Jefferson County Man Charged in Armed Carjacking

BEAUMONT, TX—An 18-year-old Beaumont man has been charged with federal firearms and carjacking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Charles James Mishaw, III, was indicted on Jan. 11, 2012, and charged with carjacking and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Mishaw made an initial appearance today and was ordered detained. He will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zachary J. Hawthorn on Jan. 30, 2012, for arraignment.

According to information presented in court, on Nov. 15, 2011, Mishaw approached a 69-year-old woman as she was entering her gated apartment complex in Orange, Texas. As the victim rolled down her car window to access the security key pad, Mishaw approached and placed a small caliber hand gun to her head and ordered her to surrender the car and her purse. She complied. Law enforcement officers arrived almost immediately and were able to locate and stop the vehicle in Bridge City, Texas. Mishaw was still driving the vehicle and was in possession of the victim’s credit cards and the firearm he had used to steal the vehicle. The victim’s purse was recovered from where it had been thrown by the side of the road.

If convicted, Mishaw faces up to 15 years for the carjacking and a minimum of seven years for the firearms violation.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Orange Police Department, and the Bridge City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.