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The Henderson County Retired School Personnel Association (HCRSPA) met on Jan. 8 and after a nice luncheon heard an informative presentation. Local Athens High School graduate Brad Fulton, now a state trooper, gave a presentation on what it takes to be a state trooper, and safety tips for seniors. A question and answer period followed. The business meeting began after the presentation.
District Attorney’s Office Press Release
Rico Antonio Brown, 26 of Athens, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday, Jan. 16, by Judge Carter Tarrance of the 392nd District Court. Brown previously pled guilty to Burglary of a Habitation which carries a maximum of 20 years, and elected to be sentenced by the court. Brown was legally eligible and could have received probation.
During the sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Cox and Jenny Palmer presented to the court evidence not only of the burglary to which Brown pled guilty, but also evidence of different offenses committed by Brown after the burglary.
Prosecutors from Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office presented evidence that on November 20, 2102, Brown forced his way into the apartment of his girlfriend, while their child was in the home sleeping. Brown then proceeded to place his hands around his girlfriend’s neck, choking her. When his girlfriend called 911, Brown fled the scene and warrants were issued for his arrest. After being arrested on the warrants, Brown posted bond and was released from jail.
While out on bond for the burglary, Brown was confronted in the Walmart parking lot by Officer Bill Carlow of the Athens Police Department. Carlow discovered that Brown had concealed six fishing reels inside his jacket. When Carlow attempted to arrest Brown for theft, Brown resisted, and a struggle ensued.
At the hearing, Officer Carlow testified to the encounter. Pictures of his injuries were shown, and the video from his patrol car showing the struggle was played before the Court.
Prosecutors also presented evidence of another encounter that occurred on May 17, 2013. On this day, Brown was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by Deputy Jonathan Halbert of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. Halbert recognized Brown, knew he had warrants, and attempted to place Brown under arrest. Brown also resisted Deputy Halbert. A three minute struggle ensued where Deputy Halbert had to use his pepper spray on Brown. During the struggle, Brown also attempted to take Deputy Halbert’s firearm before Halbert was able to safely detain Brown in handcuffs. Deputy Halbert also testified to his struggle with Brown. Photos and videos from that encounter were also shown to Judge Tarrance.
During closing arguments, Brown’s defense attorney asked and pled for the Court to sentence Brown to probation.
Assistant District Attorney Cox stated, “We are not just asking you to sentence him to prison just because he deserves it. We are also asking you to send him to prison because our law enforcement officers deserve it. (Brown) has been a thorn in their side for a long time, give them the break they deserve from having to chase and fight this defendant.”
Judge Tarrance responded with a 15-year sentence for Brown, stating that he found Brown had no respect for his family or law enforcement. A sentence like this has serious implications on someone’s ability to build a life for themselves when they are released , even with the help of Felon Jobs they will struggle to prepare for old age or start a family.
McKee indicated that he was very pleased with the prison sentence handed down by Judge Tarrance.
“The City of Athens and our law enforcement officers are a little safer now that Rico is behind bars.” Said McKee.
The District Attorney also stated that officer Carlow and deputy Halbert showed great restraint in their treatment of Brown during their struggles with him.
“Things could have ended a lot worse for Brown had he not by chance ended up struggling with two very dedicated and competent law enforcement professionals who value human life and had the training and skills to keep things from getting out of hand.”
The County Attorney, Clint Davis, reported the following activity in the disposition of cases filed through his office during the year of 2013 in the County Court, County Court at Law and County Court at Law No. 2.
Abuse of Official Capacity 1
Accident involving damage to vehicle >$200 3
Assaults 142
Attempt to Commit Abandon/Endanger Child w/ Intent to Return 1
Attempt to commit burglary of coin operated machine 1
Attempt to Commit Theft >$1500<=$20K 1
Boating While Intoxicated 10
Burglary of Vehicle 26
Burn Ban 1
City Ordinance Violation 1
Consumption of Alcohol by Minor 1
Criminal Mischief <$50 1 Criminal Mischief >$50<=$500 33 Criminal Mischief >$500<=$1500 15 Criminal Trespass 46 Cruelty to Animals 4 Cruelty to Livestock Animals 4 Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals 2 Deadly Conduct 4 Deceptive Trade Practice 1 Defective Required Equipment 1 Disorderly Conduct 2 Display Fictitious License Plate 3 Disregard No Passing Zone 1 Disregard Red Light 5 Driving under the influence/minor 4 Driving While Intoxicated 229 Driving While Intoxicated/open alch Container 25 Driving While Lic. Suspended/Invalid 14 Driving W/lic in v w/ pre/conv/susp w/o fin res 137 Duty on Striking Fixture/Highway Landscape 3 Escape from Custody 4 Evading Arrest Detention 51 Expired DL 1 Expired Insp. Sticker 7 Expired Vehicle Registration 3 Fail Drug Test Falsification Device 2 Fail To Appear 11 Fail to Control Speed 1 Fail To Display Driver’s License 1 Fail To Drive In A Single Lane 1 Fail To Give Half Of Roadway 1 Fail to Identify Fugitive from Justice 4 Fail to Identify Fugitive/intent give false info 21 Fail to Identify Giving False/fictitious Info 7 Fail to Report Change of Address 3 Fail to Show Proof of Financial Resp. 8 Fail to Signal (Lane Change) 1 Fail to Stop (stop sign/intersection) 3 Fail To Stop And Give Info 1 Fail to Yield Right of Way 1 False Alarm or Report 1 False Drug Test Falsification Device 4 False Report to Police Officer 6 Fictitious/Counterfeit Insp/Ins Doc for Display 4 Fleeing Police Officer 2 Forge Alter Prescription 0 Fraud Destroy Removal Concealment Writing 1 Harassment 9 Harboring Runaway Child 1 Hinder Appreh./Prosec. 5 Hinder Proceedings by Disorderly Conduct 1 Hunting Provisions Violated 2 Illegal dumping>5lbs. Improper DL for Type Vehicle 1
