Legal-Henderson County Now

Crimestoppers Looking For Scammers

Henderson County Crimestoppers can use your help in solving a theft.

On July 8, 2014 at approximatley 3:30 p.m. on FM 317 two males, one who identified himself as David Johnson, and the other being a younger male portrayed as David Johnson’s son, posed as electricians who claimed they worked on an elderly womans electric meter. The subjects falsified their names, who they worked for and subsequently stole $8,150 from the 93-year-old woman.

If you have any information about this crime or any other felony crimes please contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-545-8477 (TIPS). Callers will remain anonymous. If your information leads to an arrest you could earn a cash reward up to $1,000.

Woman Confesses to Killing 4-Year-Old Daughter

Henderson County Sheriff’s Office press release

A 25-year-old Henderson County woman turned herself into police and confessed to killing her 4-year-old daughter, according to a Henderson County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Stacie Marie Parsons walked into the Athens Police Department at around 8:46 a.m. Monday, July 21, and told officers she killed her daughter.

Police went to 413 MLK and found Parson’s deceased daughter with trauma to the head and chest.

Athens police notified the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office because the crime took place off County Road 1500.

Sheriff’s Office investigators responded to the residence and to the location of the crime scene on CR 1500. Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Randy Daniel was called to the scene.

The child was sent to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science for an autopsy.

Parsons was arrested for Capital Murder and transported to the Henderson County Jail to await arraignment.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and the Athens Police Department.

Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Moving Scam

District Attorney’s Office press release

A family’s nightmare finally came to an end on June 25 when John Junior Smith, formerly of Tyler, was sentenced to 8 years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for his role in defrauding a family who had hired him to move them.

Assistant District Attorney Justin Weiner prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office. Smith was sentenced in the 173rd Judicial District Court with Judge Dan Moore presiding.

In August of last year, a family chartered a Moving Company similar to H-Town Movers to aid in their move to Houston. When the company arrived at the family’s home they realized that they were going to need additional help in getting the family moved. John and his wife Lawanda Smith were hired. A majority of the family’s belongings were loaded up by Smith in one of Smith’s vehicles. While en route to Houston, Smith called the family and claimed to have had vehicle trouble in Malakoff.

Smith and over $44,000 worth of the family’s belongings never made it to their destination. The victim contacted Smith about the situation, and Smith claimed that he wanted more money including money to cover repairs to his vehicle. Essentially holding the family’s belongings ransom, the victims agreed to help pay for the repairs, but Smith stop returning phone calls and never gave the belongings back. Continue reading “Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Moving Scam”

Execution Date Set For Randall Wayne Mays

District Attorney’s Office press release

Less than two weeks after convicted killer Randall Wayne Mays was denied his latest challenge to his conviction by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Carter Tarrance of the 392nd District Court set his execution date for March 18, 2015. Judge Tarrance signed the execution order and death warrant on July 10. Judge Tarrance also presided over the trial.

Mays was convicted of killing sheriff’s deputies Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt. The two deputies were gunned down by Mays during a 2007 standoff in Payne Springs.

Mays was not brought in from death row, nor was there a court hearing.

“The law does not require the judge to hold a hearing in order to set an execution date,” said District Attorney Scott McKee. “As soon as we received notice that the Fifth Circuit refused to grant Mays a Certificate of Appealability (COA), we filed a motion to set an execution date.” Continue reading “Execution Date Set For Randall Wayne Mays”

Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest in Gun Barrel City

Sheriff’s Office press release

On Thursday, July 10, Sheriff’s Deputy Beddingfield initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation on Legendary Lane in Gun Barrel City. The operator and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Courtney Lane. During a search of the vehicle a substance believed to be methamphetamines was located. Lane was taken in custody for the suspected narcotics and transported to the Henderson County Jail, where she was booked in for Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 – 1 gram. If convicted of the State Jail Felony Charge, Lane could face up to 2 years in a State Jail Facility and up to a 10,000 dollar fine.