IOLA MAN SENTENCED TO 35-YEAR PRISON TERM

  

An Iola man will be spending the next 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge.

55-year-old John Victor May accepted a plea agreement on Tuesday before 12^th District Court Judge David Moorman. The punishment range was increased due to May being a habitual offender with prior felony convictions.

The charge stems from a December 21, 2023 arrest in which Grimes County Sheriff’s Deputies and two Game Wardens responded to a welfare concern on County Road 172 in Iola.

A man working in the area said he heard loud arguing behind a residence followed by a gunshot.

Deputies came into contact with May and arrested him after confirming that he had a felony warrant out of Gaines County, Texas. During a subsequent search, it was discovered that May also had methamphetamine in his pants pocket.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, while he was out on bond, May was arrested again four days later during a traffic stop. He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Tampering with Physical Evidence after allegedly trying to destroy the narcotics by chewing them in his mouth.

After posting bond, he was arrested again in May of this year for Evading Arrest in a Vehicle after leading a Sheriff’s Deputy on a lengthy pursuit from Grimes County into Brazos County.

Grimes County District Attorney Andria Bender commended Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Frazier, Sgt. Guadalupe Santana, ADA Tammy Thomas, as well as Investigators Raul Gonzalez and John Wren for their work on the case.