News
August 4, 2016 - The Shelby County grand jury for the July Term 2016 of the 123rd Judicial District Court met Wednesday, August 4, 2016 and indicted 39 cases.
Donna Marshall Fitzgerald was indicted for theft, third degree felony, and abuse of official capacity, state jail felony. The theft indictment alleges on July 9, 2016 Fitzgerald exercised control over city funds valued between $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 from City of Joaquin without consent of the city. The defendant was then and there a public servant, namely, city secretary for the City of Joaquin. Such property appropriated by Fitzgerald had theretofore come into her custody, possession, or control by virtue of her status as such a public servant.
The abuse of official capacity indictment against Fitzgerald alleges on July 9, 2013 with intent to obtain a benefit Fitzgerald misused government property to obtain a benefit by making unauthorized purchases with a city credit card, which had come into Fitzgerald's custody or possession by virtue of her employment as a public servant, namely, City Secretary of the City of Joaquin and the value of the credit card purchases was $2,500 or more but less than $30,000. It is further presented that all of the transactions were conducted pursuant to one scheme or continuing course of conduct.
Joshua Miles Bearden was indicted for forgery, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on May 20, 2015 Bearden passed a forged writing knowing such writing to be forged and such writing had been so altered that it purported to be a copy of an original when no such original existed, and said writing was paid to the order of Joshua Bearden in the amount of $400 with the signature of another forged as having authorized the issuance of said check.
Charles Clifton Evans was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on October 17, 2014 Evans operated a motor-propelled vehicle , an automobile without the effective consent of Ryan Chandler, the owner.
Joel B. Fleming, III was indicted for assault - family violence - occlusion, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on October 5, 2015 Fleming recklessly caused bodily injury to a member of his family by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Judy Keele by applying pressure to the throat or neck and/or blocking the nose or mouth of the victim.
Julian Jones was indicted twice for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictments both relate to July 10, 2016 with the first alleging Jones entered a habitation owned by James Scott without his consent, where he attempted to commit or committed the theft of fifteen dollars in Kennedy half dollars and an unknown amount of loose change owned by Scott. The second indictment alleges Jones entered a habitation owned by Bryant Latham without his consent, where Jones attempted to commit or committed theft of property. No items are known to be missing from the residence at this time.
Ian Jodiah Fountain was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on September 4, 2015 Fountain 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 pressing the victim's face into a mattress restricting her ability to breathe.
Colton Blake Norton and Caleb Norton were each indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictments allege on September 19, 2015 both Nortons entered a habitation without the consent of Margaret Hite, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of property. Items taken include a Sony Playstation 4 console, controller, and games owned by Hite.
Frisco Brynnon Simpson was indicted for injury to a child, elderly or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on December 10, 2015 Simpson caused bodily injury to an individual 14 years of age or younger by striking the victim with an ironing board.
Frisco Brynnon Simpson was indicted for injury to a child, elderly or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on December 10, 2015 Simpson caused bodily injury to an individual 14 years of age or younger by striking the victim with a cell phone.
Frisco Brynnon Simpson was indicted for assault bodily injury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on December 10, 2015 Simpson recklessly caused bodily injury to a member of his household by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Jamie Neumann by applying pressure to the throat or neck of the victim.
Steve Lawrence Smith was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on February 2, 2016 Smith entered a habitation owned by Ben Cockrell, the owner, without his consent and attempted to commit or committed theft of Cockrell's water and electricity to operate a washer owned by Cockrell. Bond was set at $200,000.
Steve Lawrence Smith was indicted for delivery of a controlled substance, first degree felony. The indictment alleges on February 2, 2016 Smith delivered methamphetamine in an amount of four grams or more but less than 200 grams. Bond was set at $300,000.
Stephanie Barber was indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on September 30, 2015 Barber entered a building or a portion of a building without consent of Jody Parker, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of numerous items owned by Parker.
Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on August 30, 2015 Eaves entered a building or a portion of a building without consent of Jody Parker, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a white electric stove, white washer and dryer, rocking chair, copper wire, and one half of a bunk bed, owned by Parker.
James Carl Vaught was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on July 25, 2015 Vaught recklessly caused bodily injury to Stella Vaught by slapping her in the face, striking her with the butt end of a 22-caliber rifle, and pointing the gun at the victim while threatening to kill the individual.
Pedro Carbajal was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on August 6, 2015 Carbajal operated a motor-propelled vehicle, an automobile without the consent of Jerry Smith, the owner.
John Russell Ross, Jr. was indicted for credit card/debit card abuse, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on April 29, 2015 Ross appropriated by acquiring or exercising control over a debit card from Jose Miguel Solis. It also stated he did so without the consent of Solis and with the intent of depriving him of the card.
