Convicted Felon Arrested After Sheriff’s Surprise Parking Lot Encounter

James Ronnie Graham, 44, of Kirbyville arrested for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Photo Courtesy of Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

KIRBYVILLE, Texas — What started as a routine stop at a local convenience store quickly turned into an arrest Monday morning when Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard spotted a rifle inside a parked vehicle.

On September 1, 2025, at approximately 11:34 a.m., Sheriff Havard stopped at the Cotton Top convenience store on North Margaret Avenue in Kirbyville. As he walked across the parking lot, he noticed a silver GMC pickup parked at the pumps with its passenger-side door open.

An older man standing by the truck attempted to ask the sheriff a question. Unable to hear clearly, Sheriff Havard approached and looked inside the vehicle, where another man sat in the driver’s seat. That’s when he observed a .22 rifle lying on the seat between the driver and the console.

During their conversation, the driver identified himself as James Ronnie Graham, 44, of Kirbyville, and admitted he was a convicted felon. Sheriff Havard immediately placed him under arrest for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, a third-degree felony in Texas. Graham was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

Graham remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The passenger was not involved in any criminal activity and was given a ride home by deputies.

Sheriff Havard reiterated his office’s commitment to addressing crime, saying he and his staff remain dedicated to combating criminal activity in Jasper County.