacted Sheriff Ray Nutt, Texas Ranger Trace McDonald and Brownsboro authorities to inform them of the situation and they are stepping efforts to locate him if he is in the county.

“There is a good possibility he may try to come back to Henderson County” McKee said. “We would encourage anyone who may know of his whereabouts to contact the Sheriff’s department.”