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September 11, 2024 - FEMA will be providing assistance for residents of Shelby County on Thursday, September 12 from 10am - 7pm; and Friday, September 13 from 8am - 5pm, at First Baptist Church Family Life Center, behind main building.
If you have had damage from the storm, Hurricane Beryl, and need help with filing for assistance or learning about all assistance that is available, FEMA will be set up at:
First Baptist Church of Center
117 Cora Street, Center, Texas
August 7, 2024 - Shelby County, as of August 2nd, was added as an eligible county for individuals to apply for FEMA individual assistance if damage occurred to their property in the July 8th, Beryl Storm. To determine your eligibility, you must apply.
If you had damage to your property from the Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding which occurred on April 26, 2024 - June 5, 2024 or from Hurricane Beryl from July 5, 2024 - July 9, 2024, there are three ways to apply.
3 Ways to Apply for Disaster Aid
- Online - Visit disasterassistance.gov online and select “Let’s Get Started.” The process will have you key in your zip code to check eligibility. If you live in Shelby County, the two above named storms will come up giving you the opportunity to fill out the form online.
- Call - 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- FEMA APP - Download the FEMA APP
Luciana Barr, Shelby County Emergency Coordinator, gives advice below for what you will need when applying for assistance. She warns that iSTAT is not the same as FEMA and if you reported your damage previously with iSTAT, you will have to report it again. FEMA has an application deadline for receiving Individual Assistance so don't wait.
What you will need?
- Photos of damage
- If already repaired, receipts
- If insured, a copy of insurance adjuster claim information
Barr also adds FEMA can help determine your eligibility by seeing damages you don’t see. As part of the process, FEMA teams will be doing door to door assessments. They will have on a uniform with the FEMA logo and an official badge.
Related Article: Gov. Abbott Approves Assistance for Shelby County Plus Four Additional Counties Following Hurricane Beryl
El condado de Shelby, a partir del 2 de agosto, fue agregado como condado elegible para que las personas soliciten asistencia individual de FEMA si ocurrieron daños a su propiedad durante la tormenta Beryl del 8 de julio. Para determinar su elegibilidad, debe presentar una solicitud.
Si sufrió daños en su propiedad a causa de las tormentas severas, vientos en línea recta, tornados e inundaciones que ocurrieron del 26 de abril de 2024 al 5 de junio de 2024 o del huracán Beryl del 5 de julio de 2024 al 9 de julio de 2024, existen tres formas de aplicar.
Tres formas de solicitar ayuda por desastre
- Internet: visite disasterassistance.gov/es en línea y seleccione “Empecemos.” El proceso le pedirá que ingrese su código postal para verificar la elegibilidad. Si vive en el condado de Shelby, aparecerán las dos tormentas mencionadas anteriormente y le darán la oportunidad de completar el formulario en línea.
- Llame al 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- APLICACIÓN FEMA - Descargue la APLICACIÓN FEMA
Luciana Barr, coordinadora de emergencias del condado de Shelby, brinda consejos a continuación sobre lo que necesitará al solicitar asistencia. Ella advierte que iSTAT no es lo mismo que FEMA y si reportó sus daños anteriormente a iSTAT, tendrá que reportarlo nuevamente. FEMA tiene una fecha límite para presentar solicitudes para recibir Asistencia Individual, así que no espere.
¿Que necesitarás?
- Fotos de daños
- Si ya fue reparado, recibos.
- Si está asegurado, una copia de la información del reclamo del ajustador de seguros.
Barr también agrega que FEMA puede ayudar a determinar su elegibilidad al ver daños que usted no ve. Como parte del proceso, los equipos de FEMA realizarán evaluaciones puerta a puerta. Llevarán uniformes con el logo de FEMA y una insignia oficial.
August 14, 2024 - The 12th Circuit Court of Appeals District in Tyler has affirmed the trial court judgment on August 7, 2024, in the Shelby County criminal trial of Michael David Masteron.
Shelby County District Attorney Karren Price confirms the trial judgment against Michael David Masterson, who was convicted on five different counts manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, was affirmed by the 12th Court of Appeals. Masterson’s appeal included seven arguments.
