District Attorney’s Office press release
On Monday, March 18, Dale Forbus Reynolds, 38, of Athens was sentenced to 35 years in the Texas Penitentiary after admitting his guilt to multiple thefts in the Lake Athens and Baxter areas as well as a possession of a controlled substance offense that occurred on Sept. 14, 2012 and an evading arrest charge from Oct. 19, 2011. District Attorney Scott McKee prosecuted the case in Judge Mark Calhoon’s 3rd District Court.
Reynolds committed numerous thefts just outside Athens in November and December of last year. The cases were investigated by Investigator Michael Shelley of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office after numerous victims reported items stolen from their properties. During his investigation of the thefts, Shelley received information that Reynolds was a potential suspect. Reynolds was eventually arrested on other outstanding warrants. Sheriff’s investigators recovered about $10,000 in property as a result of the investigation. Among the items recovered were hand tools, power tools, trailers, an ATV and various firearms.
Investigator Nick Webb along with Shelley interviewed Reynolds after his arrest and eventually confessed to at least part of the thefts.
Reynolds possession charge stemmed from a traffic stop of his vehicle by Captain Bryan Tower of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. During the traffic stop, Tower discovered that Reynolds had an active warrant for illegal dumping. After being searched incident to his arrest, deputies discovered methamphetamine in his pants pocket. Reynolds was subsequently indicted for possession of a controlled substance less than one gram.
McKee credited the work of Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt and his team for solving these burglaries.
“Although much of the property stolen was recovered and returned to the victims, their sense of security cannot be returned,” said McKee. “I’m glad he is behind bars and out of our neighborhoods.”