Michael Lloyd Carlson, a 65-year-old former sheriff from Truscott in Knox County, Texas, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter. The verdict comes nearly a year after a three-vehicle crash on May 17, 2023, near Electra on US Highway 287, which led to the heartbreaking death of 22-month-old Aveline Hill.
The Wichita County jury, made up of 10 women and 2 men, took just over an hour to reach a unanimous guilty verdict on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Later that afternoon, they also decided on his punishment: 10 years in state prison.
Jury Determines Carlson’s Sentence
Before the trial began, Carlson had elected to let the jury decide his punishment, which could have ranged from 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. After emotional testimonies during the punishment phase, the jury announced their final decision shortly after 3:00 PM.
Punishment Phase: Past Actions and Personal Stories Shared
The punishment hearing began immediately after the verdict was announced. Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Carlton presented the case for the state, while defense attorney Mark Barber spoke on Carlson’s behalf.
The prosecution focused on Carlson’s 2021 deadly conduct charge, for which he had previously pleaded guilty. Police records showed that Carlson had fired a gun at a trailer parked on land he was leasing in Truscott. A person inside the trailer was struck by a bullet. Carlson received 10 years of probation at the time.
A Texas Ranger was called as a witness to explain the seriousness of the earlier case.
Carlson Takes the Stand, Expresses Regret
After the lunch break, the defense brought in several Knox County residents who had known Carlson during his time as sheriff. Later, Carlson himself chose to testify — despite staying silent during the earlier phase of the trial.
Carlson, speaking through tears, shared details about his life:
- He grew up in New Mexico and spent time in foster care before being adopted.
- He has two daughters, both of whom are nurse practitioners. One daughter sat in court and cried as her father spoke.
- He explained that he became Knox County sheriff after serving as a reserve deputy, serving for about 3–4 years before stepping down.
Carlson also addressed the 2021 incident. He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he began drinking heavily, and in a drunken state, fired shots at a trailer that he believed had trespassed on his land. He later quit drinking “cold turkey” and entered a recovery program at Helen Farabee Centers. He said he hasn’t had a drink since.
Guilt and Apology Over the Fatal Crash
Carlson became emotional as he spoke about the 2023 crash that killed young Aveline Hill. He said he feels deep guilt and lives with the pain every day.
“This is with me 24-7,” Carlson said, adding, “I’d trade places still today.”
His words brought members of the jury and the victim’s mother to tears. Carlson said that if he could, he would personally apologize to the Hill family for what happened.