Indecent Exposure 2
Injury to Child/Elderly/Disabled 1
Interfere w/ Emergency Call 13
Interfere w/ Public Duties 6
Keeping a Gambling Place 2
Minor in Possession of Alcoholic Beverage 2
Minor in Possession of Tobacco 1
Misc Class C 1
Misc. Lic/Registr/Permit Violation 1
Muffler Violation 1
No Driver’s License 2
No Liability Ins 1
No Motorcycle Operator’s License 1
Obstruction or Retaliation 1
Open Container in motor Vehicle 2
Operate Motor Vehicle w/o Financial Responsibility 2
Organize Retail Theft 11
Permit Consumption of AB during Suspension 1
Possession Dangerous Drug 22
Possession Marij 2<=4 oz. 7
Possession CS PG 2-A Possession CS PG 3=$50<$500 122 Theft Prop>=$500>$1500 41
Theft of Service >=$20<$500 2 Theft of Service >$500>$1500 19
Traffic Offense 1
Transport Liquor to a Dry Area 2
Unlawful carrying weapon 10
Unlawful Restraint 2
Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument 3
Unrestrained Child Under Four 1
Unsafe Speed 1
Viol. Of Driver’s License Rest. 4
Violate Promise To Appear 5
Violation Of Clean Air Act 5
Viol of Protective Order 15
Violate Restriction on Occupational DL 1
Wrong fict/Altered/Obscure Veh Registration 1
Total number of dispositions for the year 2404
Total amount of fines and court costs assessed $1,151,709.60
Number of Individuals sentenced to the Henderson County Jail 1031
Number of Individuals who have had their probation revoked and were sentenced to the Henderson County Jail 136
Amount of restitution collected & returned to merchants by the Hot Check Division $ 134,247.13
Open Records Request 144
Information gathering will be very handy for gardeners this year with the Henderson County Master Gardeners holding their vegetable conference in conjunction with the Keep Athens Beautiful Home and Garden show. The events will take place at the Cain Center in Athens on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Sessions on various aspects of gardening will be presented in the morning by HCMG members. Dave Whitinger, founder of the website, Dave’s Garden, will speak on “Adding Food Plants to the Landscape” at 10:30 a.m. Have your questions ready for Whitinger and for the master gardeners.
At this time the general public will be able to purchase tickets to the HCMG Spring Conference to be held March 22. The conference will include dinner, and the featured speaker will be Dr. Steve George from the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas. His topic will be “From Roses, to Vegetables, to Shade Trees: Creating a truly Earth-Kind ® Landscape.”
Information will also be available on how to become a master gardener including the date of the next class.
Nellie Opal Peery Kemp was born August 24, 1914 in Purcell, Okla. to Jeffie Grace and Albert Joshua Peery. Her mother passed away when she was one and her dad when she was four. Nellie was taken to live with relatives when her parents died. She grew up in Purcell where she married her high school sweetheart, Carl Woodrow Kemp on September 20, 1933. They moved to Texas soon after the marriage. The couple had four children; daughters Patricia and Sybil and sons Larry and Carl Jr. The Kemp’s lived in Cleburne, Texas for 60 years. Nellie was a housewife most of those years but worked in the retail business and retired from Zimmerman’s Auto Parts in 1982. Mrs. Kemp was a member of First Baptist Church for 60 years and was the Junior Department Director for 20 of those years. She helped organize the first GA’s in that church. In 1999 the couple moved to Malakoff to be near their daughter Sybil. Mrs. Kemp was a member of Faith Community Baptist Church where she was a faithful member until she moved to Cedar Lake Nursing Home in 2012.
She will be missed by the family she so lovingly took care of for so many years. We will miss her cooking, loving care, and ever present smile. But she left us with an example of what a mother and grandmother should be and a memory of her strong faith in God.
She is preceded in death by her husband Woody of 74 years, daughter Patricia and son Larry.
The family would like to thank the staff of Cedar Lake for their care of Nellie these last few years. She was very happy there. We would also like to acknowledge her caregiver for seven years, Sarah. Nellie loved much and was much loved by all who came in contact with her.
She is survived by daughter Sybil and husband Dale of Malakoff, son Woody and wife Becky of Grand Prairie and seven grandchildren Rick Carney, Renea Carney, and Nikki McDaniels, Chris Norris, Billy Norris, Jeremy Jones, and Amber Bosher and fourteen great-grandchildren, Jessica Carney, Patrick Carney, John Gilmore, Jake Gilmore, Chance Wilson, Chani Wilson, Heidi Norris, Harry Norris, Kemp Norris, William Norris, Adrian Norris, Landry Norris, Mason Bosher, and Tucker Bosher and one great-great grandchild Dylan Gilmore and many nieces and nephews and friends.
Serving as pallbearers are John Gilmore, Jake Gilmore, Chance Wilson, Patrick Carney, Jeremy Jones, Jeff Bosher.
Honorary pallbearers are Rick Carney, Richard McDaniels Chris Norris, Billy Norris, James Bass, and Kemp Norris.
Visitation will be Thursday, January 16 from 6-8 PM at Huckabee-Tomlinson Funeral Home in Malakoff.
Service will be Friday at 11 a.m., at Faith Community Baptist Church, Payne Springs with Bro. Dale Norris and Billy Norris officiating.