Press release
Last week, a Henderson County Jury delivered a quick and decisive verdict after deliberating for only 17 minutes. The jury, composed of eight women and four men, convicted Francis Pearl Connelly of Possession of a Controlled Substance. The trial took two days in the 173rd Judicial District Court with Judge Dan Moore presiding.
Assistant district attorneys Justin Weiner and Nancy Rumar prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s Henderson County District Attorney’s Office.
Connelly was indicted following an October 2014 incident that began when a registered nurse and case worker for Hospice of East Texas were scheduled to visit the defendant’s terminally ill father, Francis Connelly, Sr. Connelly, Sr. had Stage-4 terminal cancer and had been given less than six months to live. Testimony from trial revealed that the defendant called the Hospice of East Texas Triage nurse and told her that he would “kill anyone that stepped foot onto his property.” Knowing that their dying patient, who lived with the defendant, was in grave need of medical attention, they called the Henderson County Sheriff’s Officer for an escort.
Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sergeant Brian Hall arrived and met with the nurse and case-worker. Together, they approached the house and knocked on the door. Linda Chase, a caretaker for Connelly, Sr., let them in so that they could help the terminal patient. Further testimony revealed that Connelly, Sr. was in very bad health and was struggling to breathe. Additionally, Connelly, Sr.’s living arrangements were unsafe. There were pills, drug paraphernalia, and broken objects throughout the entire house.
At the foot of Connelly, Sr.’s bed the defendant was passed out on the floor. Lying next to the defendant was a bottle and line of methamphetamines. Adult Protective Services arrived shortly after and assisted Hospice of East Texas in treating Connelly, Sr. who expressed that he was scared of the defendant.
After discovering the defendant passed out, Sergeant Hall woke the defendant up who promptly admitted that the methamphetamine was his and identified the narcotic for the officer. He was arrested immediately after the admission.
During the trial, the jury watched video footage from the back of Sergeant Hall’s vehicle where the defendant admitted to the possession again. Hall provided commentary through testimony describing the ride to the Henderson County jail with the defendant. Video showed the defendant, in a fit of violent rage, bashing his head into the window of the vehicle repeatedly while screaming. Hall would add additional restrains to the defendant so that he could not harm himself. Ultimately, the defendant was booked in and processed into the Henderson County Jail. Connelly, Sr. was removed from the home and taken immediately to an inpatient hospice facility. He died the next day.
In closing arguments ADA Weiner said, “The defendant threatened to kill anyone that came onto the property and placed Hospice workers, Adult Protective Services workers, and Law Enforcement Officers in substantial danger. I am grateful that we have people in our community that are willing to risk their own safety to check on and care for a terminally ill patient that couldn’t take care of himself. These are only some of the consequences of the defendant’s use and possession of narcotics in Henderson County.”
Rumar added, “Thanks to the work of Sergeant Hall, you know that the defendant is guilty because he confessed to being in possession of the narcotics before and after he was placed under arrest.”
District Attorney Scott McKee praised the work of law enforcement, the hospice workers and Adult Protective Service workers for their service to Connelly Sr, and the community. He also reiterated his stance on methamphetamine and his mission of aggressively prosecuting those that possess, sell and use it. McKee also thanked the Jury for their swift verdict.
“Time and time again our juries render swift and tough verdicts to those that are involved with meth,” he said.
A sentencing hearing has been set for Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. in the 173rd Judicial District Court.