Moreau Pleads Guilty And is Sentenced for Accidental Gunfire at Bar That Wounded Two
Craig Allen Moreau, 45 of Round Top, accepted a plea deal this week to avoid prison time for the accidental shooting on July 28 that wounded himself and a woman at the Star Bar in La Grange.
Moreau appeared in Fayette County District Court before Judge Jeff Steinhauser on Wednesday, Aug. 13. He signed a waiver to avoid a grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty to unlawful carry of a weapon in a prohibited place, a third degree felony. State law prohibits patrons from carrying a firearm inside an establishment that derives 51 percent or more of their income from the sale of alcohol.
The possible range of punishment was two to 10 years in prison with up to a $10,000 fine. Fayette County District Attorney James Herbrich recommended a sentence of 10 years on deferred adjudication. Deferred adjudication is a type of community supervision that permits a defendant to accept responsibility for a crime without an actual conviction being placed on the record.
Moreau must abide by various terms set out in the plea agreement document, but the Record was not able to access that document in time for this publication. Judge Steinhauser read some of the terms in court on Wednesday, which included paying a fine of $1,000, court costs of $290, and restitution to cover any of the victim’s medical bills not paid by insurance. He must complete 100 hours of community service.
In addition, Steinhauser said Moreau must surrender his license to carry a firearm and he may not possess any firearms during the 10 year term of deferred adjudication.
Steinhauser warned Moreau that if he fails to comply with the terms agreed upon, he could be sentenced to confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Moreau was represented in court by local attorney Jeff Heintschel.
Moreau gave an emotional statement to the Record in the courthouse hallway following his guilty plea on Wednesday: “I’m completely and fully remorseful for the hurt I have caused, and take full responsibility for the charge the State has filed,” Moreau said. “My life has focused on being someone who heals pain and injuries. It is with great sorrow that I have caused pain to an innocent person, let down my community, my family and my God. I’m committed to not only learn from this, but to implore others to avoid the same mistakes. My steadfast prayer remains with the injured.” Moreau previously served as Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator from 2019 through the end of 2022. He ran for County Judge in the 2022 Republican Primary and lost to Dan Mueller.
He had been serving as executive director of Round Top Family Library but resigned from that position days after the shooting.
He had also served as Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Fayetteville. Fayetteville Mayor Mike Stroup told the Record on Wednesday that Moreau would no longer hold that position following his guilty plea.