Troy Mason. (Courtesy Tyler Police Department)

PALESTINE – A man accused of sex crimes is back in custody after he escaped from the Anderson County Courthouse earlier this week, injuring a deputy.

Palestine Police Chief Mike Alexander said Troy Mason, 47, of Palestine, was apprehended at a truck stop on Interstate 20 in Forest, Mississippi early Friday morning. 

The search for Mason began Monday afternoon when he ran from officials in the courthouse, got into his own vehicle and fled the scene. 

Anderson County Sheriff Gregg Taylor said Mason was in the bond office on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography, when he turned and shoved a warrants officer out of the way in order to escape. 

Taylor said the deputy suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scrapes.

Alexander said information was gained through a tip that Mason would be leaving the state and provided a possible direction of travel. 

At that time, Alexander said agencies, including the Palestine City Marshal’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Joint East Texas Task Force, The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office.

Mason was taken into custody without incident and will be extradited to Palestine to face the charges where he will be held on a bond of $150,000 on the abuse and no bond for the child pornography charge.