Registered Sex Offender Charged With Abducting, Beating 63-year-old Woman
Courtesy Texas Department of Public Safety
Joshua James Cannon (May 2008 photo)
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY — A registered sex offender is being held in connection with the abduction and beating of a 63-year-old woman who was tossed into an abandoned well.
Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY — A registered sex offender is being held in connection with the abduction and beating of a 63-year-old woman who was tossed into an abandoned well.
Lt. Pat McWilliams of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department said relatives of Shirley Shafer reported her missing Friday when she failed to answer multiple calls.
McWilliams said the woman’s daughter, Cheryl Adams, told authorities she feared her mother had been abducted and her car stolen.
“Ms. Adams checked her mother’s answering machine and learned that Seagoville Police Department had stopped Ms. Shaffer’s vehicle that morning on U.S. Highway 175 for reckless driving. The vehicle was impounded pending contact with the registered owner,” he said.
The two occupants were released pending investigation.
McWilliams said the woman was missing so family members gathered at her residence at 177 Snapper Lane in the Bonita Point addition to assist in a search for Shafer.
“Mrs. Shafer was located in an abandoned well. She was freed from the 20-foot deep well by Gun Barrel City Fire Department and transported to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler by EMS. She received non life-threatening injuries.
McWilliams said Henderson County Sheriff detectives quickly apprehended Joshua James Cannon, 18, a registered sex offender, who was driving her vehicle when he was stopped earlier in the day.
“Apparently he acted alone in abducting her, assaulting her and then putting her into the well,” he said. She wasn’t tied up or anything, but we don’t know at this time if he threw her in head first or feet first.”
McWilliams said the woman suffered a broken nose and minor injuries including bruises and dehydration.
Cannon has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is being held in the Henderson County Jail on bonds totaling $17,500 and faces possible kidnapping and assault charges, authorities said.
“The investigation is continuing so we don’t know all the charges the investigators will charge him with,” McWilliams said.
He added the juvenile in the car stopped by police was not charged and was believed to have been picked up by the suspect.
Records indicate Cannon was sent to Texas Youth Commission for molesting a 5-year-old girl when he was a juvenile.
“He just registered with our department as a sex offender last Wednesday,” McWilliams said.
Updated Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. CDT
McWilliams said the woman was missing so family members gathered at her residence at 177 Snapper Lane in the Bonita Point addition to assist in a search for Shafer.
“Mrs. Shafer was located in an abandoned well. She was freed from the 20-foot deep well by Gun Barrel City Fire Department and transported to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler by EMS. She received non life-threatening injuries.
McWilliams said Henderson County Sheriff detectives quickly apprehended Joshua James Cannon, 18, a registered sex offender, who was driving her vehicle when he was stopped earlier in the day.
“Apparently he acted alone in abducting her, assaulting her and then putting her into the well,” he said. She wasn’t tied up or anything, but we don’t know at this time if he threw her in head first or feet first.”
McWilliams said the woman suffered a broken nose and minor injuries including bruises and dehydration.
Cannon has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is being held in the Henderson County Jail on bonds totaling $17,500 and faces possible kidnapping and assault charges, authorities said.
“The investigation is continuing so we don’t know all the charges the investigators will charge him with,” McWilliams said.
He added the juvenile in the car stopped by police was not charged and was believed to have been picked up by the suspect.
Records indicate Cannon was sent to Texas Youth Commission for molesting a 5-year-old girl when he was a juvenile.
“He just registered with our department as a sex offender last Wednesday,” McWilliams said.
Updated Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. CDT
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