Masterson first argued the evidence to be insufficient to support his manslaughter convictions because it fails to show his conduct was reckless, and his second argument is that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon because it fails to show his conduct was intentional, knowing, or reckless.
The result of the extensive memorandum by the court of appeals was to conclude the evidence supports the jury’s implied finding of recklessness, and as such they overruled Masterson’s first and second issues.
A third argument by Masterson was the trial court erroneously failed to include “sua sponte” in the jury charge an instruction to disregard the State’s voir dire comment that, “this defendant doesn’t follow the rules.” The court contends no authority supporting the proposition was cited and that an instruction to disregard can constitute, “the law applicable to the case,” and accordingly the court overruled Masterson’s third issue.
The fourth argument was that the trial court erred by overruling Masterson’t objection to Trooper Taylor Buster’s testimony that his conduct was reckless. The appeals court didn’t agree with this argument and stated Masterson did not challenge the trial court’s ruling on any other grounds, and to the extent his citations to authority could be construed to raise other grounds, any error based on those grounds was not preserved for the appeals court review. The court overruled Masterson’s fourth claim.
Masterson contended in his fifth argument there was no legal basis existing for consolidating the indictments against him. The appeals court disagreed in referencing, “a defendant may be prosecuted in a single criminal action for all offenses arising out of the same criminal episode.” TEX. Penal Code Ann. § 3.02(a) (West 2021). Under Chapter 3 of the penal code. It was concluded by the court that the offenses were committed pursuant to the same transaction and the cases were properly consolidated. The court overruled the fifth issue.
The sixth argument by Masterson was the trial court erred by permitting the State to introduce evidence of extraneous crimes or bad acts during the punishment phase without proper notice. The appeal’s court overruled the sixth issue argument.
The seventh argument by Masterson claimed he was deprived of a fair trial because a juror biased against his defense was permitted to serve on the jury. Giving proper deference to the trial court, the appeal’s court couldn’t say trial court abused its discretion in denying the challenge of the juror and for the foregoing reasons the appeals court overruled the seventh issue.
Shelby County District Attorney Karren Price said there were concerns whether the appeals court would pay close enough attention to the evidence of recklessness against Masterson; however, they did.
“Not many people do manslaughter as recklessness anymore, because we have the intoxication manslaughter and everyone goes with that,” said Price.
She explained the intoxication manslaughter can be an easier direction to take because it’s easier in that a mental state doesn’t have to be proven, just the intoxication.
In speaking with some other lawyers, there were suggestions she couldn’t make the case; however, she felt that would be up to a jury.
“I said, I can’t make a decision in this case a jury has to, this community has been hurt by this case and a jury’s going to make this decision I’m not,” said Karren.
Price remarked that she was very impressed with the analysis of the evidence by Justice Greg Neeley who authored the memorandum.
What Price described as a “shotgun approach” in the appeal she said she has never seen it work very well.
“Go with what you know is going to get you there,” said Price. “But the court addressed every one of the issues and said, ‘we find no merit,’”
Price explained the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon conviction means Masterson has to serve 10 years before he will be eligible for parole, and the other charges he would only have to serve a third of his 20-year sentence.
Related Article: Masterson Found Guilty on All Charges
August 13, 2024 - The Shelby County Jail has been placed on the non-compliant list by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) as of August 1, 2024, following an Inspection Requirements Review and Jail Inspection Report issued on July 18, 2024.
This isn't Shelby County's first time in recent years to face some of the same challenges listed in this article such as jail cell checks on certain inmates in March 2023. By October 2023 the non-compliance was lifted, after representatives of the county including Judge Allison Harbison, former Chief Ruth Gonzales, and Captain D.J. Dickerson addressed the TCJS in person. (Related article: SC Officials Update TCJS on Jail Compliance)
TCJS alleges several infractions and they are listed including the following:
Minimum standards violated - 263.55: All life safety equipment shall be inspected, maintained, and tested by persons qualified to do so (whether under vendor contract, by state or private agency or otherwise) in order that such equipment shall be safe, secure, and fully operative at all times.
