Shelby County Today

December 30, 2021 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 16 indictments on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2021 term of the 123rd Judicial District Court, and grand jury was held in both the 123rd and 273rd Judicial District courts.

Justin Earl Bennett was indicted for murder, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 21, 2021, Bennett intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Deon Bailey by shooting him with a gun in the head and thigh.

Zenas Montre Whitaker was indicted for aggravated kidnapping, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 7, 2020, Whitaker abducted an individual by moving her from one place to another while also exhibiting a deadly weapon, a bat.

Philip Taylor Reynolds was indicted for medicaid fraud, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 9, 2014, Reynolds falsely claimed to provide dental services to permit him to receive payment under a health care program, namely Texas Medical Assistance Program, and the payment was greater than the benefit that was authorized. The amount of the payment provided under the health care program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the alleged conduct was $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.

David Morgan Creel was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 6, 2021, Creel 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 forcing the child into deep water knowing they could not swim.

Corey Green was indicted for credit card/debit card abuse, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on June 21, 2021, Green had intent to fraudulently obtain a benefit through use of a credit card, namely a Timpson Quick Stop fuel card, with knowledge the card was not issued to Green. It is further alleged the use of the card was not with the effective consent of the cardholder, Timpson Volunteer Fire Department.

Steven Polk was indicted for evading arrest, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 28, 2021, Polk used a vehicle to intentionally flee from Brian Wright (Center Police Officer), a person Polk knew was a peace officer attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Polk.

Terry Jay Hunsley was indicted for indecency with a child, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 4, 2019, Hunsley had intent to arouse or gratify sexual desires and caused a child younger than 17 years of age to engage in sexual contact.

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

• Chatrick Tyrone Hines, driving while intoxicated - 3rd or more, third degree felony (July 21, 2021). 
• Melton Garrett, possession of a controlled substance (phencyclidine), second degree felony (August 10, 2021). 
• Gary Patrick Simon, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), second degree felony (August 14, 2021).
• Chadrick Raemond Polley, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 10, 2021).
• Gary Lewis Smith, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 30, 2021).
• Matthew Lemoine Williams, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 29, 2021).
• Jamison Rashard Swindle, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), second degree felony (April 23, 2021).
• Radley Lamar Brock, driving while intoxicated - 3rd or more, third degree felony (October 2, 2021).
• Jarrod Wilson, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), third degree felony (June 19, 2021).

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.

December 28, 2021 - Shelby County Constables were successful in locating and recovering a stolen truck-tractor on December 27, 2021.

According to Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, during the early evening he received a call of a disturbance involving an unwanted individual at a residence, and once at the location he obtained information the man was a Johnny Cunningham of Spurger.

Witnesses at the residence provided information to Constable Tipton, Cunningham may have stolen a vehicle as a means to get to Timpson; however, he was without a vehicle and was on foot.

As the result of continued investigation and while on routine patrol Constable Tipton eventually discovered Cunningham walking along U.S. Highway 59 in Timpson and he made contact with him. During questioning of Cunningham beside the roadway Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, arrived to assist.

From there the constables determined the location of a 1996 Peterbilt 378 off County Road 4849 on a gas pipeline right of way backed up into some brush. During the constables investigation they confirmed with Tyler County the truck had been reported stolen.

Information and evidence gathered during the investigation is being passed on to the Tyler County Sheriff's Department for potential warrants to be issued at a later date.

The truck was able to be returned to its owner as a result of this investigation.

December 28, 2021 - The federal government controls the distribution of monoclonal antibodies, and the regional infusion centers in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio and The Woodlands have exhausted their supply of sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody effective against the COVID-19 Omicron variant, due to the national shortage from the federal government. They will not be able to offer it until federal authorities ship additional courses of sotrovimab to Texas in January. People who had appointments scheduled this week will be contacted directly and advised. Other monoclonal antibodies have not shown to be effective against the Omicron variant, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of new cases. The infusion centers will continue to offer those antibodies as prescribed by health care providers for people diagnosed with a non-Omicron case of COVID-19.

Two new oral antiviral drugs authorized last week by the Food and Drug Administration will be available soon, though they are expected to have a limited initial supply, and the federal government will also control their distribution. People with COVID-19 infections at high risk of hospitalization and death should contact their health care provider to discuss treatment options. Everyone should protect themselves from severe COVID-19 by getting vaccinated as soon as possible, getting a booster as soon as they are eligible, and continuing to take precautions to prevent being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and spreading it to others.

December 23, 2021 - State Highway 87 (SH 87) North in the Mt. Gillion Community was the scene of a two-vehicle crash December 18, 2021.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 4:43pm a red 2003 Ford F-150 driven by Colton Lee McSwain, 25, of Timpson was northbound on SH 87 near CR 1034 during rain conditions when three dogs were crossing the road.

McSwain applied breaks in an attempt to avoid striking the dogs when he lost control and the vehicle swung around and while traveling backwards the passenger side of the truck struck the driver's side of a 2020 GMC Terrain driven by Margaret Bush, 66, of Center.

The GMC came to rest on the southbound shoulder while the Ford was able to be pulled back to the northbound shoulder.

No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

McSwain was issued a citation for wrong side of roadway not passing.