Assault Charge Upgraded to Murder in Fatal Beating

BULLARD — An assault charge has been upgraded to murder following a vicious attack that turned fatal hours after it happened. The suspect, James Bales, 31, Bullard, was initially booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury with bond set at $200,000. KETK reports that bond has now increased to $500,000. The incident happened around 4:00 Friday morning in the 22000 block of Lakeway Harbor Drive in Bullard. Deputies initially responded to a disturbance call and, upon arrival, found two men involved in an altercation. Officials said one of the men had been attacked and repeatedly hit in the head with a baseball bat. The victim, identified as Bias Lot, was transported to a Tyler hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and died just after midnight Saturday morning.