Shelby County Today

Map of the projected burn area.

February 23, 2023 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, February 23, 2023 in Shelby County in the location of Boles Field Recreational Area. Ignition time is 10am and the size is 2,902 Acres. The burn type is hand and air and has an estimated completion time of 7pm.

• Smoke: Winds are out of the North and drift smoke may be noticeable in Shelbyville Area.
• Forest and Unit: Sabine National Forest, Boles Field Southeast Comp. 18/19

Smoke will impact areas around the prescribed burn, and long-range drift smoke may be present during and after ignition operations.

Please drive with caution. Ground personnel will be operating in the area and smoke may impact visibility on local roads and highways near the burn unit.

For more information, contact the Angelina Sabine Ranger District at (936) 897-1068 or (409) 625-1940

U.S. Forest Service Prescribed Burn Tracker:

Southern Region Prescribed Burn Accomplishment Tracker (arcgis.com)

February 22, 2023 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 50 indictments including two for murder and one for manslaughter on Thursday, February 16, 2023. The grand jury was impaneled for the January 2023 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.

Teresa Louviere was indicted for murder, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 14, 2022, Louviere caused the death of Sarah Hopson by blunt force trauma to the head with an object unknown to this grand jury. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Teresa Louviere was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 14, 2022, Louviere observed a human corpse under circumstances in which a reasonable person would have believed that an offense had been committed, namely murder, and Louviere knew or reasonably should have known that a law enforcement agency was not aware of the existence of or location of the corpse, and Louviere failed to report the existence of and location of the corpse to law enforcement. (123rd Judicial District Court)

(See related articles: Sheriff Confirms Investigation into Death of Joaquin Woman; Charges Suspect with Murder | $1.75 Million in Bonds Set in Connection to Murder of Joaquin Woman | Details Emerge in Murder Investigation, Arrest of Three)

Allen Price was indicted for murder, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 14, 2022, Price caused the death of Sarah Hopson by blunt force trauma to the head with an object unknown to this grand jury. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Allen Price was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 14, 2022, Price observed a human corpse under circumstances in which a reasonable person would have believed that an offense had been committed, namely murder, and Louviere knew or reasonably should have known that a law enforcement agency was not aware of the existence of or location of the corpse, and Price failed to report the existence of and location of the corpse to law enforcement. (123rd Judicial District Court)

(See related articles: Sheriff Confirms Investigation into Death of Joaquin Woman; Charges Suspect with Murder | $1.75 Million in Bonds Set in Connection to Murder of Joaquin Woman | Details Emerge in Murder Investigation, Arrest of Three)

Reggie Lamar Daniels was indicted for manslaughter, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 3, 2022, Daniels recklessly caused the death of Kelton Tremaine Jones by shooting him in the head with a Taurus model 9mm pistol. (123rd Judicial District Court)

(See related article: Center PD Investigates Shooting Incident Behind City Hall (Updated: 3:22pm))

David Palacios was indicted for improper relationship between educator and student, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 1, 2021, Palacios recklessly caused bodily injury to a student by putting his hands around her neck and choking her and biting her on the neck, while Palacios was an employee of Center High School.

(See related article: Sheriff Charges Former Substitute Teacher with Improper Relationship Between Educator, Student

Larides Saez Morales was indicted for unlawful use of a criminal instrument or mechanical security device, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on January 13, 2023, with intent to use it in the commission of stealing diesel fuel, Morales knowingly possessed a rubber hose that was specially designed, made, or adapted for use in the commission of said offense. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Larides Saez Morales was indicted for unlawful use of a criminal instrument or mechanical security device, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on January 13, 2023, with intent to use it in the commission of stealing diesel fuel, Morales knowingly possessed a concealed fuel tank that was specially designed, made, or adapted for use in the commission of said offense. (273rd Judicial District Court)

(See related article: Extensive Investigation into Fuel Theft Leads to Arrest in Timpson; Over $1 million in Bonds Set)

Robert Deskin was indicted for theft of metals, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 5, 2023, Deskin took brass, of the value less than $30,000, from Joshua Webster the owner. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Sayoddrick Marquise Barnes was indicted for harassment of a public servant, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 18, 2022, Barnes intended to assault, harass, or alarm causing Center Police Officer Buzbee, a person Barnes knew to be a public servant, to contact the saliva of Barnes while safely securing him into a patrol unit. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Brandon Dwayne McGalin was indicted for hunting provision violation with previous conviction, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on January 25, 2022, McGalin knowingly hunted white tail deer by shooting a white doe deer from a motor vehicle using the headlights of the vehicle to illuminate the deer before the shot was fired. The indictment further shows McGalin was previously convicted of a hunting provisions violation on July 3, 2019 (273rd Judicial District Court)

