Shelby County Today

June 9, 2016 - The Shelby County grand jury for the January Term 2016 of the 273rd Judicial District Court met Tuesday, June 7, 2016 and indicted 40 cases.

James Anthony Stoker was indicted for forgery, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on June 20, 2015 Stoker executed a writing on a check purported to be the act of Tiffany Evans, who did not authorize the act, on an account at the First State Bank-Gould, Oklahoma.

Geana Sue Cheshire was indicted for possession of marijuana, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 10, 2015 Cheshire possessed a usable quantity of marijuana in an amount of five pounds or less but more than four ounces. Cheshire was also indicted for possession of a controlled substance, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on March 10, 2015 Cheshire possessed methamphetamine in an amount of four grams or more but less than 200 grams.

Cheryl Anita New was indicted for credit card/debit card abuse, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on July 7, 2015 New, with intent to fraudulently obtain a benefit, used a Capital One credit/debit card without the effective consent of the cardholder, Linda Shisler.

Jeremy Turner was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 26, 2014 Turner entered a habitation without the effective consent of Nelva Rhodes, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of property including sodas, Tyson breaded chicken strips, sausage, ground beef, ice cream owned by Rhodes. Turner was also indicted for forgery - against elderly individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 25, 2014 with intent to defraud or harm another, Michael Lee Ross, an elderly individual 65 years of age or older made a writing on a check purported to be the act of Ross, who did not authorize the act. The check was written on a Bancorp Checking Account in the amount of $250.

Danny Matthew Wright was indicted for assault bodily injury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 4, 2015 Wright recklessly caused bodily injury to Mary Sue Cotton with whom Wright had or formerly had a dating relationship, by recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood of Cotton by applying pressure to the throat or neck and/or blocking the nose or mouth.

Danny Matthew Wright was also indicted for assault bodily injury, third degree felony. According to the indictment, on April 24, 2015 Wright recklessly caused bodily injury to Mary Sue Cotton with whom Wright had or formerly had a dating relationship, by recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood of Cotton by applying pressure to the throat or neck and/or blocking the nose or mouth.

Scott Earnest Pate Jr. was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 31, 2015 Pate entered a habitation without the effective consent of Alicia Davis, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a white GE microwave oven and clothing detergent.

Brittani Hope Franklin was indicted for credit card/debit card abuse, state jail felony. The indictment allees, on July 16, 2015 Franklin, with intent to fraudulently obtain a benefit, used an Exxon Mobil credit/debit card without the effective consent of the cardholder Smith Sawmill Services.

Shyia Nakeshia Thompson was indicted for injury to a child, elderly or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 9, 2015 Thompson caused bodily injury to an individual 14 years of age or younger, by striking the victim about the face, arm, side and thigh with various tools that included Thompson's fist, belt and an extension cord.

Jasmine Moore was indicted for forgery, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on December 5, 2014 Moore executed a writing on a check purported to be the act of Summer Moore, who did not authorize the act, on an account at Farmers State Bank in the amount of $461.78.

Ricky James Jackson was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 6, 2015 Jackson recklessly caused bodily injury to John Russell Ross Jr., by stabbing him numerous times while exhibiting a deadly weapon by way of a knife during said assault.

Roy Denver Byrd Jr. was indicted for unlawful restraint, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 10, 2015 Byrd intentionally and knowingly by force, intimidation, or deception, restrained the victim without her consent by restricting the movements of her. The indictment alleges Byrd did then and there recklessly expose her to a substantial risk of serious bodily injury inflicting physical injury to her body.

Byrd was also indicted for assault - prior conviction, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 10, 2015 Byrd recklessly caused bodily injury to the victim with whom Byrd had or formerly had a dating relationship, by recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood of the victim by applying pressure to the throat or neck. Before commission of the charged offense, Byrd had previously been convicted of an offense under Chapter 22 of the Texas Penal Code, against a member of the defendant's family, as described by section 71.003 of the Texas Family Code.

James Alford Johnson Jr. was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 23, 2015 Johnson operated a motor vehicle without the effective consent of Gina Bylock, the owner.

Clyde Francis Rutherford was indicted for theft, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on November 10, 2014 Rutherford took 25 boxes of boneless skinless chicken breast from Tyson Foods, the owner.

Gustargis Keith Johnson was indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 15, 2015 during a traffic stop Johnson intentionally or knowingly destroyed marijuana with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the official proceeding.

