Houston woman accused of running over neighbor had previously shot him

Pebbles Hines is accused of running over her neighbor as he mowed the lawn. Pebbles Hines is accused of running over her neighbor as he mowed the lawn. Photo: DPS Photo: DPS Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Houston woman accused of running over neighbor had previously shot him 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

When a Houston woman was arrested this week for allegedly running over her neighbor with an SUV while he mowed the lawn, it wasn't the first time she'd landed behind bars for nearly killing the man.

Back in 2008, Pebbles Hines shot Lee Preston Jr. in the neck with a deer rifle, according to court records.

She was sentenced to eight years in prison for the shooting - but barely six months after her release, she struck again, prosecutors say.

On Tuesday, surveillance video captured the chaos on Belneath Street as the 46-year-old with a history of mental health problems apparently hopped in her car, drove next door, and plowed into Preston Jr., landing him in the hospital.

"He tried to get up and she hit him with the front of the car and knocked him into the house," said Preston's father, Lee Preston Sr. "And she hit him again."

After zooming away from her neighbor's yard, she parked the car and casually got out.

"She pulled in next door and sat down like she didn't do anything," Preston Sr. said.

Two days later, Preston Jr. is still at Memorial Hermann recovering after surgery from what his dad described as life-threatening injuries.

Neither Hines nor her family could be reached for comment.

Hines has been charged with aggravated assault of a family member, although she and her neighbor are not related. The two have lived next to each other for about 20 years, Preston Sr. said.

In that time, Hines had a string of arrests, including a murder charge that was dismissed in 2005. The following year, she was sentenced to six months in the county jail after she shoved a 64-year-old day laborer and took $50 out of his hand.

After her 2008 aggravated assault arrest, Hines was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial. It wasn't until 2011 that she was restored to competency so she could be sentenced for the violent outburst.

Two years later, Preston sued Hines' parents and brother for the shooting, alleging that they "were fully aware of their daughter's mental illness and violent tendencies" and failed to stop her, according to court records.

"Defendants failed to warn Plaintiff, failed to control Pebbles Hines, and allowed Pebbles Hines access to dangerous firearms while being completely unsupervised," Preston's attorney argued.

The suit, which asked for more than $50,000 in damages, was tossed the following year.

Preston Sr. said he had no idea why Hines has targeted his son.

Although court documents say the two had dated, the victim's father dismissed that claim.

"She is not related and there is no relationship," he said.

As of Thursday evening, Hines was being held in the Harris County jail on $75,000 bail.