Mob Mentality in Bastrop County?

The prosecutors in Bastrop County are fond of the good jokes, but they're evidently not the best at delivering them.

According to KXAN, Bastrop resident Edward Moore had been repeatedly asked by the district attorney's office to appear in court to answer for charges of writing bad checks. Having missed three assigned court dates, Moore was sent an ultimatum of sorts from Assisant D.A. Barbara Bogart:

"Pay up, or we break your knees."

Naturally, the message was intended as light-hearted banter or, perhaps, homage to HBO's soon-to-be-departed family/crime drama, The Sopranos. Moore took it as anything but.

"I think it's very reckless, very irresponsible, and I think it is very unprofessional," he said to KXAN. "I was kinda already in fear of the judicial system in Bastrop ... so when I seen that, that made me even more fear, you know."

The DA office responded by admitting it had exercised rather poor judgment. "I still think it was an unfortunate comment to put on a reset form, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it was strictly in jest." said District Attorney Bryan Goertz. "Breaking knees is not on the approved list of collection methods here in Bastrop County."

Moore, who has stated that he plans to avoid his fourth court date, could now face an arrest warrant.