Jacksonville, TX:
(Nov. 19, 2025) The Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, on federal firearms violations after a four-day manhunt in the Jacksonville area early this month. Dennis opened fire with a stolen AR-15 on a Jacksonville police officer issuing an outstanding arrest warrant stemming from a firearm theft in June 2025. Following the shooting, Dennis was placed on Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitive Lists and Gov. Greg Abbott's office tacked on an additional $10,000 reward for his capture. Bobby Dennis' local bond is set at $1.3 million. He faces life in prison.
Bobby Dennis had been convicted in Arkansas for three felonies, including aggravated robbery, domestic violence, and drug possession. That didn't stop him from driving around drunk and high without a license or insurance in Cherokee County. Beginning in 2005, Bobby Dennis was arrested over ten times for the same crimes, but never saw inside a Cherokee County courtroom after his charges were dropped. In June of this year alone, he was arrested during a traffic stop and released on nine charges:
#1 THEFT OF FIREARM
#2 Unlicensed carrying weapon (by a felon)
#3 Possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces
#4 Speeding
#5 No motor vehicle liability insurance
#6 Violation promise to appear for speeding
#7 Failure to display license plates
#8 No motor veh liability, 2nd offense
#9 Failure to appear
According to Cherokee County arrest records, Bobby Dennis was arrested for various drug, gun, and motor vehicle violations on:
06/19/2005 01/15/2019
11/29/2007 09/11/2020
04/26/2011 11/13/2024
04/15/2016 06/25/2025
12/12/2018 11/05/2025
To reward Cherokee County and surrounding district courts on their stellar performances, Gov. Greg Abbott immediately appointed the 369th District Court judge as the interim 12th Court of Appeals justice. Michael Davis sits on former 369th District Judge Bascom Bentley's bench for the counties of Anderson, Cherokee and Leon. His appointment to the Tyler Court of Appeals vacancy begins Nov.1 and is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2026. Abbott's and Davis' office have made no public comment on how many times convicted felons possessing firearms have had their charges dropped before shooting police officers.
