Legal-Henderson County Now

Man Convicted For Evading Arrest

Press release

On Wednesday afternoon, a Henderson County Jury delivered a quick verdict after deliberating for only 8 minutes. The jury, composed of eight woman and four men, convicted Joshua Paul Calhoun, 34 of Athens, of Evading Arrest or Detention with a Motor Vehicle and also found that he used the vehicle as a Deadly Weapon in the course of committing the offense. The trial took two days in the 173d Judicial District Court with Judge Dan Moore presiding.

Assistant district attorneys Nancy Rumar and Justin Weiner prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s Henderson County District Attorney Office.

In closing arguments Weiner said, “I am not only asking you to find Mr. Calhoun guilty with a finding that he used a vehicle as a deadly weapon, I am asking for you to deliver your verdict swiftly. A swift verdict will send a message to Mr. Calhoun, and anyone else, that we as a community will not tolerate people driving stolen vehicles 90 mph on county roads trying to get away from peace officers.” Continue reading “Man Convicted For Evading Arrest”

Jury Convicts Athens Man for Theft of Electric Motors

Press release

Ivory Lewis Brown of Athens was convicted of felony theft by a Henderson County jury Tuesday in Judge Carter Tarrance’s 392nd District Court after a two day trial.

Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox represented the State of Texas for Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.

Brown was indicted by a Grand Jury earlier in the year for stealing several air conditioner motors from Cole Air Conditioning in February 2014. Chris Saylors, a detective from Athens Police Department, testified at trial that he viewed several videos showing a person fitting Brown’s description stealing and later scrapping the motors.

Two days after the theft occurred, Detective Saylors located Brown in the vicinity of the theft wearing the same jacket he wore while committing the theft. In addition, Brown was positively identified by an employee of Cole as having committed the theft.

Brown has a lengthy criminal history spanning over the past 25 years. In addition to having been twice before convicted of delivery of a controlled substance, he has been convicted of criminal mischief four times, criminal trespass, attempted burglary of a building in November 2013, and additional misdemeanor offenses. He will be sentenced by Judge Carter Tarrance on January 7, 2015. He faces up to two years in State Jail. Continue reading “Jury Convicts Athens Man for Theft of Electric Motors”

Brownsboro Man Sentenced to Life for Sexual Assault of Child

Press release

David Lynn Sellers, 39, of Brownsboro was sentenced to Life in the Texas Department of Corrections Monday by Judge Carter Tarrance in the 392nd District Court for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.

Sellers pled guilty to the offense and opted for the judge to assess his punishment after hearing evidence. Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox prosecuted the case for Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office

A Henderson County Grand Jury indicted Sellers for the offense in December of last year after an investigation by Nick Webb of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began after an outcry was made by an 8-year-old female child who told her mother that Sellers had sexually abused her repeatedly and over a period of time. Continue reading “Brownsboro Man Sentenced to Life for Sexual Assault of Child”

County Attorney’s Report

Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis reported the following activity in the disposition of cases filed through his office during the month of October 2014 in the County Court at Law, County Court at Law No. 2, and County Court:

Assaults 6,
Criminal Mischief $50 to $500.00,
Criminal Trespass 6,
Display Factious License Plate 2,
Disorderly Conduct 1,
DWI 20,
DWI Open Alch 1,
DWLI 12,
Evading Arrest Detention 4,
Fail Drug Test Falsification Device 1,
Fail To Identify, Giving False info 2,
Failure to Identify Fug from Justice 3,
Fail to Show Proof of Financial Resp. 1,
False Report to Police Officer 2,
Illegal Dumping 2,
Interfere w/ Emergency Call 2,
Minor in Possession of Alcoholic Bev. 1,
Miscellaneous class c 1,
Misc. Lic/Registr/Permit violation 1,
Poss Dangerous Drug 2,
Poss. CS PG 3 to 28G 5,
Possession of Marig 2 oz 18,
Prohibited Weapon Switchblade/ Knuckle 2,
Public Intoxication 1,
Resistion Arrest Search or Transport 2,
Speeding 7,
Theft By Check 54,
Theft Porp $50.00 to $500.00 4,
Theft Prop $500.00 to $1,500. 5,
Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument 1,
Biolation of Clean Air Act 1,
Total number of dispositions for the month: 120
Total amount of fines and court costs assessed: $83,594.65
Number of Individuals sentenced to the Henderson County Jail: 76
Number of Individuals who have had their probation revoked and were sentenced to the Henderson County Jail: 10
Amount of restitution collected & returned to merchants by the Hot Check Divisions: $5,236.93
Open Records Request: 15

County Attorney’s Report, September 2014

County Attorney Clint Davis reported the following activity in the disposition of cases filed through his office during the month of September 2014 in the County Court at Law, County Court at Law No. 2, and County Court:

Assaults 4
Boating While Intoxicated 1
Burglary of Vehicle 1
Criminal Mischief $50.00 to $500.00 2,
Criminal Trespass 10,
DWI 17,
DWI open Container 4,
DWLI 12,
Evading Arrest Detention 4,
Expired Vehicle Registration 1,
Fail to Appear 2,
Fail to Signal (lane change) 1,
Fail to Identify Fugitive from Justice 3,
Harassment 1,
Interfere with Emergency Call 1,
No Liability Ins 1,
Possession Marijuana 2 to 4 oz. 1,
Marijuana less than 2 oz. 17,
Public Nuisance 2,
Purchase Furnish Alcohol to Minor 1,
Reckless Driving 1,
Resisting Arrest Search or Transport 3,
Speeding 12,
Terroristic Threat 1,
Theft by Check 22,
Theft $50.00 to $500.00 4,
Theft Prop $500.00 to $1,500.00 2,
Theft of Service $20.00 to $500.00 1,
Theft of Service $50.00 to $1,500.00 7,
Unrestrained Child Under 4 1,
Unsafe Speed 1,
Violation of Clean Air Act 2,
Violate Promise to Appear 1.
Total number of dispositions for the month: 124
Total amount of fines and court costs assessed: $79,623.90
Number of Individuals sentenced to the Henderson County Jail: 72
Number of Individuals who have had their probation revoked and were sentenced to the Henderson County Jail: 10
Amount of restitution collected & returned to merchants by the Hot Check Divisions: $7,840.26
Open Records Request 12