Shelby County Today

April 26, 2016 - A Shelby County grand jury impaneled for the January 2016 term of the 273rd Judicial District Court met on Monday, April 26, 2016 and indicted 29 cases. 

Robert Jewell Harris and Rachael Ann Lowry were equally indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony. The indictments allege, on June 13, 2015 Harris and Lowry entered a building or portion of a building without the consent of James Hagler, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed the theft of $1,000 belonging to Hagler.

Lonnie Harrison, and Lisa Harrison Hughes were equally indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictments allege, on February 3, 2015 Harrison and Hughes collaborated with Richard Allen Peters, Jr. in carrying out and conspiring to carry out theft by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that consisted said offense. The defendants allegedly performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement, at Walmart in the dollar amount of over $500.

Andrea Jean Morris was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 3, 2015 Morris collaborated with Lonnie Harrison, Lisa Harrison Hughes and Richard Allen Peters, Jr. in carrying out and conspiring to carry out theft by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that consisted said offense. The defendants allegedly performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement, to steal a Poulan saw, weed eater and audio visual recordings.

Darrett Michael Parks was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 12, 2015 Parks entered a habitation without the consent of Claudine King, the owner, with intent to commit theft.

Darrett Michael Parks was indicted for deadly conduct, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 29, 2015 Parks discharged a firearm at or in the direction of a vehicle and Parks was then and there reckless as to whether the vehicle was occupied by Karina Lashay Handy and Quincy Handy at the time he discharged the firearm at or in the direction of the Handy's vehicle.

David Len Weaver, Jr. was indicted for possession of a controlled substance, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 6, 2015 Weaver possessed methamphetamine in an amount of four grams or more but less than 200 grams.

David Len Weaver, Jr. was indicted for evading arrest, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 23, 2015 Weaver intentionally fled from Shelby County Sheriff's Investigator Kevin Windham, a person the defendant knew was a peace officer who was attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Weaver.

Stacy Roy Tullus was indicted for theft, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 13, 2015 Tullus took approximately 200 tons of rock valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 from Steven Harkness DBA Organix Agri Service, the owner. The indictment alleges Tullus did this by passing a check for the payment of money, $9,020 when the defendant did not have sufficient funds on deposit with Bank of America for the payment in full of the check.

Latrecia Deonia Lathan was indicted for credit card/debit card abuse against the elderly, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 6, 2015 Lathan used a Mastercard credit/debit card from Cecil Sparks, the owner, without the consent of the owner and with intent to deprive Sparks of the property while Sparks was an elderly individual 65 years of age or older.

Christopher Askew was indicted for theft, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 29, 2015 Askew took a black brahma-cross cow with horns with a 2-C brand; a red white faced cow with horns with a 2-C brand; a red white faced cow with no horns with a 2-C brand, of the aggregate value of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000 from Jeffrey Dale Crooks, the owner.

Christopher Askew received three indictments which were possession of a controlled substance, third degree felony; possession of a controlled substance, second degree felony; and driving while intoxicated, third degree felony, all pertaining to November 4, 2015. The first indictment, possession of a controlled substance, third degree felony, alleges Askew possessed 28 grams or more but less than 200 grams of phencyclidine. The second indictment, possession of a controlled substance, second degree felony, alleges Askew possessed four grams or more but less than 200 grams. The third indictment, driving while intoxicated, third degree felony, alleges Askew operated a motor vehicle in a public place while he was intoxicated by not having the normal use of mental faculties by reason of the introduction of a controlled substance in the body.

William Christopher Stutts was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 17, 2016 Stutts recklessly caused bodily injury to Anthony Salas, by striking him on the left arm while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon. A .22 caliber long-rifle.

William Christopher Stutts was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 17, 2016 Stutts recklessly caused bodily injury to Leslie Workman, by shooting in the direction of Workman, with glass fragments causing laceration to her right hand, while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon. A .22 caliber long-rifle.

William Zachary Parks was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 12, 2015 Parks entered a habitation without the consent of Claudine King, the owner, with intent to commit theft.

Michael Andrews was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 19, 2015 Andrews entered a habitation without consent of Margaret Hite, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of property, a Sony Playstation 4 console, controller and games.