Jarmarius LaPaul Marshall was indicted for theft, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on May 1, 2014 Marshall took two rims and tires off a parked vehicle of the value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 from Walter Lionel Barnes without his consent, and with intent to deprive Barnes of the property.
Arturo Luna was indicted for assault bodily injury - occlusion, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on August 23, 2015 Luna recklessly caused bodily injury to a member of his family by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Reyna Sepulveda by applying pressure to the throat or neck and/or blocking the nose or mouth of the victim.
Ronald Patrick King was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon , second degree felony. The indictment alleges on August 12, 2015 King recklessly caused bodily injury to Eddie Simmons by beating him, and King did then and there use or exhibit a deadly weapon, a broken ax handle, during the commission of the assault.
Melton Garrett was indicted for possession of a controlled substance, third degree felony. The indictment alleges on November 22, 2015 Garrett knowingly possessed phencyclidine in an amount of one gram or more but less than four grams.
Travis Goodrum was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on November 9, 2015 Goodrum entered a habitation without the consent of Micah Nutt, the owner.
Tony Glen Moore was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on October 29, 2015 Moore recklessly caused bodily injury to Angela Driver by choking the victim, pulling a knife and putting it to her abdomen.
Bret Wayne Anderson was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on November 28, 2015 Anderson threatened Christopher Barton with imminent bodily injury by pointing a hand gun at the victim and did then and there use or exhibit a deadly weapon.
Brandon Duante Bradshaw was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Bradshaw committed said offense with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination. Said combination consisting of Bradshaw, Brickey Manvel, Rafael Williams, Kevoughn Fields and Garrick Howard, who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity, conspire to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense. Bradshaw, Manvel, Williams, Fields and Howard performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement of prying open cash registers at Wal-Mart garden center and taking cash.
Brandon Duante Bradshaw was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Bradshaw damaged or destroyed tangible property including computer hardware/software without the consent of Wal-Mart Supercenter, the owner, and did thereby cause pecuniary loss of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000.
Brickey Juan Manvel Jr. was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Manvel committed said offense with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination. Said combination consisting of Manvel, Brandon Bradshaw, Rafael Williams, Kevoughn Fields and Garrick Howard, who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity, conspire to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense. Bradshaw, Manvel, Williams, Fields and Howard performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement of prying open cash registers at Wal-Mart garden center and taking cash.
Brickey Juan Manvel Jr. was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Manvel damaged or destroyed tangible property including computer hardware/software without the consent of Wal-Mart Supercenter, the owner, and did thereby cause pecuniary loss of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000.
Rafael J. Williams was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Williams committed said offense with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination. Said combination consisting of Williams, Brandon Bradshaw, Brickey Juan Manvel Jr., Kevoughn Fields and Garrick Howard, who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity, conspire to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense. Bradshaw, Manvel, Williams, Fields and Howard performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement of prying open cash registers at Wal-Mart garden center and taking cash.
Rafael J. Williams was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Williams damaged or destroyed tangible property including computer hardware/software without the consent of Wal-Mart Supercenter, the owner, and did thereby cause pecuniary loss of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000.
Kevoughn Dontrell Fields was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Fields committed said offense with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination. Said combination consisting of Fields, Brandon Bradshaw, Brickey Juan Manvel Jr., Garrick Marcel Howard and Rafael J. Williams, who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity, conspire to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense. Bradshaw, Manvel, Williams, Fields and Howard performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement of prying open cash registers at Wal-Mart garden center and taking cash.
Kevoughn Dontrell Fields was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Fields damaged or destroyed tangible property including computer hardware/software without the consent of Wal-Mart Supercenter, the owner, and did thereby cause pecuniary loss of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000.
Garrick Marcel Howard was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Howard committed said offense with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination. Said combination consisting of Howard, Brandon Bradshaw, Brickey Juan Manvel Jr., Kevoughn Fields and Rafael J. Williams, who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity, conspire to commit the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted said offense. Bradshaw, Manvel, Williams, Fields and Howard performed an overt act in pursuance of said agreement of prying open cash registers at Wal-Mart garden center and taking cash.
Garrick Marcel Howard was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 25, 2016 Fields damaged or destroyed tangible property including computer hardware/software without the consent of Wal-Mart Supercenter, the owner, and did thereby cause pecuniary loss of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000.
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident)
Bobbie Joe Cartwright, failure to register as a sex offender, third degree felony (May 15, 2015).
Cody Scott Lindsey, failure to comply with registration requirements, second degree felony (December 30, 2015).
Quinnon Gardner, driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (November 9, 2015).