Carlos Gonzalez was indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 2, 2015 during a traffic stop Gonzalez intentionally or knowingly destroyed marijuana with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the official proceeding.

Khalil Hubbard was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 26, 2015 Hubbard conspired to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity, by agreeing with each other they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense, and Hubbard, Deaaron Hodge, Christopher Nash and Seantay Travis Lane performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement. This included stealing various games, Playstations, shoes, computer (tower and monitor), GPS unit etc. from Wal-Mart.

Khalil Hubbard and Christopher Todd Nash were separately indicted for theft, state jail felony. The indictments allege, on April 26, 2015 Hubbard and Nash took 2 Playstations, 4 video games, desktop computer (tower and monitor) GPS unit, X box games, camera kit, shoes, etc. valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 without the effective consent of Wal-Mart, the owner.

Christopher Todd Nash was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 26, 2015 Nash conspired to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity, by agreeing with each other they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense, and Nash, Deaaron Hodge, Khalil Hubbard, and Seantay Travis Lane performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement. This included stealing various games, Playstations, shoes, computer (tower and monitor), GPS unit etc. from Wal-Mart.

Seantay Travis Lane was indicted for theft, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 6, 2015 Lane took 2 Playstations, 4 video games, desktop computer (tower and monitor) GPS unit, X box games, camera kit, shoes, etc. valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 without the effective consent of Wal-Mart, the owner.

Seantay Travis Lane was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 26, 2015 Lane conspired to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity, by agreeing with each other they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense, and Lane, Deaaron Hodge, Khalil Hubbard, and Christopher Todd Nash performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement. This included stealing various games, Playstations, shoes, computer (tower and monitor), GPS unit etc. from Wal-Mart.

Raul Resendiz was indicted for deadly conduct, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 13, 2014 Resendiz discharged a firearm at or in the direction of individuals, namely Jose Guzman, Santiago Ruiz Chago, Jaycoray Atkins and Lewis Garcia.

Daniel Ray Carl was indicted in two cases. The first for delivery of a controlled substance, drug free zone - penalty enhanced to first degree. The indictment alleges, on May 15, 2014 Carl delivered by constructive transfer to a confidential informant, methamphetamine a controlled substance, in an amount of one gram or more but less than four grams. The indictment also alleges Carl committed the offense within 1,000 feet of the premises of the Community Park and Baseball Field. In the second indictment Carl was also indicted for possession of a controlled substance, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 30, 2015 Carl possessed methamphetamine in an amount of four grams or more but less than 200 grams.

Levon Christopher Landers was indicted for evading arrest, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 11, 2015 Landers used a vehicle to intentionally flee from Center Police Officer Jacob Gross, a person the defendant knew was a peace officer who was attempting to lawfully arrest or detain the defendant.

Michael Lynn Jones was indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on May 11, 2015 while Jones was being booked into the Center Police Department he concealed a baggie containing marijuana with intent to impair it's availability as evidence in the official proceeding.

Shallette Brown was indicted for aggravated assault with deadly weapon, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 31, 2015 Brown caused serious bodily injury to Mikelti Ratcliff by striking him in the back of his right arm with a deadly weapon, a steak knife, during the commission of the assault. Ratcliff was a person with whom the defendant has or has had a dating relationship.

(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident)
Shaylon Dawn George, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 17, 2015).
Tara Ann McBee, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (February 24, 2015).
Jodi Anne Strahan, unlawful possession of firearm, third degree felony (June 5, 2015).
Emerson Sanatio Evans, driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (April 2, 2015).
Seabrenia Higgenbotham, driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (May 28, 2015).
James Allen Watson, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (May 12, 2015).
Lajuan C. Cole, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), state jail felony (March 27, 2015).
Lajuan C. Cole, possession of marijuana, state jail felony (March 27, 2015).
Catherine Lanelle Pelton, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), second degree felony (January 30, 2015).

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.

June 8, 2016 - Early Wednesday morning, June 8, 2016 saw the total destruction of a tire shop south of Center resulting from fire.

The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) and Center Fire Department (CFD) were each dispatched within 10 minutes of one another at 2:27am to Platinum Tire, owned by Robbie Sullivan, located 1/4 mile north of FM 414 on State Highway 87 South.

When the firemen arrived, the glow from the flames against the early morning sky was prevalent and the building made of metal, which housed the tire facility, was all but flattened as the roof had collapsed with just the walls remaining standing.

