Shelby County Today

January 30, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners continued discussions during their Wednesday, January 25, 2023, meeting over emergency plumbing repairs and the contract with the company performing them.

“We have spoken previously with GrantWorks about the procedure to be followed and the terms of the contract that have to be included,” said John Price, County Attorney.

Price indicated the contract called, as drafted by GrantWorks, for the approval of $150,000 while the projected cost of repairs was a different figure.

“If you total it, I think it actually comes to $359,[000], but that’s the figure not to be exceeded and I’m not sure if we need to have the contract redrafted if the commissioners want to increase that to the point of the $159,000,” said Price.

Commissioner Tom Bellmyer explained the plumber presented a base price for the detention center and one for the sheriff’s office area, as well as an amount not to be exceeded. He cautioned the price would not include “block” work.

“I don’t think the block work’s going to be a lot of money, but it’s $125 an hour for the block work and you know it doesn’t take long to burn up a couple thousand dollars there and our $159,[000] can turn into $163,[000] or more,” said Bellmyer.

Due to an inconsistency between the bid amount and the contract amount, Price brought the variance to the attention of the commissioners.

“The contract, per se, authorizes the use of $150,000 of the ARPA funds up to that in an emergency situation,” said Price.

Commissioner Roscoe McSwain indicated the base price for the work is $94,000 and is a big difference from $150,000. He expressed his concerns in delaying the project further by going back to make alterations to the contract.

“If we try to change that contract, we just delay a week or two, because we’re going to have to go back to GrantWorks and get it changed back to $159,[000] instead of $150,[000],” said McSwain.

Following further discussion, a motion carried to move forward with using American Rescue Plan Act funds as dictated in the contract and go with Whitaker Plumbing to perform this repair at the county jail.

The meeting went into an executive session, and upon returning to open session Commissioner McSwain asked Commissioner Bellmyer to elaborate on what was discussed.

“We asked the county attorney to give us some advice on communication with all of our constables and law enforcement,” said Bellmyer. “He’s given us some advice and is going to go and have some discussion with the sheriff to see if we can’t get a resolution on our five constables all having access to communication tool.”

The meeting was adjourned at 10:49am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:

1. Pay weekly expenses.

2. Purchase of one John Deere Model 310P-Tier Backhoe/Loader with American Rescue Plan Act funds. After a formal solicitation of a number of sources, no responses were received and competition was determined inadequate. The County may proceed with noncompetitive procurement, per 2 CFR § 200.320(c).

3. Use American Rescue Plan Act funds as dictated in the contract and go with Whitaker Plumbing to perform this repair at the county jail.

4. Adjourn.

Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:

1. Donation of $1,000 from the City of Timpson for the benefit of Constable Josh Tipton for installation of the computer system in his patrol vehicle.

January 30, 2023 - Lufkin District crews will pre-treat bridges and problematic areas in Houston, Nacogdoches, and Shelby counties in preparation for any winter weather that could impact these areas this week.

Crews will also monitor and prepare for heavy rainfall expected later this week by inspecting drainage structures to ensure they are free of debris.

Motorists should be cautious of crews on the roadway and stay clear of moving equipment as roads are pre-treated. Reduce speed near work zones and obey all traffic control in place.

For more information on road conditions statewide, visit drivetexas.org.

January 25, 2023 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 31 indictments on Monday, January 9, 2023. The grand jury was impaneled for the January 2023 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.

