A jury trial is scheduled for a Perry man accused of threatening to burn down the Casey’s General Store on east Willis Avenue.
William Luis Gines, 48, of 1215 1/2 Bateman St., Perry, is charged with two counts of first-degree harassment.
The alleged harassments occurred Feb. 13 and March 9, according to court records, when Gines sent text messages to his former Casey’s coworkers, threatening to burn down the convenience store in which they still worked.
According to court records, the February text message said, “You people are not friendly and do not welcome out of towners. I’m burning Casey’s down with ya Al in it.”
The March text read in part, “I’m burning Casey’s down IS GOING DOWN UP IN FLAMES.”
A warrant for Gines’ arrest was ordered Feb. 22 in Dallas County District Court and served March 20. He is held without bond in the Dallas County Jail. Gines is scheduled for trial May 13 in Dallas County District Court.
Gines pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment Thursday in Polk County District Court. In the case, he admitted that he “did send text messages to” the victim on Feb. 18, “threatening to kill her with my bare hands,” according to Gines’ guilty plea. Polk County District Court Associate Judge Brendan Greiner released Gines from custody after Gines served 43 days in the Polk County Jail.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
