Grand jury indicts man, 31, in attack with machete
A New Boston, Texas, man who allegedly threatened his neighbors with a machete after ripping open their front door was recently indicted by a Bowie County grand jury.
Brian Martinez, 31, was allegedly at home Dec. 20 when a couple living in the same trailer park dropped off some food for him and his grandmother, according to a probable-cause affidavit used to create the following account. A short time after the couple returned home, they heard a loud noise outside.
When they got up to investigate, the couple observed Martinez tearing open their locked front door.
“Before I could get to the door, he had ripped it open and had a machete in his hand. He asked who poisoned the food,” the affidavit quotes one of the alleged victims as stating.
“They stated that Brian told them he would slice them up,” the affidavit states.
When officers went to Martinez’s trailer, they heard someone loudly stating that people are trying to poison him.
Martinez allegedly talked to officers about being a “sacrifice” and “how people are out to try and get him,” the affidavit states. Martinez’ grandmother allegedly told officers that Martinez had been behaving oddly and was frequently talking to himself. Officers collected a machete with a brown wooden handle and rusty blade as evidence.
Martinez was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault. Each offense is punishable by two to 20 years in a Texas prison. A date for Martinez’ arraignment hasn’t been scheduled.
The case has been assigned to 202nd District Judge Leon Pesek Jr.
llarowe@texarkanagazette.com