COLEMAN, Texas — Following a joint investigation conducted by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), authorities arrested and charged a San Saba man with providing alcohol to a minor in connection to a May 13th crash in Coleman County that killed an 8-year-old Abilene boy.
29-year-old Carlos James Anderson of San Saba turned himself in to the Coleman County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The arrest affidavit alleges that the suspect provided alcoholic beverages: beer and wine, to three different minors in violation of section 106.06 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code.
TABC and DPS routinely work together on cases that involve alcohol-related collisions and fatalities. “Our partnership with DPS and other law enforcement agencies is invaluable in these types of investigations,” said TABC Lieutenant Randy Motz.
“TABC conducts many types of investigations. This investigation centered on the source of the alcoholic beverages and we determined that they were illegally handled,” Motz added.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code stipulates that purchasing, furnishing or making alcoholic beverages available to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and/or one year in jail, and a 180-day driver’s license suspension.
One of the three teens who Anderson is charged with providing alcohol to is James Gilgaer, 18, of San Saba who was the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash. 8-year-old Jarrett Mantanona of Abilene died in the crash.
Gilgaer has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Lieutenant Motz stressed that “This terrible tragedy could have been avoided. Making alcoholic beverages available to minors places the public’s safety at risk and often has tragic consequences.”
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