Vernon Mark Carter (PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 61-year-old former Florida man has been jailed without bail pending a Feb. 3 court appearance on a charge of threatening acts of violence including to kill the sheriff and undersheriff in retaliation for the conduct of the Payne County Sheriff’s Office in an unrelated criminal matter.
Vernon Mark Carter, whose address was listed on court documents as Riviera Beach, Fl., was sought for nearly two months before he was transported from Nodaway, Mo., to the Payne County Jail on Jan. 8, sheriff’s jail records show.
If convicted of the charge of threatening a terroristic act that was filed by Payne County First Assistant District Attorney J.R. Kalka on Nov. 19, 2024, Carter, whose address was listed as Maryville, Mo. on jail records, could be given a life prison sentence.
According to an affidavit by Payne County Sheriff’s Investigator Brandon Myers, “Between 11/13/2024, and 11/15/2024, Vernon Mark Carter made multiple phone calls to the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, the Payne County Court Clerk’s Office, and the Payne County Undersheriff.
“During these interactions, Mr. Carter expressed frustration regarding his son’s incarceration in the Payne County Jail without bond and no calls returned to him by the Payne County Sheriff. The conversations escalated into threats of violence and intimidation directed at law enforcement and government personnel.
“Vernon Carter was identified through the caller ID, which registered his phone number. He self-identified during various phone calls and provided personal information, including his name, date of birth, and middle name, Mark,” the affidavit alleged.
At 6:07 am on Nov. 13, 2024, Carter called the Payne County Sheriff’s Office and made the following statements to the dispatcher, the affidavit alleged:
“I’ll come there and break him out. Trust me, I’ll do that.”
Referring to the sheriff, Carter allegedly said, “I’ll hunt him down like a g….. dog. I want your coward sheriff to call me.”
The affidavit alleged, “On 11/14/2024, between approximately 12:15-12:24 pm, Vernon Carter called several deputy court clerks. These are the statements he made:
‘All of my veteran buddies and I are going to come and get my son out of jail one way or another.’
‘I’m going to come get my son out one way or another.’
‘I’m going to kill that f…… sheriff."”
The affidavit alleged that on Nov. 15, 2024, at about 3:43 pm, Carter called the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, spoke with a dispatcher and then made the following statements to Undersheriff Marvin Noyes:
“I’ll go to war, trust me. And I mean that with every beat of my heart.” Reiterating frustration with the sheriff, Carter allegedly said, “I’m getting pushed to the limit. Trust me.”
Speaking to the undersheriff, Carter “continued hostile language and intimidation,” the affidavit alleged. Carter “expressed disbelief at not being contacted, using expletive-laden language and dismissing responses as ‘bullshit,"” the affidavit alleged.
In one phone call to the undersheriff, Carter said, “Oh good. F… you. I’ll kill you."” the affidavit alleged.
In a second call to the undersheriff, Carter said, “I will come down there and f…… kill you, you mother f……,” the affidavit alleged.
According to the sheriff’s investigator, “Vernon Carter has a very lengthy three-state criminal history that includes armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug offenses, theft, burglary, terrorist threats, and harassment,” the affidavit alleged.
