The two-day trial of 66-year-old Claudia Carlton of Old River came to an end on Tuesday, Feb. 27, with a Liberty County jury handing down an 11-year prison sentence for her conviction of Aggravated Assault of a Public Servant. The incident took place as they were investigating an animal cruelty case at her residence on CR 401 in late August 2022.
Following the jury’s decision, District Attorney Jennifer Bergman commended their dedication to protecting the community, emphasizing that such dangerous behavior towards law enforcement will not be tolerated in Liberty County.
During the punishment phase of the trial, the jury heard testimony about Carlton’s prior encounters with the law, including a road rage incident where she allegedly pointed a gun at a resident and a previous arrest by a former Dayton police officer. It was revealed that Carlton has a history of arrests dating back to 2009, including charges of Disorderly Conduct, Interference With the Duties of a Public Servant, and Assault of a Public Servant.
The recent case stemmed from a standoff with authorities after Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelby Bean attempted to inquire about Carlton’s plans for disposing of a donkey’s remains found in her driveway. The situation escalated when Carlton reportedly fired upon Deputy Bean, leading to a standoff that lasted for several hours.
In early September 2022, Houston SPCA and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office rescued numerous animals from Carlton’s property, including horses, donkeys, goats, a dog, and various fowl, following the discovery of a decaying donkey in her driveway.
The jury’s decision reflects a strong stance against such behavior in the community, as highlighted by Bergman.
“It takes a special kind of coward, and a particularly dangerous kind of person, to fire bullets at a law enforcement officer who was respectfully performing his duties. This type of behavior may be shrugged away in some communities as everyday life, but it will not be tolerated in Liberty County. I want to thank the jurors for their time and dedication to protecting our community,” Bergman said.
Carlton will be credited for time served in jail during the court proceedings. Prior to the trial, she was offered a plea bargain of 15 years, which she refused. She was represented during the trial by Attorney Elizabeth Coker. Carlton indicated after the trial that she intends to seek an appeal.