courtesy of Texas County Jail

Life Sentence

Nugent Sentenced in Murder of Willow Springs Man
Michael Nugent, 24, of Houston, has been sentenced to life without the possibility of probation after he was found guilty of the 2019 murder of Crue Ridenoure of Willow Springs. 
A court trial on October 29 in Texas County found Nugent guilty on the charge of murder and one count each of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced by the Hon. William Hickle on January 4. In addition to the life sentence, Nugent will also serve ten years concurrent with the life sentence for the unlawful use of weapon charge and a consecutive sentence of three years on the armed criminal action charge. 
Nugent has also been given two concurrent seven-year sentences on two separate assault charges. 
The defendant was arrested in October of 2019 when multiple witnesses accused him of shooting the deceased. On October 10, 2019, a 911 call at approximately 7:00 a.m. reported a man with a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim named Nugent to first responders at the scene, says a probable cause statement filed by Texas County Sheriff’s Deputy Rowdy Douglas. Ridenoure was pronounced dead at Texas County Memorial Hospital. 
Witnesses at the scene saw the two men in an altercation at approximately 6:50 a.m. In the course of the investigation, sheriff’s deputies located the motorcycle Nugent was seen riding at the time, and they interviewed several individuals who stated Nugent was angry with Ridenoure and planned to attack him. Nugent was known to have recently purchased a .45 caliber handgun.
“I have probable cause to believe that Nugent deliberated about causing the death of Ridenoure, then carried through on his plan,” said Deputy Douglas’ statement. 
The murder was committed while Nugent was out on bond for separate offenses. Nugent has remained in custody from the time of his capture in Howell County on October 17.
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