Montgomery County, TX – A grand jury indictment advances a fatal January shooting case, prompting continued legal proceedings.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, a grand jury returned a murder indictment on March 10 against 55-year-old Vernon James Cradier of Magnolia in connection with a Jan. 1, 2026 shooting in Porter.
Deputies responded around 12:10 a.m. to a reported shooting in the 2100 block of Alexander Lane. Upon arrival, they found an adult male, identified as Clarence “Tom” Modlin III, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Deputies and medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but Modlin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division and Crime Scene Unit conducted the investigation. Authorities say Cradier allegedly admitted to firing the weapon that caused Modlin’s death.
According to investigators, the two men had been involved in an altercation that escalated into a physical and verbal confrontation. During the incident, Cradier—who was out on bond for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge tied to a 2025 road rage case—allegedly produced a firearm and shot Modlin.
Due to the complexity of the case, including circumstances leading up to the shooting, the investigation was presented to a Montgomery County grand jury for review.
Following the indictment, Cradier was arrested on the warrant and is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
The case remains active as it proceeds through the court system.
This incident may be relevant to commuters and young drivers given its connection to a prior road rage case.
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