The ANSUL system in the kitchen was last inspected in July 2023. This places the bi-annual inspection of the ANSUL past due.
Minimum standards violated - 273.2(7): Provide procedures for the distribution of prescriptions in accordance with written instructions from a physician by an appropriate person designated by the sheriff/operator;
Medication Administration Records (MAR) reviewed failed to show that medication is distributed in accordance with written instructions from a physician.
Minimum standards violated - 273.5(a)(2): Identification. Procedures for intake screening to identify inmates who are known to be or observed to be mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal and procedures for compliance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health officials;
Jail staff failed to notify the magistrate within 12 hrs. in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 when warranted by positive returns on the CCQ or affirmative answers on the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments.
Minimum standards violated - 275.1: Every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day. Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. Observation shall be performed at least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined. There shall be a two-way voice communication capability between inmates and jailers, licensed peace officers, bailiffs, and designated staff at all times. Closed circuit television may be used, but not in lieu of the required personal observation. Electronic sensors or cameras capable of recording the required personal observations of inmates in high-risk cells or groups of cells shall be installed no later than August 31, 2020.
During the review of observation checks for the period of April 1, 2024, to April 30, 2024, 30-minute observation checks in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined within the facility were observed to be late by 1 minute to 28 minutes
Minimum standards violated - 279.1(2): water and sewage systems not part of a public system and food preparation areas shall be inspected at least annually by health authorities and record kept for each inspection;
The annual health inspection by authorities was last conducted on January 4, 2023. This places the annual health inspection past due by 6 months.
Minimum standards violated - 279.3: Preventive maintenance, to include necessary repairs, shall be conducted to ensure a safe, secure, and sanitary facility.
During the walk-through of the facility, exposed wiring was observed in inmate housing B, E, K, and vestibule IJ. The lights in cell G-3 were inoperable and inmates reported that the lights had not worked for a long period. There was no water at the sink in cell E-3.
Minimum standards violated - 281.5: Food shall be prepared under the supervision of a staff member or contract employee who possesses a food handler license in accordance with 25 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §228.31(d) with a copy available for review. Food shall be served under the immediate supervision of a staff member. Care shall be taken that hot foods are served reasonably warm and that cold foods are served reasonably cold.
Administration was unable to provide a valid food handlers license for staff working in the kitchen while food is being prepared.
Minimum standards violated - 285.1: Each facility shall have and implement a written plan, approved by the Commission, for inmate physical exercise and physical recreation. Documentation of physical exercise and physical recreation shall be maintained for Commission review. Each inmate shall be allowed one hour of supervised physical exercise or physical recreation at least three days per week.
Records reviewed for inmate recreation for the month of April 2024 failed to show that inmates are allowed one hour of supervised physical exercise or physical recreation at least three days per week. Additional records were reviewed for the months of March 2024 and May 2024. These records also failed to show that inmates are allowed one hour of supervised physical exercise or physical recreation at least three days per week.
Related article: Commissioners Allow Constable 5 to Hire Deputy
August 13, 2024 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports that on Sunday, August 11, 2024, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a disturbance at Williams Landing on County Road 3490 in Joaquin regarding a criminal mischief incident. Deputies arriving found that there was an issue between numerous individuals of the property and Shelby County Constable Precinct 3 Roy Cheatwood, and that there has been a lawsuit between the Williams family and Constable Cheatwood wherein there has been a dispute over land. There were numerous allegations made of criminal conduct of the Williams tampering with the well, as well as allegations of Official Oppression on Constable Cheatwood.
With such allegations involving an elected official, the case has been referred to the Texas Rangers to conduct an investigation. An initial report of the incident was completed by our agency and has been forwarded to the Texas Rangers.
August 12, 2024 - The Center Fire Department responded to a house fire on Louisiana Street Sunday, August 11, 2024.
When the firefighters arrived at the location in the 700 block of Louisiana Street just after 6:08am, both the house on the property and a travel trailer were engulfed in flames.
