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August 16, 2017 - Shelby County Today would like to share a warning for parents about an online app attracting kids - Roblox. Roblox is a popular online social platform app with thousands of user generated games which is marketed with a Minecraft type appearance attracting many young gamers.
Be warned! This is a social platform for play and there is no filter on who may be online and playing with your child. Online child predators are using the game to communicate with children.
A local parent advised they opened the game just to see what it was like. At first nothing unusual happened; however, it wasn't long in the game, a person sent them a message with sexual innuendos which a child may not understand at first. The comments continued and the predator asked for the parent (which the predator thought was a child) to follow him home in the game and then had the characters in the game make sexual movements.
The lack of moderation in the chat feature and uploaded user content leaves children at risk of exposure to a huge range of inappropriate adult content, bullying and susceptibility to online predators.
It is important for parents to be aware of what apps or games their children are using. Although efforts are made by app developers to try and protect children, there is no way for them to know the actual age of those signing up to use the game nor what that users intentions are. Therefore, use caution about what games your child is playing on their electronic devices. Notate if games have a chat feature, which many of them do, and speak to your children about online safety.
Stranger danger isn't just for in person but for online as well. Children answer questions when asked and don't think about whether that information can be used to identify them or their location and you don't want your child exposed to inappropriate content.
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August 16, 2017 - The following cases were recently disposed of in the Shelby County Court. Judge Allison Harbison was the presiding Judge and County Attorneys Gary Rholes and Wesley Hoyt represented the State.
- John Anzovino - Evading Arrest - Class A - $600.00 fine, $292.00 court cost, 60 days Shelby County Jail. Final Judgment.
- John Anzovino - Fail To ID - Class A - $500.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, 60 days Shelby County Jail, Final Judgment.
- Cordierous Gray - Assault F/V - Class A - $600.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hrs. Community Service, attend and complete Anger Management program.
- Cynthia Furlow - Disorderly Conduct - Class B - $500.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, Final Judgment.
- Kenneth Furlow - Disorderly Conduct - Class B - $500.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, Final Judgment.
- Pablo Barcenas - POM - Class B - $600.00 fine, $322.00 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hrs. Community Service, attend and complete Drug Offenders program.
- Jose Javier - DWI - Class B - $1200.00 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hrs. Community Service, attend and complete DWI education program.
- Eduardo Vasquez - DWI - Class B - $1200.00 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, attend and complete DWI education program.
- Ruben Camarillo - Evading Arrest - Class A - $600.00 fine, $292.00 court cost, 12 months probation.
- Ruben Camarillo - Resisting Arrest - Class A - $600.00 fine, $292.00 court cost, 12 months probation.
- Jamison Swindle - POM - Class A - $322.00 court cost, 15 days Shelby County Jail, Final Judgement.
- Jeffery Whigham - Theft - Class B - $262.00 court cost, 11 days Shelby County Jail, Final Judgment.
- Celedina Jasso - DWI - Class B - $1200.00 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, attend and complete DWI education program.
- Tristen Johnson - DWI 2nd - Class A - $1200.00 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, attend and complete Repeat Offenders DWI education program and install ignition interlock system.
- Dannie Oatis - Theft - Class B - $600.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service and attend and complete Theft program.
- Jasmine Moore - Probation Revocation - Original Charge - Theft by Check- Class B- defendant received 6 months in the Shelby County Jail.
- LaJagger Barnes - Evading Arrest - Class A - $470.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, Final Judgment.
- Lisa Koponen - DWI - Class B - $500.00 fine, $412.10 court cost, 6 months probation, attend and complete DWI education class.
- Eddie Chisenhall - POM - Class B - $300.00 fine, $322.00 court cost, Final Judgment.
- Rapheal Boyd - POM - Class B - $250.00 fine, $322.00 court cost, 6 months Deferred Adjudication, attend and complete Drug offenders program.
- Matti Tenton - POM - Class B - $300.00 fine, $322.00 court cost, Final Judgment.
- Patricia Harris - Criminal Trespass - Class B - $262.00 court cost, 16 days in the Shelby County Jail.
