Category: Legal

In a case that originated in Henderson County, the U.S. Supreme Court this week decided to limit “the amount of damages that those who possess child pornography must pay victims.”

The case involves Doyle Randall Paroline of Brownsboro, who in 2009 pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Paroline admitted to having more than 150 images of child pornography. Paroline was then added to the sex offender registry which restricts him from accessing or possessing any pornographic images or videos, this includes adult pornography images and visiting websites such as www.videoshd.xxx, even though adult pornography is still legal in this country once on the sex offenders registry it is against the law to own or view any type of pornography regardless of what type it is. This means that they cannot go see Olivia Berzinc on Babestation cams or anywhere else. It may seem extreme, but it is one measure to keep people safe.

On Wednesday, “(t)he court voted 5 to 4 that those convicted of possessing child pornography must pay restitution to victims. But it said the amount of damages paid must be proximate to the harm that a specific offender has caused.” Restitution is going to cost a lot more than a membership to an adult pornography website which he would have been better off visiting instead of viewing child pornography, there are even some free sites about these days including one popular one maturesexmovies.xxx.

Click here to read the story in the Washington Post.

HC District Attorney’s press release

A Eustace man, Jeremy Jarrett, 26, was sentenced to 30 years in the state penitentiary on Monday, April 7, by Judge Carter Tarrance of the 392nd Judicial District Court. Jarrett was sentenced for a number of offenses committed in Athens on the evening of September 18, 2013.

Just after 8:00 that night, the Athens Police Department received a 911 call from the wife of the night shift clerk at the Valero gas station located at 805 E. Corsicana. The clerk’s wife saw a man, later identified as Jarrett, walk into the store and hold a large hunting knife to her husband’s throat. She then exited the store and placed the 911 call.

Athens Police officers were quick to respond, as Officers Dana Dykes and Sergeant Jason McEntire arrived as Jarrett was leaving the store. Upon seeing the officers, Jarrett jumped into his truck and pulled out of the gas station. Officers Dykes and McEntire followed, as Jarrett headed toward State Highway 31 East, exceeding speeds of 70 miles per hour in Athens city limits. Once outside the city limits, Jarrett reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour as Athens Police gave chase down State Highway 31 towards Tyler.

When the pursuit hit Murchison, Athens officers deployed a “spike strip,” designed to deflate the tires of a fleeing vehicle. The spike strip was deployed successfully, but Jarrett continued traveling at speeds of 85 miles per hour on the rims of the truck, eventually reaching Brownsboro. Once in Brownsboro, Jarrett slowed his car down, only to put it into reverse, backing into the pursuing Athens officers, causing damage to two patrol cars.

Jarrett then crossed over the grassy median separating the east and west bound lanes of traffic and attempted to head back east towards Athens. However, Athens officers blocked Jarrett in the median with their patrol cars, and Jarrett became stuck. He was ordered out of the car at gunpoint but refused to cooperate with officers. Officers had to deploy a Taser against Jarrett, and took him into custody. Found during a subsequent search of Jarrett’s person was $1,488 in cash and a large hunting knife.

Jarrett was indicted by a Henderson County Grand Jury in November of 2013. The six count indictment alleged Aggravated Robbery, Evading Arrest With a Deadly Weapon, Theft Over $1,500, two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant, and Criminal Mischief.   Jarrett pled guilty before 392nd District Court Judge Carter Tarrance to all six counts and was sentenced by agreement to 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Assistant District Attorneys Danny Cox and Jenny Palmer prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.  District Attorney Scott McKee indicated he was thankful no one was seriously injured in the robbery or chase.  “Jarrett was quickly apprehended thanks to the 911 call from a citizen and the quick response, dedication and professionalism of the Athens Police Department,” said McKee.  “We can all be thankful that a few men were willing to put their own safety at risk to protect the public.”

Two juveniles were detained in Athens Thursday night after a report of gunshots south of Trinity Valley Community College, according to an Athens Police Department press release. Investigation showed there was no gunfire, however.

According to the press release:

At approximately 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, the Athens Police Department received a report from a resident in the 100 block of Penny Lane of possible gunshots being fired at his residence. The caller stated that two windows were broken in his home immediately following two loud noises which sounded like gunshots. The caller also reported that he saw two young, white males running from the location and into an adjacent wooded area.

Several officers responded to the scene and began searching the area. Due to the seriousness of the report and the close proximity of the college, TVCC officials locked-down the campus as a precaution while the search was being conducted.

A short time later, officers located and detained two juveniles who matched the description given by the homeowner. The subsequent investigation revealed that the two juveniles were responsible for the damage to the home; however, no firearm was used in the commission of the offense. Evidence and information gathered at the scene indicated that the windows were broken with golf clubs that the juveniles are believed to have stolen from another nearby residence.

Once it was determined that gunfire did not play a part in the offense and that the juvenile suspects had been detained, college officials were notified and promptly reopened the campus.

It is believed that the two juveniles are also responsible for several other similar offenses in the same neighborhood. The investigation into this offense, as well as the additional offenses, is ongoing and has been turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division.