Man charged with murder in beating of auto dealer

Waco - A magistrate is withholding the affidavit of probable cause that led to the arrest warrant of a man charged with the murderous beating of a Robinson car dealer.

Though state law holds that such affidavits are public record, Justice of the Peace Billy Martin is seeking a ruling from the Office of the State Attorney General that will allow an exemption in the case. Such exemptions are very rarely granted, according to case law and opinions of the the Attorney General.

Robinson Police Department Chief Rusty Smith has made a similar claim that the matter is part of an ongoing investigation, in defiance of state open records laws, which plainly state that once a warrant of search or arrest has been served, it becomes part of the public record of the court.

Ray Easley, an auto dealer who lived and operated his car lot at 807 Robinson Road, was found a week ago last Friday, bleeding from multiple head injuries. He had last been seen on Tuesday. It was the second time Mr. Easley had been attacked. In a 2010 beating, an assailant stabbed him in the head so hard the knife blade penetrated his skull.

In that case, police arrested a man on the word of a witness who saw the assault and charged him with attempted capital murder. Within 4 days, authorities released the alleged assailant on his personal recognizance.

In the latest case, police arrested Donald Mills for aggravated assault as Mr. Easley hovered near death in a coma. When he succumbed over the weekend, they upgraded the charge to murder.