- Patricia Harris - Assault - Class A - $600.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, 16 days Shelby County Jail.
- Jonathan Rico - DWI - Class B - $1200.00 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service, attend and complete DWI education class.
- Guadalupe Cervantes - Fail to ID - Class A - $262.00 court cost, 6 days in the Shelby County Jail.
- Andrea Starghill - Theft - Class B - $600.00 fine, $262.00 court cost, 6 months probation, 40 hours Community Service, attend and complete Theft program.
August 16, 2017 - The mother of the missing teen reports that she has been found. According to communication from Rachel Renau, her daughter is once again with her family.
August 15, 2017 - A Facebook post by Rachel Reneau reports that her daughter, Kelly Reneau, was last seen late Monday, August 14th just before midnight at her home in Timpson, Texas. Kelly is 15 years old with brown eyes and light brown hair. She is 5'6" tall.
Kelly's mother posted on Facebook, "It is with heavy hearts that we make this post today. Our 15 year old daughter Kelly Reneau has run away. We have heard from multiple sources that she has had this planned for some time now. We are begging that anyone who has any information please contact her family. We are sad, worried, and scared. If you have a child who is friends with Kelly please urge them to tell what ever they know!"
Please contact the Shelby County Sheriff's office (936) 598-5600 or (936) 598-5601.
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Sheriff's Department Arrests Two on Harboring Runaway Charges
August 15, 2017 - FM 1279 was the scene of a log truck rollover on Saturday, August 12, 2017 which left the roadway blocked for an extended period of time.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at 11:30am a white 1995 Freightliner hauling a trailer of logs owned and driven by Audrey Dionyell Lacey, 36, of Center was westbound on FM 1279.
Due to unsafe speed, as the truck traveled around a curve in the road, the load of logs shifted. This caused the truck to turn over, travel off the roadway to the right where it knocked down two road signs, and logs breached a fence. The trailer and logs remained blocking the westbound traffic lane.
Lacy was not reported to have received any injury as a result of the crash incident. He was issued a citation for unsafe speed fence.
Shelbyville Volunteer Firemen assisted by directing traffic at the scene.
Trooper Fountain was assisted at the scene by Trooper Richard Hill.
August 13, 2017 - The Shelby County Commissioners' Court approved the purchase of an asphalt zipper and the disbursement of funding to the Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center (SCCAC) during their meeting held July 24, 2017.
Three bids were received by Precinct 3 and 4 commissioners for an asphalt zipper the precincts were seeking to purchase. An asphalt zipper is used for cutting asphalt and utility trenches, proofing concrete and reclaiming or stabilizing pavement and base materials.
The three bids received were from Roadhog, Inc.; Asphalt Zipper; and George P. Bane, Inc. Following discussion over the various packages offered by each company a motion carried to accept the bid from George P. Bane, Inc. for a 2014 Zipper with 29 hours and take the money from cash-on-hand from Precinct 3 and 4.
Judge Harbison explained for the commissioners, Shelby County applied for a portion of Unclaimed Capital Credits from the state in the amount of $16,300.79 and the State has allocated these funds.
Terry Scull was present to speak on behalf of SCCAC on behalf of Denise Merriman, Executive Director of SCCAC.
"The commissioners' court, [County] Judge, our sheriff's department, [Center] PD, all law enforcement has been extremely supportive of the advocacy center through the years," said Scull. "I think if y'all have been involved, or understand exactly what they do, it is a very beneficial program to our community, to our county, and for children specifically that are in abusive situations."
Judge Harbison said this is the third year Shelby County has applied for these funds which have a limited use for which they are allowed under Texas Local Government Code Section 371.004. Previous years funds have all been given to the SCCAC.
A motion carried to disburse the $16,300.79 to the SCCAC.