Brandon Dwayne McGalin was indicted for hunting provision violation with previous conviction, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 2, 2022, McGalin knowingly hunted white tail deer by shooting a white doe deer from a motor vehicle using the headlights of the vehicle to illuminate the deer before the shot was fired. The indictment further shows McGalin was previously convicted of a hunting provisions violation on July 3, 2019 (273rd Judicial District Court)

Brandon Dwayne McGalin was indicted for hunting provision violation with previous conviction, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on October 30, 2021, McGalin knowingly hunted white tail deer by shooting a white doe deer from a motor vehicle using the headlights of the vehicle to illuminate the deer before the shot was fired. The indictment further shows McGalin was previously convicted of a hunting provisions violation on July 3, 2019 (273rd Judicial District Court)

Brandon Dwayne McGalin was indicted for hunting provision violation with previous conviction, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on January 26, 2022, McGalin knowingly failed to keep the edible parts of an animal in edible condition. The indictment further shows McGalin was previously convicted of a hunting provisions violation on July 3, 2019 (273rd Judicial District Court)

Judd Nichols was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on Deptember 5, 2022, Nichols operated a motor vehicle, grey extended cab without the consent of Peggy Shresta, the owner. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Carly Jordan Bledsoe was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on September 2, 2022, while Bledsoe had custody and care of two children younger than 15 years of age placed the children in circumstances that exposed them to unreasonable risk of harm, namely falling asleep at the wheel with ongoing traffic and not having the children in car seats. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Dakota Travis Rodgers was indicted for evading arrest with motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 14, 2022, Rodgers fled from DPS Trooper Timothy Grace, a person Rodgers knew to be a peace officer attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Rodgers. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Avery Brown was indicted for theft of property, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on October 14, 2022, Brown took “Sky” tablets, of the value of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 from Russel Dale Gibbons, the owner, without consent. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Faustino Canada was indicted for theft of property >=$2,500<$30,000, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on January 29, 2022, Faustino took a Romex, small Dewalt air compressor, tools and 35 pounds of copper of the value of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 from James Russell Miles, the owner, without consent. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Oscar Tox Bo was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 13, 2022, Bo intentionally abandoned a child younger than 15 years in a place, namely their house, under circumstances that exposed the child to unreasonable risk of harm and under circumstances that a reasonable person would believe would place the child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment while being left under the supervision of the child’s uncle who sexually assaulted her. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Dontay Demond Barnes was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on November 17, 2022, Barnes knowingly operated a 2008 Ford Mustang without the consent of Jayaveon Jacoy Standley, the owner. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Ricardo Zarate-Vazquez was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 22, 2022, Zarate-Vazquez while knowing a crash investigation was ongoing, intentionally, and knowingly concealed methamphetamine with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the investigation. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Ricardo Zarate-Vazquez was indicted for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 22, 2022, Zarate-Vazquez with intent to defraud or harm another, and without the consent of Ranulfo Zarate Riconcillo, Rosa Vazquez Landin, Leticia Baylon Arellano, Jose Carlos Zarate Baylon, Romina Zarate Baylon, and Barbara Jean Matejka (complainants), possessed less than 10 items of identifying information of the complainants. This included, namely, dates of birth, and names of Ranulfo Zarate Riconcillo, Rosa Vazquez Landin, Leticia Baylon Arellano, Jose Carlos Zarate Baylon, Romina Zarate Baylon, and Barbara Jean Matejka and a social security number of Barbara Jean Matejka. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Caleb Davis was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on October 26, 2022, Davis knowingly operated a white 2007 Ford F150 without without the consent of John Brandon, the owner. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Jeffrey Akins was indicted for assault by choking, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 15, 2022, Akins recklessly caused bodily injury to Tonya Parks, a member of Akins family, recklessly impeded the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Parks by applying pressure to the throat or neck of Parks. (273rd Judicial District Court)

Alan Diaz was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 9, 2021, while using a vehicle Diaz fled from DPS Trooper Dustin Ramos, a person Diaz knew was a peace officer attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Diaz. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Carl Givens was indicted for prohibited weapons, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 27, 2022, Givens possessed a short barrel firearm, namely a Cresent Firearms single shot 12-gauge shotgun which had been cut down to be 15.65 inches. The weapon was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or not subject to that registration requirement, and the weapon was not classified as a curio or relic by the United States Department of Justice. (273rd Judicial District Court)

