A Cleveland man was arrested around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, during a routine tobacco enforcement operation after authorities discovered felony warrants from Polk County in his name, according to Liberty County Pct. 6 Constable Cpl. Randall Walter.
Walter was conducting a tobacco enforcement check at Vape N More, located at 1208 E. Houston St., directly across from the 7-Eleven. As part of a state-funded program that monitors tobacco and vape sales to minors, a minor was sent into the store to attempt to buy a tobacco product.
When the minor was able to purchase the item without being asked for identification, enforcement action followed, Walter said.
The man who allegedly sold the nicotine product was identified as James Glenn Stedman, born Jan. 29, 1981. When Walter ran Stedman’s name, he discovered two active felony warrants out of Polk County:
Felony 1: Warrant for bond forfeiture — Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under 14
Felony 2: Warrant for bond forfeiture — Indecency With a Child by Sexual Contact
Stedman was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Liberty County Jail. He reportedly told Walter the situation was “a big misunderstanding.”
This enforcement operation is part of a grant-funded program supported by Texas State University. Since 2022, the Precinct 6 Constable’s Office has raised $40,000 through the program, which has fully funded K-9 training and helps cover costs for deputy training and equipment at no expense to taxpayers.
The tobacco enforcement initiative is overseen by the Texas Comptroller’s Office and aims to collect data on businesses that illegally sell tobacco or vaping products to minors.
No additional charges related to evading or resisting arrest were reported.
