A man accused of shooting a fellow motorist as he traveled along Interstate 30 in Bowie County, Texas, earlier this year entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
William Calvin Crunk, 64, appeared to labor as he used a cane to make his way to a podium positioned before the bench of 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart in a first-floor courtroom of the Bi-State Justice Building. Texarkana lawyer Derric McFarland entered a plea of not guilty on Crunk's behalf.
"Your honor, the defense has turned down a plea offer from the state. I think we need to set this case for a trial in 2018," Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said. "The state is exercising its right to a jury trial."
Lockhart's trial docket is full and a capital murder, death penalty case is expected to usurp two months of the court's schedule is expected to begin with jury selection in September. Lockhart scheduled Crunk to return to court in August after McFarland pointed out that Crunk, who lives in DeSoto, Texas, not far from Dallas, must travel several hours for court dates.
Crunk is facing two to 20 years in prison if found guilty of shooting a Magnolia, Ark., man on the highway April 15. The alleged victim was on his way home after dropping his daughter at a Dallas airport, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account.
The alleged victim told investigators he noticed a man in a white Kia SUV pulling a utility trailer traveling behind him at a high rate of speed and tailgating between mile markers 195 and 198.
The alleged victim said he finished passing an 18-wheeler and moved his Hyundai sedan into the right lane when the Kia, allegedly driven by Crunk, sped past, pulled in front of him, and then slowed. The Magnolia man told investigators he passed the Kia and returned to the right lane.
"The suspect then drove parallel with him in the passing lane. The victim advised that he looked to his left and saw the suspect had his window down and was pointing a black revolver at him," the affidavit states. "The victim had his window up at the time but could see and hear a single shot being fired at him by the suspect."
The Hyundai driver told officers he heard a loud pop as the bullet passed through his door seconds before he felt a burning sensation under his left arm. The injured man followed the shooter and called 911.
Bowie County Sheriff's Office deputies documented the bullet hole in the Hyundai.
"The bullet exited through the interior of the door before grazing the victim's left tricep and coming to rest under his left arm where it left a second abrasion," the affidavit states. "The fired bullet fell out of the victim's shirt when he got out of the driver's seat, and it was collected for evidence."
Crunk allegedly was driving the Kia when deputies stopped it at the 215 mile marker. All he allegedly would say to deputies was, "Nobody got shot."
Officers collected a Taurus.357 revolver from the Kia's passenger seat. One of the gun's seven bullets had been fired, authorities reported. A Sig Sauer 9mm semiautomatic pistol was recovered from the Kia's glove compartment. Crunk is licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
An open, partially empty bottle of wine was discovered in the front passenger seat as well. While the affidavit indicates Crunk allegedly smelled of alcohol, the affidavit does not state whether officers believe Crunk was drunk.
Crunk is currently free on a $100,000 bail bond.