Sakendrick Jacobe Calhoun was indicted for forgery, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 29, 2021, Calhoun possessed a writing that had been forged with intent to use, transfer, pass, publish, otherwise utter said writing which was purported to be a one hundred dollar bill. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Brent Nicholson was indicted for burglary of a habitation intending to commit a felony, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 10, 2020, Nicholson intended to commit the felony offense of assault causing bodily injury, and entered a habitation without the consent of Natalie Hutton, the owner. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Rhonald Palmer was indicted for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 19, 2022, Palmer knowingly caused bodily injury to Manuel Jimenez by striking him in the left thigh with a baseball bat and did then and there point a Ruger 22 long rifle at Jimenez and fired it toward his legs. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Jimmy Moore was indicted for prohibited sexual conduct, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 4, 2022, Moore engaged in sexual intercourse with a person Moore knew to be, without regard to legitimacy, his stepchild. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Wanda Moore was indicted for prohibited sexual conduct, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 4, 2022, Moore engaged in sexual intercourse with a person Moore knew to be, without regard to legitimacy, her daughter. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Katina Marshal Evans was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 18, 2022, while Evans knew an investigation was ongoing into a possible possession of a controlled substance, she allegedly attempted to conceal an illegal drug (baggie of marijuana) with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the investigation by throwing it under a car. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Jeffrey Walling was indicted for assault by choking, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 12, 2022, Walling knowingly caused bodily injury to Angela Walling, a member of Jeffrey Walling’s family, by impeding the normal breathing of circulation of the blood of Angela Walling by applying pressure to the throat or neck. Jeffrey Walling also allegedly tossed her around causing bruising to both arms. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Breanne Rascoe was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on June 24, 2022, Rascoe engaged in conduct that placed a child younger than 15 years of age in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by driving while intoxicated with the child in the vehicle. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Tracey Lyn Hebert was indicted for accident involving serious bodily injury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 18, 2022, after having been involved in an accident that Hebert knew was reasonably likely to result in injury to or death of a person, and after having determined another person was involved in the incident, failed to immediately determine whether that person required aid. The incident resulted in the bodily injury to Callie Adams. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Caster Moore was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 1, 2022, Moore used a vehicle to intentionally flee Fern Jernigan, a person Moore knew was a peace officer who was attempting to lawfully arrest or detain him. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Tyreik Odums was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 23, 2022, Odums entered a habitation without the consent of Manuel Leon and Maria Leon, the owners, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a black safe with miscellaneous items inside (credit cards, identification cards, trailer title, jewelry) owned by Leons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Tyreik Odums was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 23, 2022, Odums had intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination which consisted of Odums, Trevor May, Justin Bigger, and Jacob Jones. The indictment further alleges they collaborated in carrying on and conspired to commit the offense of burglary of a habitation by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted the offense. The indictment further alleges Odums, May, Bigger and Jones allegedly performed an overt act in pursuance of the agreement namely intentionally and knowingly entering a habitation without effective consent of Manuel Leon and Mario Leon, the owners, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a black safe with miscellaneous items inside (credit cards, identification cards, trailer title, jewelry) owned by Leons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Justin Bigger was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 23, 2022, Bigger entered a habitation without the consent of Manuel Leon and Maria Leon, the owners, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a black safe with miscellaneous items inside (credit cards, identification cards, trailer title, jewelry) owned by Leons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Justin Bigger was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 23, 2022, Bigger had intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination which consisted of Bigger, Trevor May, Tyreik Odums, and Jacob Jones. The indictment further alleges they collaborated in carrying on and conspired to commit the offense of burglary of a habitation by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted the offense. The indictment further alleges Bigger, May, Odums and Jones allegedly performed an overt act in pursuance of the agreement namely intentionally and knowingly entering a habitation without effective consent of Manuel Leon and Mario Leon, the owners, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a black safe with miscellaneous items inside (credit cards, identification cards, trailer title, jewelry) owned by Leons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Trevor May was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 23, 2022, May entered a habitation without the consent of Manuel Leon and Maria Leon, the owners, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a black safe with miscellaneous items inside (credit cards, identification cards, trailer title, jewelry) owned by Leons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Trevor May was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 23, 2022, May had intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination which consisted of May, Justin Bigger, Tyreik Odums, and Jacob Jones. The indictment further alleges they collaborated in carrying on and conspired to commit the offense of burglary of a habitation by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted the offense. The indictment further alleges May, Bigger, Odums and Jones allegedly performed an overt act in pursuance of the agreement namely intentionally and knowingly entering a habitation without effective consent of Manuel Leon and Mario Leon, the owners, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a black safe with miscellaneous items inside (credit cards, identification cards, trailer title, jewelry) owned by Leons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Jamal Dash Boyd was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on August 30, 2022, Boyd engaged in conduct that placed a child younger than 15 years of age in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment, by breaking windows and causing glass to cut the child’s forehead. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Derrick Wyatt was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 6, 2021, Wyatt established, maintained, or participated in a combination or in the profits of a combination which consisted of Wyatt, Zenas Whitaker, Shanan Lee, and John McDaniel who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity. The indictment further alleges the group conspired to commit the offense of prohibited substance in a correctional facility by agreeing with each other they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense. Wyatt, Whitaker, Lee, and McDonald performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement by successfully brining methamphetamine into the Shelby County Sheriff’s Jail. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Yesenia Cordova was indicted for theft of metals <$30K, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 3, 2022, Cordova took copper of the value of less than $30,000 from James Russell Miles, the owner, without Miles consent. (123rd Judicial District Court)

(Some of the following content contained within indictments is of a sensitive nature and may not be suitable for younger viewers.)

James Fuchsberger was indicted for aggravated sexual assault, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 1, 2022, Fuchsberger caused the penetration of the mouth, with his sexual organ, of a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age and not the spouse of Fuchsberger. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Gregory Johnson was indicted for sexual assault, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 19, 2021, Johnson caused the penetration of the female organ of an individual without the consent of that individual. (273rd Judicial District Court)

(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):

• Stephen Henry Leblanc, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 3, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Richard Don Weaver, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 3, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Connor Lucas Sparks, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 2 (Ecstasy - MDMA), third degree felony. (April 11, 2005). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Tracey Lyn Hebert, driving while intoxicated with child passenger, state jail felony. (March 18, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Benjamin Malone, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 3, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Charles Alan Bailey, unlawful possession of firearm by felon. (September 14, 2022) (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Belinda And Green, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (December 18, 2020). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Jeremiah Chase Davis, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B =>1G<4G (methamphetamine), third jail felony (January 27, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Derrick Wyatt, prohibited substance in a correctional facility, third degree felony. (July 6, 2021). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Jeffrey Haley, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (April 21, 2021). (123rd Judicial District Court)

Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

January 25, 2023 - U.S. Highway 59 in Timpson was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash involving a passenger car and a truck-tractor on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the crash, the truck-tractor was parked on the northbound shoulder and the passenger car was in the middle of the northbound traffic lanes just near Garrison Street.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Ashley White, at around 5pm a black 2019 Kenworth driven by Trebor Bing, 24, of Richmond was parked legally on the improved shoulder facing northbound.

At that time a black 2019 Toyota Highlander driven by Jayme Harrison, 34, of Timpson was northbound in the outside traffic lane when, due to a distraction in the vehicle, Harrison failed to maintain a single lane. The Highlander veered over into the improved shoulder and struck the towed unit of the truck-tractor with the front right side of the Highlander.

Emergency medical services personnel were on scene; however, Harrison refused treatment and was not reported to have received injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Timpson Volunteer Fire department personnel and Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies were on scene to assist with traffic control.