One case presented to the grand jury received a no bill.
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.
August 4, 2016 - (Update): Warning extended until Saturday night.
The dangerous heat will continue across four state region through today.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued an Excessive Heat Warning which is in effect until 7pm this Saturday evening.
Hot temperatures and high relative humidity will allow for heat index readings of 110 degrees or higher through 7pm this Friday evening. Heat related illness are possible and caution is recommended for those who will be outdoors.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency, call 911.
An excessive heat warning means a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors. Make sure pets and livestock have plenty of clean drinking water.
Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Shreveport, La
150 AM CDT Thu Aug 4, 2016
August 5, 2016 - It is no longer necessary for Paxton customers that were without water on July 22, 2016 to boil their water.
August 4, 2016 - A pickup truck collided with a wall in Center Thursday, August 4, 2016 as it traveled Center Street.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene located just before the intersection of Center Street and Pecan Street. When the Center Police Department arrived at the crash the pickup truck was found to have rolled over on the driver's side.
The driver and passenger escaped the truck with assistance from neighborhood residents and waited on an ambulance to arrive. ACE EMS transported the driver and passenger to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment.
The Center Fire Department arrived and emergency personnel got together with residents of the neighborhood and righted the vehicle so a wrecker could pick it up when it arrived.
According to Center Police Officer Bobby Walker, a white GMC pickup truck driven by Fidel San Martin-Olmedo, 28, with passenger Cristina Acosta Lopez, 28, both of Center was traveling west on Center Street when due to a medical condition he lost control of the vehicle which left the roadway to the right and collided with a brick wall. The truck then rolled and came to rest on the driver's side of the vehicle.
San Martin-Olmedo was issued citations for failure to maintain financial responsibility, no driver's license, no proof of insurance, and failure to control speed.
August 4, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell announces changes in officer rank at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).
DJ Dickerson was recently named Chief Deputy.
Dickerson has been in law enforcement for 12 years. He began his career with the San Augustine Police Department in 2004 as a patrol officer until 2006. Chief Dickerson then went to work with the Center Police Department until 2011 where he obtained the rank of patrol sergeant. In August 2011, he began working with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office as an investigator until October 2011. He started working with the SCSO in October 2011 as a patrol deputy. In 2013, he was promoted to the Criminal Investigation Division and earned the rank as Lieutenant Investigator in May 2016.
Chief Dickerson holds an advanced peace officer certification. He is a certified TCOLE instructor; Taser Instructor; and has advanced special training in homicide investigation and interviewing and interrogation. He has been a certified EMT since 2001.
Dickerson filled the vacated position of former Chief Deputy Shad Sparks who went to work for Center ISD.
Kevin Windham will now serve as Lieutenant Investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division. Windham began working at the SCSO in 2014 as an investigator.
Prior to working at the SCSO, Windham’s law enforcement career began in 1992 where he served as Shelby County Constable Precinct 2 until July 2005.
Windham worked as a patrol officer for the Center Police Department from October 2005-March 2008.
After leaving CPD, Windham worked as the Chief Investigator at the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office from July 2008 until September 2013. Windham served as a patrol deputy for the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office from October 2013 to April 2014.
Investigator Windham has advanced special training in homicide investigation and interviewing and interrogation and holds a master peace officer certification.
Del Birdwell, former patrol deputy, was promoted to the Criminal Investigations Division.
Birdwell began his full-time career at the SCSO in May 2016. Birdwell received his peace officers license in 2001.
He worked as a reserve deputy for the SCSO in 2001 under former sheriff James Moore.
Birdwell worked for the Nacogdoches Fire Department for a total of 20 years. For six years he served as shift investigator. For five years he served as fire marshal. Investigator Birdwell also worked as a full-time investigator for the Nacogdoches Fire Marshal’s Office.
Birdwell holds an advanced peace officer’s certification. He is a certified intermediate EMT; advanced firefighter; advanced arson investigator and inspector; TCOLE instructor; and level II fire instructor.
Michael Griffin, former patrol sergeant, was promoted to the Criminal Investigations Division.
Griffin served in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas from 2005-2010. He served two deployments to Iraq. In 2011, Griffin graduated from the Capital Area Council of Governments Police Academy in Austin. He began his career at the SCSO in 2011 as a patrol deputy and was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2015.
Cody Muse will serve as Patrol Sergeant at the SCSO. Muse began working at the SCSO in 2013 as a patrol deputy.
Muse began his career in law enforcement in 1997. He worked for the Center Police Department for 14-months and was a State Trooper for the Texas Department of Public Service for 11 years. Sergeant Muse is a master peace officer and firearms instructor.
