Buna man arrested on six counts of human smuggling

The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested a Buna man for multiple felony warrants following a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 96, just south of Farm-to-Market Road 1004, on Saturday, December 9. 

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 5:18 p.m., a Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a passenger car for a traffic violation. It is reported that a passenger in the vehicle had a warrant out of Kinney County Sheriff’s Office for six counts of smuggling of persons and one count of evading arrest with a vehicle, all felony offenses. 

The suspect is identified as 30-year-old Joshua Kelly. Kelly was placed under arrest for the warrants and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

Kelly was charged with all 6 counts of Smuggling of Persons: Fleeing, with a $25,000 bond on each, and 1 count of Evading arrest/detention, a $25,000 bond for a total of $175,000.

Kelly doesn't have any local charges and will be extradited to Kinney County which is located on the Mexico/Texas Border.

This is a developing story. ETB will update our readers as more information becomes available.