SAN ANTONIO – This is not Bradley A'Hearn, Sara Richford's and Piper Lee's first brush with the law, though it is the most extensive. The trio is facing a list of charges in connection to the shooting of a postal worker, two violent police chases and mail theft.
Cuffed at the wrists and ankles, all three made their first appearances in federal court Thursday.
A'Hearn and Richford face charges for assaulting a federal agent, carjacking, mail theft and interference with commerce by violence. Lee faces charges for assaulting a federal officer and aiding and abetting.
Records show all three are familiar with jail and criminal hearings.
Richford was put on five years probation on Dec. 5, 2016 after she was convicted of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. The crime is a third-degree felony. The new charges suggest she may have broken that probation. She also pled guilty to possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana on April 7, 2016.
Lee was charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance on July 7, 2016. That crime is a state felony, but he has not been convicted yet. His trial is set for March 17.
A'Hearn has the shortest criminal history. He's served probation for getting caught with less than 2 ounces of marijuana on April 19, 2013. It's a class B misdemeanor offense.
However, the list of accusations he faces now is not so short. A'Hearn is accused of shooting a postal worker Saturday and stealing her truck with mail and personal belongings inside. Documents state Richford followed in another stolen truck.
Criminal complaint documents said A'Hearn and Richford were involved in two police chases where gunshots were fired at officers. Lee is accused of driving them in the second chase on Tuesday, which ended when the trio abandoned their car at a North Star Mall parking garage.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant Wednesday at what records show is Richford's and Lee's shared apartment on the North Side of town. KSAT reached out to three federal agencies to find out why they were there, but they were not able to provide any information.
A'Hearn's preliminary examination and detention hearing is set for Feb. 21. Lee's and Richford's hearings will be on March 2.
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