The meeting adjourned at 9:57am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay monthly expenses. 2. Bid for asphalt zipper for Road & Bridge Precinct 3 and 4 from George P. Bane, Inc. in the amount of $118,000. 3. Renew contract with Computer Information Concepts and the Tax Assessor-Collector. 4. Use of the Historic Court House for the Quilt Show exhibit and the courtyard for a special event and vendors during the 41st annual Shelby County Poultry Festival. 5. Disburse $16,300.79 in unclaimed capital funds to the SCCAC. 6. Continue with imposition of optional motor vehicle fees as allowed under Chapter 502 of the Texas Transportation Code for calendar year 2018. 7. Clarify last meeting's motion for automobile trade-ins and purchase of new vehicle from San Augustine Motors for Constable, Precinct 4 with the balance of $14,000 being taken from the Contingency Fund. 8. Discuss and possibly approve the renewal of the group health insurance plan for the 2018 Plan Year. 9. Bond for Melissa Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1. 10. Adjourn.
August 10, 2017 - A Shelby County Jail Sergeant has been arrested on charges involving sexual activity with an inmate and bribery.
District Attorney Investigator Joey Haley and Center PD Detective Stephen Stroud placed Korey McClure, 42, of Tenaha under arrest at the Tenaha City Marshal's office.
According to the arrest affidavit for improper sexual activity with person in custody, state jail felony, on August 8 Investigator Haley interviewed a former male inmate at the 123rd District Attorney's Office. The inmate alleged that while he was at the Shelby County Jail, McClure inappropriately "grabbed" him by the genitals.
The inmate alleged that while he was a trusty at the jail, this occurred on multiple occasions. He also alleged on one occasion McClure called him into his office where McClure showed a video of an unknown male pleasuring himself.
It is further alleged by the inmate, McClure showed him a nude photograph on his phone of himself.
Investigator Haley previously interviewed another inmate, Joshua Eaden, who alleged McClure sent him texts asking Eaden to let him perform a sexual act on him. Eaden also alleged McClure texted a nude photograph of himself to Eaden.
Haley states in the affidavit Eaden provided him with the texts and photograph which Haley believes to be the same photograph the other inmate was shown.
The other arrest affidavit for bribery, 2nd degree felony, alleges while in the Shelby County Jail Tony Josh Parker was told by McClure, if he would give McClure $200 in cash he could get him released from jail.
McClure allegedly allowed Parker to make a phone call to his mother to make arrangements to get the money, and Parker was then allowed into the outside recreation area by himself where his mother gave him the money through the fence.
It was further alleged by Parker, once he had the money he was allowed back into the jail where he turned the money over to McClure.
Investigator Haley procured a written statement of Parker's mother corroborating Parker's statement regarding the money.
McClure was transported to the Shelby County Jail at 4:49pm where he was booked in and he later bonded out at 6:45pm on a $3,000 bond for the improper sexual activity with person in custody and $8,000 for the bribery charge.
August 10, 2017 - FM 139 was the scene of a major crash Wednesday, August 10, 2017 which ended fatally for the driver involved.
Authorities were dispatched to the scene at 9:16pm where they discovered a vehicle wrapped around a utility pole.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, Troopers were dispatched along with Shelby County Constable Precinct 2 and Sheriff's Deputies to a one-vehicle crash on FM 139 just northeast of FM 417.
Upon arrival the vehicle was identified as a grey 2002 Oldsmobile driven by Robert Jones, 28, of Shelbyville. It was determined at the scene the vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left for an unknown reason at a high rate of speed and struck a utility pole, causing major damage to the vehicle and the pole.
Jones was pronounced dead on scene by Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department helped extricate Jones from the vehicle and Watson & Sons Funeral Home transported him from the scene.
At this time the crash remains under investigation. Trooper Sean Smith assisted at the scene with the investigation.
August 10, 2017 - Traffic on Hurst Street and Roughrider Drive was brought to a halt Tuesday, August 8, 2017 following a collision.
Center PD officers and ACE EMS were dispatched to the scene at 5:20pm.
According to Center Police Officer Andrew Williams, a red Kia Optima driven by Candice Carrington, 25, of Center was northbound on Hurst Street when she attempted to make a left turn onto Roughrider Drive. As Carrington turned, she failed to yield right of way to a green Honda Accord LX driven by Jessica Miller, 27, of Hemphill. The Kia struck the Honda, causing damage to both vehicles.