A large supply of tires within the building kept the flames fresh as firemen began working to extinguish sections of the facility from both front and back as the CFD initially attacked from the front while the SVFD addressed the fire from the back side.

Other chemicals and oils within the building contributed to the build up of heat inside of the metal oven which was the building. Vehicles close by were moved away to prevent them melting from the heat of the fire.

As the majority of the flames were quenched the remainder were contained to the inside of the remaining walls. With the further spread of fire to any area outside of ground zero at a minimum, the firemen began packing up to return to their stations.

Deep East Texas Electric Co-op arrived after the majority of the firemen departed from the scene and cut the power to the building. All firemen returned to the station at 5:30am.

This fire remains under investigation and no cause has been determined at this time.

June 7, 2016 - The jury that has been summoned for Monday, June 13, 2016 for the 273rd District Court Honorable Judge Charles R. Mitchell presiding has been cancelled due to the scheduled cases being resolved or passed.

Anyone receiving a summons for that day is released from jury service until they receive a future summons.

June 6, 2016 - Recall Affecting Several Businesses

Fast Facts

FDA advises consumers with severe peanut allergies to avoid the products listed below being recalled because of peanut residue in certain flour originating from Grain Craft.
  
Grain Craft has recalled its affected flour. FDA is working with other companies that received the affected flour product from Grain Craft to determine if further recalls are needed.
   
On June 3, 2016, Hostess recalled products containing flour it had received from Grain Craft.

What is the problem and what is being done about it? Grain Craft first notified FDA on April 26 that sampling by a customer found peanut residue in cookies and subsequent analysis revealed the source of the peanut residue to be its soft red winter wheat flour. Since that time, Grain Craft analyzed additional samples of the flour and found positive samples for peanut residue. FDA also collected samples at Grain Craft and found evidence that some soft red winter wheat flour contained peanut protein. Grain Craft ceased manufacturing and distribution of its soft red winter wheat flour on April 30. Subsequent FDA sampling did not show the presence of peanut protein. Following ongoing discussions with FDA, Grain Craft issued a recall to its customers. FDA is working with companies that received flour from Grain Craft containing undeclared peanut residue to determine if their products pose a safety hazard and need to be recalled.

On June 3, 2016, Hostess recalled products containing flour it had received from Grain Craft. Hostess had received two adverse events involving children with peanut allergies who suffered immediate allergic reactions after consuming Hostess donut products. Hostess subsequently tested the soft red winter wheat flour it had received from its supplier and notified FDA that the flour contained peanut residue. Hostess has since tested other shipments of flour from the same supplier as well as finished products and has found other instances of products or flours with low level peanut residues.

Grain Craft sells only to other companies and not directly to consumers. In general, FDA is prohibited by law from releasing publicly certain information about supply chains, such as the names of customers, if it constitutes confidential commercial information. In the meantime, reporters and consumers should contact Grain Craft directly with questions about their customers. A list of those products recalled can be found on the FDA website and will continue to be updated as the agency learns more.

What are the symptoms of peanut allergies? Following ingestion of a food allergen(s), a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

This can lead to:

    constricted airways in the lungs
    severe lowering of blood pressure and shock ("anaphylactic shock")
    suffocation by swelling of the throat

Allergic reactions can include:

    Hives
    Flushed skin or rash
    Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
    Face, tongue, or lip swelling
    Vomiting and/or diarrhea
    Abdominal cramps
    Coughing or wheezing
    Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
    Swelling of the throat and vocal cords
    Difficulty breathing
    Loss of consciousness

What specific products are recalled? FDA will continue to update this list if additional products are recalled.

    Cinnabon Stix
    Safeway 8" Single Layer Red Velvet Cake
    ACME 12” Decorated Chocolate Chip Cookie
    Jewel 12” Decorated Chocolate Chip Cookie
    Chick-fil-A Chocolate Chunk Cookies
    Hostess Snack Cake and Donut Products

Consumer advice for those with peanut allergies: FDA advises consumers with severe peanut allergies to avoid the recalled products listed on this page because of peanut residue in soft red winter wheat flour originating from Grain Craft.

The amount of peanut exposure from use of the flours and affected products is low and not expected to cause adverse health effects in the vast majority of peanut allergic consumers.

If symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or hives, occur, stop eating the product and seek immediate medical care.

The FDA tracks allergic reactions to FDA-regulated foods. Should you experience an allergic reaction to any FDA-regulated food, report it to your local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

If you are unsure of your risk, ask your healthcare provider.

Individuals who do not have peanut allergies do not need to avoid these products.