Submitted by Leah Chase, Media Information
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
August 3, 2016 - A Timpson man was arrested after he was confronted by a group of people and police arrived on the scene.
While Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams was investigating a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highways 59 and 84 on Tuesday, August 2 at 4:16pm he was dispatched to a residence on Austin Street in Timpson where a verbal disturbance was in progress.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers also arrived at the scene to assist Officer Williams.
Upon arrival Justin Fulmer, 38, of Timpson was arrested for criminal trespass, misdemeanor b, as he had a criminal trespass warning for the residence of Tommie Methvin, his grandmother.
Methvin reported earlier in the day to Officer Williams that Fulmer had taken her vehicle on Monday evening without her permission. The verbal disturbance occurred when Fulmer returned to the scene and other family members who had been looking for the vehicle confronted him.
Fulmer was later charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, felony 4.
August 3, 2016 - An official step has been taken to ensure the beginning of the separation process of the Panola County and Shelby County probation departments officially known as Panola Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD.)
On July 21, 2016 an order of separation was filed in the District Court and County Court at Law of Panola County, Texas pertaining to the separation of the CSCD which removes Shelby County from the organization and establishes the creation of Community Supervision and Corrections Department for Shelby County, Texas.
Order of Separation
Be it remembered that at an open meeting of the Board of Judges, pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the following order was made on the 13th day of July, 2016:
The Board of Judges finds that to promote administrative convenience and improve services that the Panola Community Supervision and Corrections Department is hereby separated pursuant to Chapter 76 of the Texas Govenment Code, effective midnight on the 30th day of November, 2016, and there is created the Community Supervision and Corrections Department for Shelby County, Texas with each of the departments to have it's own director, employees and budget to serve their respective jurisdiction under the Board of Judges for each respective county.
It is further ordered that the county auditors of Panola County and Shelby County, in order to assure an equalization of the assets of the former department, shall coordinate with the Community Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to insure a partition of assets and budget to be accomplished by August 1, 2016, and no later than the 30th day of November, 2016. All transitions of property and assets are subject to approval of the Board of Judges in their respective county.
Ordered at an open meeting on July 13, 2016 and signed and entered the 21st day of July, 2016.
Signed by Judge Charles Dickerson and Judge Terry Bailey. Not signed by Judge Charles Mitchell.
Related article: Panola County Severs Probation Relationship with Shelby County Effective Nov. 30
August 2, 2016 - First responders were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 84 for a two-vehicle collision Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
Medical personnel gave attention to those involved in the crash as all occupants within one vehicle were transported by ambulance from the scene.
According to Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams, at 3:35pm Kylee Jones, 24, of Shelbyville was traveling east in a grey Dodge Charger on U.S. 84 at the intersection of U.S. 59 when she failed to yield right of way at a stop sign to U.S. 59 traffic.
A white Peterbilt truck-tractor driven by Michael Simmons, 33, was southbound when the Charger entered its path and Simmons was unable to avoid the collision. The Charger was struck on the rear driver's side and was spun around coming to rest in the median. The Peterbilt came to a halt in its lane just past the crash scene.
Jones and her passengers Windy Moore, 44, a 15-year-old passenger and a 1-year-old passenger were all transported by Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service and ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Simmons and his passenger Jose Ramirez Marquez, 40, were not reported to have received injuries.
A citation was issued to Jones for fail to yield right of way at stop sign.
Officer Williams was assisted at the scene with the investigation by Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers Taylor Buster and Sean Smith.
Timpson Volunteer Fire Department directed traffic at the crash scene and assisted other emergency personnel with those involved in the crash.
August 2, 2016 - The residents of a mobile home located just north of Center are now without residence as the house was a total loss due to fire Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at the home of Nancy Strong, located at 913 U.S. Highway 96 North, at 8:10am. When the firemen arrived the house was engulfed in flames.
The majority of the flames appeared to be emanating from the side of the house facing away from the road and flames had also broken through the wall facing the road.
Firemen were able to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread to neighboring homes in close proximity to the structure. The Center Fire Department firemen returned to the station at 9:35am.
As a result of the fire the house was a total loss. Strong was unable to be located at the time of the fire; however, she was later located unharmed.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
Heat Advisory from Noon to 7pm Wednesday
2:56 PM CDT Tuesday, August 2, 2016
August 2, 2016 Center, Texas - Dangerous heat will affect portions of the region through at least Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Heat Advisory which is in effect from Noon to 7pm Wednesday
* EVENT...Hot temperatures and high relative humidities will allow for heat index readings of 105 degrees or higher.
* TIMING...From about mid-day through 7pm Wednesday.
* IMPACT...Heat related illness are possible and caution is recommended for those who will be outdoors.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.