Miller, Carrington and her 7-year-old male passenger were all transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
CPD officers directed traffic at the scene until the vehicles could be removed by wrecker services.
Officer Williams was assisted at the scene by Officer Maegan Wright.
August 9, 2017 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports the recovery of stolen property in Shelby County.
On August 7, The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a call for suspicious activity involving the transport of a backhoe. Blue Diamond Hot Shot (BDHS) out of Gary, Texas was contracted by Christy Borders, 46 of Center, to transport a backhoe to Shreveport, LA. During the course of setting up a location to pick up the equipment, Borders changed the location spots for different reasons. Borders also told BDHS that the equipment would need to he hauled after sunset. BDHS took possession of the equipment and became suspicious of the property when it was observed the vehicle identification number (VIN) appeared to have been tampered with. BDHS left the location spot with the equipment and immediately contacted the SCSO.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Del Birdwell and Timpson Police Officer Michelle Ashworth responded to the area where BDHS advised they had stopped with the equipment. BDHS had entered into Panola County. Law enforcement officers with the Carthage Police Department and the Panola County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location to assist Birdwell and Ashworth.
Birdwell identified the equipment as a 4WD John Deere 310 SJ backhoe on a trailer. Birdwell inspected the equipment and observed that the third, fifth and ninth digits on the VIN had been altered. A driver for BDHS advised Birdwell that Borders was calling him repeatedly. Birdwell advised the driver to tell Borders to come to the location in Carthage.
Borders arrived on the scene in Carthage and Birdwell questioned her about the equipment. Borders stated she was selling the equipment for an individual whose name changed several times while she was talking to Birdwell. Borders denied having any knowledge of the VIN being altered. Borders stated she had sent pictures of the equipment to the potential buyer and had not noticed anything out of the ordinary. Borders showed Birdwell the photos she sent the buyer. The picture showing the VIN plate was taken with the plate off the machine. The picture shows two rivet holes exposed with one hole having damage around the edge. Borders was extremely nervous while being questioned by Birdwell and continuously had to gather her thoughts before answering questions.
Borders was advised that the equipment would be impounded until ownership could be proven. The equipment was transported to the SCSO. On August 8, Birdwell made contact with Doggett Equipment in Lufkin. A representative of the company ran the VIN for Birdwell and it revealed the equipment belonged to Panola County Road and Bridge.
Birdwell contacted Panola County and he was advised the equipment had been sold in an auction. Panola County stated the equipment was sold to Panola Enterprises, owned by Larry Fields.
Larry Fields contacted Birdwell to inquire about the stolen equipment. Fields traveled to the SCSO and was able to positively identify the recovered property as his. Fields further stated he had filed a report with Panola County. The equipment was released to Fields.
Charges are forthcoming out of Panola County for the individuals involved with this crime.
The SCSO will seek warrants for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (M-A) and Tampering with Identification Numbers (M-A). Panola County will seek warrants for Theft (F-3).
The SCSO would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Carthage Police Department, Panola County Sheriff’s Office and the Timpson Police Department for their assistance in this situation.
August 9, 2017 - Statement From Tenaha ISD Superintendent Scott Tyner:
We have been informed by the TISD Chief of Police and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office that formal charges have been brought against a now former employee of the District for an improper relationship between educator and a student. Upon report, school administrators immediately contacted law enforcement to make them aware of the allegations. At that time, all matters as they relate to the employee in question have been handled as a criminal investigation in accordance with State law.
At the open of business on Monday, I accepted the employee's resignation of employment with TISD which officially ended the District's involvement in this case. I refer all questions to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, as well as appropriate law enforcement personnel about ongoing criminal proceedings as it relates to this case. Meanwhile, we here at TISD are devastated that something that has been a national epidemic has now hit so close to home. However, TISD is not defined by the shortfalls and choices of any one individual. Our tight knit, committed, and professional family remains united in its mission to establish, maintain, and build trust with each individual student.
We must move on, and now we turn our attention to preparing to greet our student body for what is sure to be another great school year.
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