Press release
A Henderson County jury sentenced an Athens man to nine years in the Texas Department of Corrections, Institutional Division on April 25, 2018. Dustin Edward Klendworth, age 29, was arrested on March 13 of last year by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
While searching for a dark-colored Ford Mustang that was reportedly connected to a recent stabbing at a nearby game room, Chief Ricky Smith of the Trinidad Police Department located a vehicle matching that description. After initiating a traffic stop, Klendworth was found to be a passenger in the Mustang.
Although it was later determined that Klendworth was not involved in the stabbing, he had an outstanding arrest warrant for Evading Arrest for which he was taken into custody by Sgt. John Daniels with the Sheriff’s Office. After a search pursuant to his arrest, Deputy Kevin McCarley located a baggie of suspected methamphetamine in Klendworth’s pants.
That baggie tested positive for 8.5 grams of methamphetamine, and Klendworth was charged with a second-degree felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Cox and Jessica Bargmann presented evidence to the jury, which found Klendworth guilty after two days of trial.
Upon receiving the guilty verdict, the trial moved into the punishment phase where the jury heard evidence of Klendworth’s criminal history, including one prior felony conviction and five misdemeanor convictions. Tolan Lary, a probation officer with the Henderson County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, told the jury how Klendworth had repeatedly violated the conditions of his bond by testing positive for methamphetamine while out on bond. After further deliberation, the jury sentenced Klendworth to nine years in prison.