Kelly Jean Diedrich was indicted on two counts of abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony. The indictments allege, on July 8, 2015 Diedrich engaged in conduct that placed two children younger than 15 years of age in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by driving while intoxicated and having marijuana in close proximity to the children.

Joey Lynn Garner was indicted for driving while intoxicated with child passenger, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on December 4, 2015 Garner operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated and said vehicle was occupied by a passenger who was then and there younger than 15 years of age.

Shelby Lynn Whittington was indicted for possession of a controlled substance, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 19, 2015 Whittington possessed -methamphetamine in an amount less than one gram.

Eboni Zsaquez Black was indicted for theft, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on July 3, 2015 Black took a 2011 Edgewater Camper Trailer, 2011 Camper Trailer, 2005 AMTR flatbed Trailer and a 2013 Park Utility Trailer valued at over $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 from Express Energy Service, the owner, without consent.

Jerry Earl Handy was indicted for driving while intoxicated. The indictment alleges, on January 10, 2015 Handy operated a vehicle in a public place while intoxicated and that he had two previous convictions at that time for the same offense.

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

Rosendo Gallegos was indicted on one count of aggravated sexual assault, first degree felony; and one count of aggravated sexual assault, second degree felony. The first degree indictment alleges, on March 5, 2015 Gallegos penetrated the sexual organ of a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age and not the spouse of Gallegos, by his sexual organ. The second degree felony indictment alleges, on June 14, 2015 Gallegos penetrated the sexual organ of a child who was then and there younger than 17 years of age and not the spouse of Gallegos, by his sexual organ.

Dakota Smith was indicted for sexual performance child, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 10, 2015 Smith induced a child younger than 18 years of age to engage in sexual conduct or a sexual performance. The indictment alleges this was done via Facebook messenger with a fictitious profile of a young female exchanging and directed the child to photograph and send pictures of the child's genitalia.

Indictments and information are not a conviction. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of law.

April 24, 2016 - As of April 21, 2016, TIGTA has received information that callers impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees or the Treasury Department are demanding payments on iTunes Gift Cards. As a reminder, scam callers may also request payment of taxes on Green Dot Prepaid Cards, MoneyPak Prepaid Cards, Reloadit Prepaid Debit Cards, and other prepaid credit cards. These are fraudulent calls.

Any call requesting that taxpayers place funds on an iTunes Gift Card or other prepaid cards to pay taxes and fees is an indicator of fraudulent activity! No legitimate United States Treasury or IRS official will demand that payments via Western Union, MoneyGram, bank wire transfers or bank deposits be made into another person’s account for any debt to the IRS or Treasury. Hang up on these fraudulent callers and go to the TIGTA scam reporting page to report the call.

April 22, 2016 - From the Shelby County Office of Emergency Management

Sales Tax Free Holiday on Emergency Preparedness Supplies

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has announced a sales tax holiday on emergency preparedness supplies for Saturday April 23rd- Monday April 25th.

Shelby County is no stranger to weather related emergencies and was most recently affected by flooding last month. This is a great opportunity for individuals to get better prepared for any type of emergency or disaster and save a little money doing so.

This tax free holiday was approved by lawmakers during the 2015 Texas Legislature.

A few items on the list include:
Under $3,000.00
•    Portable Generators
Under $75.00
•    Batteries
•    First Aid Kits
•    Mobile Telephone Batteries & Chargers
•    Fuel Containers
•    Smoke Detectors, Fire Extinguishers, Carbon Monoxide Detectors
•    Non-electric Coolers and Ice Chests (for food storage)

For a more complete list of emergency preparedness supplies included on the tax free holiday visit the Comptrollers web site at www.comptroller.texas.gov

April 19, 2016 - Farmers State Bank customers in Shelby County have recently experienced out of the norm phone calls from an unreliable source, posing as the bank and asking for personal information relating to debit card and account information. They're PHISHING for personal information related to debit cards, account numbers and addresses. 
 
Farmers State Bank urges their customers to not give personal information via telephone to someone they do not know. Let it be known we will never call and ask for your debit card, account number or personal information over the phone. Farmers also urges customers to call the bank directly at 936-598-3311 if they receive such phone calls or suspicious requests.