Grand jury indicts on kidnapping

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH
HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS
A family of three has been indicted on charges stemming from an alleged aggravated kidnapping in May of last year.
James Russell Graves, 45, of Hoover Valley, son Ty Russell Graves, 18, of Hoover Valley, and Ty's mother Patricia Michelle Neff, 45, of Georgetown, were all indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping for ransom on July 7.
James Graves was taken into custody Thursday, July 21, to face criminal proceedings.
The charges stem from an incident on Monday night, May 18, 2015, when between 9:30 -10 p.m., Marble Falls police got a call from a 26-year-old man who stated he was at Walmart and had been held against his will.
“He told officers that there was a vehicle outside with ‘bad people with guns,’” Marble Falls Police Sgt. Tom Dillard said during the investigation. “When officers arrived, they found exactly what he described.”
Police located the Chevy Blazer in the parking lot and arrested Graves, Neff, and Ty Graves.
According to the victim’s account, he had been staying with James Graves, and Graves accused him of stealing from Neff.
“They held him at gunpoint and told their son to tie him up,” Dillard recounted.
The subject told police that while he was held at Graves’ home in Hoover Valley, he repeatedly denied stealing anything from Graves or Neff, but after what seemed like several hours, they agreed to take him to Walmart, where he could return items for money and contact family to wire money for his release.
“Ty Graves’ job was to watch him. The subject managed to evade him and then called us,” Dillard said. “The evidence and statements collected corroborate the story.”
Dillard said police are not sure how long the subject was held, but said police had “significant probable cause to charge all three suspects with kidnapping after the collection of evidence,” and added that the use of weapons upgrades the charge to an aggravated kidnapping, a first degree felony.
James Graves was also charged that evening with unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana.
Graves' next hearing will be held on Friday, July 29.