SAN AUGUSTINE — A Shelbyville man has been arrested after a multi-agency investigation into a burglary at the former Ray Craft boat plant — a longtime East Texas manufacturer whose boats were a familiar sight on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Toledo Bend and other regional lakes.
The San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office said Jason Oray Smith, 42, was arrested Aug. 6 on an outstanding warrant for burglary of a building. Authorities say the investigation remains active and additional charges are being considered.
Deputy finds damaged gate, signs of entry
According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Chad Hooper was off duty around July 13 when he noticed the gate at the former boat plant had been rammed open and a shop bay door was partially closed.
Hooper returned July 18 with Sgt. Mike Williams and confirmed the building had been entered, authorities said.
Investigators found evidence that a vehicle had been driven through the structure, run over a bucket of paint and tracked paint across the parking lot and onto a county road.
The deputies photographed items of interest and continued monitoring the property.
After more disturbances were seen later in July, Hooper and Williams placed deer cameras at the site.
Camera footage leads investigators to Shelbyville man
A review of the cameras on Aug. 5 showed a black Ford truck registered to Smith, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators said images also showed Smith and two other men inside the building on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4.
Authorities said Smith was identified through distinctive tattoos, prior booking photographs and other investigative tools.
Hooper also used open-source research to identify the property’s owner, who lives out of town. The owner’s family confirmed that no one had permission to be on the property, investigators said.
Items reported missing from property
The owner’s family told investigators several high-value items were missing from the former plant, including:
A Dodge truckA John Deere tractor with attachmentsA Chevrolet truckA heavy-duty tandem-axle trailer with a compressorA custom smoker trailerA 14-foot single-axle trailer
Search turns up firearms, suspected meth and other property
After learning Smith lived in Shelby County, Hooper contacted Shelby County District Attorney Karren Price for assistance with a search warrant, the sheriff’s office said.
On Aug. 6, Hooper and Williams joined officers from the Center Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to execute the warrant in Shelbyville. Authorities said Smith was found in a converted shed where he lived alone and was taken into custody.
During the search, officers reported recovering:
Three rifles, including firearms reported stolen from Nacogdoches and Shelby countiesTwo pistolsA crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamineA stolen Suzuki dirt bikeA 14-foot trailerA custom smoker trailerA Generac generatorA Yamaha RhinoOther items investigators say were linked to the San Augustine County burglary
The sheriff’s office said affidavits seeking additional warrants for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon were prepared Aug. 15 for presentation to a Shelby County justice of the peace. Price is also considering additional charges, including theft of a firearm, according to the release.
A piece of East Texas boating history
Long before it became the focus of the burglary investigation, the plant was home to Ray Craft — a San Augustine-built boat brand with a lasting connection to East Texas fishing culture.
Ray Craft boats were manufactured by San Augustine Fiberglass Products Inc. from 1968 into the 2000s. The company built fiberglass fishing and bass boats, including 15-, 16-, 17- and 18-foot models listed in historical marine-industry records. The brand is no longer in production.
For generations of East Texas anglers, the name carries particular weight because of the lakes surrounding San Augustine County. Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Toledo Bend are renowned fishing destinations, but their submerged timber, stumps and changing water conditions can be unforgiving for boaters.
That environment helped shape the reputation that many longtime owners still attach to Ray Craft boats: practical, durable fishing platforms built for the region’s rough water and timber-filled lakes. The boats’ straightforward fiberglass designs were a fit for anglers who needed to get through shallow coves, open-water chop and tight fishing areas — not simply chase top-end speed.
The company’s closure ended local production, but the Ray Craft name has not disappeared from the water. Older models still surface in used-boat listings and among East Texas boat owners, where some continue to restore or repower the hulls for another generation of fishing.
Investigation remains active
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the burglary investigation to contact the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office.