James Christopher Flow was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 22, 2022, Flow entered a habitation without the consent of Robert Hutchns, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a 4-wheeler, black cross bow, 20-gauge shotgun lever action, .22 long rifle with scope. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Wilton Wood was indicted for injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 3, 2023, Wood caused serious bodily injury to Wilton Douglas Wood, an individual 65 years of age or older, by striking him in the head and face with a handgun. (123rd Judicial District Court)

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

Ramiro Rax Xol was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 27, 2022, Xol caused the penetration of the female sexual organ of a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age and not the spouse of Xol, with his sexual organ. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Charles Childress was indicted for sexual assault, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 5, 2022, Childress caused the penetration of the female sexual organ of a woman with his sexual organ without the consent of the alleged victim.

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

• Shelia Jane Hunter, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony – enhanced habitual 25 to 99 years (January 19, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Ethan Scot Ray , possession of a controlled substance penalty group two (psilocin), second degree felony (May 18, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Timothy Mxalan Belrose, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony. (July 1, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Ladamoius Xavier Adams, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 4 (codeine), third degree felony. (March 18, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Brooke Danielle Askew, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=200G<400G (methamphetamine), first degree felony (March 4, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Judd Nichols, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1/1-B <1G, state jail felony (September 5, 2022) (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Ladamoius Xavier Adams, unlawful possession of firearm by felon, third degree felony (June 8, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Matthew Pate, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (September 11, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Michee Alexander, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (September 15, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Rachel Callis, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (September 1, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Rodney Scourton, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony. (September 29, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Tammy Sue Sims, unlawful possession of firearm by felon, third degree felony (August 6, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Stacey Coats, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (September 26, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Katina Marshay Evans, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (phencyclidine), state jail felony (November 22, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Philipe Falcon, unlawful carry weapon with felony conviction, second degree felony (October 30, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Timothy Maxalan Belrose, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (December 11, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Jarvis Taylor, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (December 6, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Alan Diaz, possession of marijuana, state jail felony (September 9, 2021). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Jose Guadalupe Moreno, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (August 13, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)

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.

February 20, 2023 - FM 138 near FM 1645 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash with a tree on February 18, 2023.

Center Fire Department and West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department (WSCVFD) responded to the scene to assist with extrication, should it be needed, and traffic control.

According to DPS Trooper Taylor Buster, at 9:50pm a white 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Jaxon Blaine Fleming, 20, of Center was westbound on FM 138 at an unsafe speed for a curve in the roadway when the truck traveled off the roadway to the left. The truck struck a tree head on and ejected two passengers from the vehicle, meanwhile the driver was left in the floor board of the truck when the vehicle came to rest facing the roadway.

Fleming and his passenger Douglas Leo Jackson, 25, were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries.

WSCVFD personnel established a landing zone at the intersection of FM 138 and FM 1645 where a PHI Life Flight helicopter landed and transported Raleigh Windham, 28, to UT Health Tyler for treatment of her injuries.

This crash remains under investigation and there are no further details at the time of this report.

Also assisting at the scene were Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Jimmy Wagstaff; Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5; and Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2.

February 20, 2023 - During the week of February 12th through 18th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department responded to 4 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.

Monday evening at 7:45pm a page was received regarding a pedestrian struck by a vehicle across from Subway on the Haslam Strip. Upon arriving, the Joaquin VFD found a car stopped in the right lane the road and a man laying on the shoulder of the road in critical condition. Members of the department began traffic control procedures while the EMR team checked out the patient. A short time later Allegiance EMS arrived and eventually the patient was loaded into the ambulance and transported to an emergency room.

The next call came in on Wednesday at 9:52am for a man with a laceration on his leg at a residence on FM 139. At the time of the page it was reported that the patient still had a severe bleed from the cut but by the time the EMR team arrived the bleeding had stopped. A wrap was applied to the wound and the patient was transferred to the care of Allegiance EMS on scene.

Thursday evening at 6:17pm a call was received for a grass fire near Jackson Church on Highway 7 East. The fire appeared to have originated from a burn pile and spread across a yard in the direction of the church. The JVFD responded with 3 brush trucks and a tanker for additional water if necessary. The ground around the fire was very saturated from all of the recent rain and even the most off-road capable brush truck was bogged down for a short time, but ultimately the fire was able to be put out.

Lastly on Friday evening at 5:36pm a page came in for a male with a laceration on his head at a residence on Carroll Street. The EMR team and Allegiance responded to check out the patient, but after being patched up they opted to go to the emergency room in a personal vehicle.

With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.