91-Year-Old Jailed Following Grass Dispute

A 91-year-old Avon Park man reportedly angered over grass clippings that were blown into his driveway remained behind bars Sunday without bond after deputies say he tried to kill the offending landscaper.

The case against Max Horton began to unfold Thursday morning when Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies say he pulled a gun on Robert Wayne Hendrix, 39, the owner of Hendrix Lawn Care. It seems Hendrix and one of his employees Johnny Barnes were working along Palo Verde Drive around 11:30 a.m. when Hendrix inadvertently allowed a grass blower to spread clippings onto Horton’s caregiver’s Cadillac.

As Hendrix went about his business, a neighbor informed him that Horton was very upset about the clippings, an arrest report stated. A short time later, Horton, the report said, called Hendrix over to his driveway.

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Horton, the report said, began a verbal assault on Hendrix about the clippings. Hendrix assured the elderly man that it had been taken care of and there was no longer any grass on any vehicles in the neighborhood.

Horton, however, reportedly said he was going to “fix the problem himself,” and proceeded to remove a black handgun from a pouch and pointed it at Hendrix.

Horton then ordered Hendrix onto his knees and told him he was going to kill him, the report said. He’s also accused of pointing the gun’s laser target at Hendrix.

As Hendrix pleaded for his life, Barnes heard the commotion and came over to help. He was able to distract Horton long enough for Hendrix to disarm him, the report said.

When deputies arrived, they saw Barnes holding Horton on the ground.

Neighbors in the community later told deputies Horton was known to “flip out,” and “get angry for no reason,” the report said.

Horton was brought into custody on attempted first-degree murder charges. He was being held without bond in the Highlands County Jail as of Sunday, jail records indicate.

Horton’s age makes him one of the oldest Floridians ever charged in an attempted murder or murder. He’s not the oldest though. That distinction goes to a 96-year-old St. Augustine woman who was accused of killing her nephew in 2011, according to the Daily Mail.

Booking photo courtesy of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office