The house was discovered to be vacant and fire personnel worked to extinguish the blaze as quickly as possible.
A cause for the fire was not immediately able to be determined, and utilities to the house were not active. Firefighters cleared the scene at around 9am.
August 12, 2024 - West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 in front of White Rock Missionary Baptist Church near CR 1240 Friday, August 9, 2024.
When fire department personnel arrived at the scene, an SUV was in the middle of the westbound side of the roadway and a tractor was on the shoulder of the same side.
After Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers arrived, they were working to determine if the rear lights on the tractor were active just before the incident occurred,
According to information from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 10:35pm, a John Deere tractor driven by a 16-year-old minor driver of Center was traveling west in the outside lane and was struck in the rear by a silver 2011 Toyota 4Runner driven by Miriam Allan, 47, of Nacogdoches, which was also traveling west.
Allan was transported by ambulance for to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Citation information was not provided and DPS reports this is an ongoing investigation with no further information available at this time.
August 11, 2024 - U.S. Highway 59 in Tenaha was the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving a log truck and a passenger vehicle Friday, August 9, 2024, at around 10:30am.
Responding to the scene were the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4; and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Keith Jones, a silver 2013 Honda CRV driven by Michael Alen Loebig, 70, of Texarkana was southbound on U.S. Highway 59 when the Loebig took the Houston exit and while traveling off the ramp. The Honda entered into the southbound traffic lane and struck a green Peterbilt 389 truck tractor owned by Turnip Seed Trucking and driven by Jackie M. Cunningham, 68, of Mansfield.
Loebig and his passenger Vicky May Loebig, 68, were each transported by ambulance to a Nacogdoches Medical Center for medical evaluation.
Loebig was issued a citation for change lanes when unsafe.
August 10, 2024 - U.S. Highway 96 South 5 1/2 miles south of of Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving a truck hauling hay and a passenger vehicle on August 7, 2024, at around 5pm.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the location just north of CR 1008. Center Fire Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department were on scene with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Josh Gradberg, a 2006 Dodge pickup truck hauling a trailer loaded with round bales of hay and driven by James Bell, 68, of Center was turning right into the driveway to his residence. At that time a silver 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by Yuliana Santos-Carrillo, 35, of Center was northbound on U.S. Highway 96 in the outside lane and failed to control speed as she took evasive action into the northbound shoulder and struck the passenger door of the Dodge.
No injuries were reported to have resulted from the crash incident.
Santos-Carrillo was issued citations for no driver’s license and fail to control speed.
August 7, 2024 - A Timpson man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Austin Yarbrough, 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 7, 2024.
According to information presented in court, from 2021 through 2023, law enforcement conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating throughout East Texas. Yarbrough was identified as a member of that organization and a distributor of methamphetamine, as well as a firearms trafficker. As a member of the organization, Yarbrough would receive methamphetamine transported by his co-conspirators and then distribute the methamphetamine in the Timpson area. On multiple occasions, law enforcement conducted operations leading to the purchase of methamphetamine and firearms from Yarbrough, including a modified .45 caliber rifle with a shortened barrel and an adjustable stock.
Further investigation revealed Yarbrough has previous felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a building, and bail jumping. As a convicted felon, Yarbrough is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Angelina County Sheriff's Office; Drug Enforcement Administration; and FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
August 7, 2024 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department reported Pleasant has turned himself in as of August 7, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
August 6, 2024 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the whereabouts of Christopher Lamar Pleasant, 48, of Center. Pleasant is described as a 5’10” white male and weighs approximately 210 pounds. He is bald, and has hazel eyes.
Pleasant has an active felony warrant out of Shelby County for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F-2).
The SCSO is seeking assistance of the public with locating Pleasant.
If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the SCSO (936) 598-5601 or Sergeant Investigator Aaron Jones at 936-572-7559.
Anyone found to be hindering the apprehension, harboring or concealing, providing or aiding with any means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape, or warns Pleasant of impending discovery or apprehension, will be arrested and charged in accordance to Penal Code 38.05 Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a Felony 3 offense.
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