Category: Legal

Man receives 10 years in prison for fraud

Steven Joe Clowdus
Steven Joe Clowdus

District Attorney’s Office press release

On Thursday, Steven Joe Clowdus, 31, formerly of Mabank, pleaded to the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the Placement of a Serial Number with Intent to Change the Identity of a Vehicle. The plea took place in the 173rd Judicial District Court with Judge Dan Moore presiding.

Assistant District Attorney Justin Weiner prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.

Weiner said, “[T]his case is an excellent example of how different law enforcement agencies in our county work together to fight crime. The tireless efforts and dedication by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Continue reading “Man receives 10 years in prison for fraud”

Beware of scammers in Henderson County

Sheriff Ray Nutt
Sheriff Ray Nutt

Sheriff’s Office press release

Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt and all of his deputies have become increasingly alarmed about calls that are coming into residents of Henderson County. The calls are “SCAMS” and are happening to what Sheriff Nutt refers to as “Good, Honest folks.”

The first scam was in the Brownsboro area. A local resident received a phone call from an untraceable 1-800 number, the person on the other end of the phone reportedly “sounded like law enforcement” and told the Brownsboro resident that they were going to be extradited to the state of California for the crime of Identity Theft. The Henderson County resident was quick to tell the “officer” that he had never been in California and made a wise decision and hung up the phone and did not carry on a conversation with the scammer. This call was reported to Chief Deputy Dan Parker immediately.

The second scam comes to us from the Cedar Creek Lake side of Henderson County. A Henderson County resident received a call from her “grandson.” The scammer began the call by just saying “grandma?” to which the receiver of the call replied “is this??” and used her grandsons name. At this point the scammer had the loved one’s name and was able to portray himself as the grandson. The scammer proceeded to talk to “Grandma” and tell her that he was in a foreign country and was in trouble and in jail. “Grandma,” being gravely concerned about her grandson, agreed to send a large amount of bail money to ensure her Continue reading “Beware of scammers in Henderson County”

DA’s Office donates iPad mini

Texas Ranger iPad

District Attorney’s Office press release

Henderson County First Assistant District Attorney Mark Hall and Office Manager Betty Herriage present a brand new mini iPad to Texas Ranger Sergeant Michael Adcock. Many investigators around the county are now using the technology of the iPads during their investigations of criminal offenses. According to District Attorney Scott McKee, his office has also discovered the usefulness of the iPad in search warrants, courtroom technology and everyday tasks.

“The County even provided the judges with iPads so they can sign search warrants from home without the need for the investigator or officer to the leave the crime scene,” said McKee.

McKee indicated that in the first couple of months they have already used the iPads for judges to sign blood draw warrants which dramatically decreased the amount of time it takes for an officer to get a warrant.

“We are a no refusal county when it comes to felony level DWIs,” said McKee. “If you refuse and it is a felony DWI, we are going to seek a court-ordered blood draw and these iPads have now made it easier than ever.”

Commissioners reinstate burn ban

burn ban 2

Henderson County Commissioners’ Court extended the current burn ban another two weeks Tuesday morning. The county’s drought index is higher now than it was at the beginning of the month.

According to Fire Marshal Shane Renberg, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index average score is 646.
A burn ban is recommended when the KBDI score is above 575.

“We are still having grass fires but not as many as before the burn ban, so it is helping,” said Renberg.

Ignoring the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.

Grand Jury Report

Henderson Count District Attorney R. Scott McKee reported the July Term, 2013, Grand Jury met on Aug. 8 and returned 54 True Bills, including the following:

  • Donal Ray Worley, 49, Mabank, indicted for 1 Count of Intoxication Manslaughter and 1 Count of Failure to Stop and Render Aid;
  • Martin Edward Keene, 41, Palestine, indicted for 2 Counts of Sexual Assault of a Child and 2 Counts of Indecency with a Child;
  • John Matthew Long, 64, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Indecency with a Child;
  • John Paul Cathey, Jr., 46, Eustace, indicted for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements;
  • Justin Glynn Adams, 22, Athens, indicted for Theft of Copper from the Elderly;
  • Jesse Everett Alotto, 19, Athens, indicted for 4 Counts of Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information;
  • Phong Hong Nguyen, 43, Athens, indicted for Credit Card Abuse of the Elderly;
  • Phong Hong Nguyen, 43, Athens, indicted for Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information of the Elderly;
  • Corwin Lee Hodges, 21, Gun Barrel City, indicted for 2 Counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance;
  • Victor Gerard Banuelos-Garcia, 26, Athens, indicted for Evading Arrest or Detention with a Motor Vehicle;
  • Pamela Renae Pool, 45, Kemp, indicted for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More;
  • Don Darrel Dodd, 50, Athens, indicted for 2 Counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon;
  • Carl Frank Bauer, Jr., 18, Chandler, indicted for Theft of Copper;
  • Sheila Anne Blount, 41, Brownsboro, indicted for Tampering with Physical Evidence;
  • Milisa Renae Hackett, 40, Athens, indicted for Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction;
  • Jack Evins McKinney, Jr., 55, Gun Barrel City, indicted for 2 Counts of Failure to Comply with Sex offender Registration Requirements;
  • Shawn Cory Tisdale, 31, Athens, indicted for Failure to Comply with Sex offender Registration Requirements;
  • Kristina Nicole Jones, 20, Eustace, indicted for Theft Over $1,500;
  • Jimmy Ron Wesberry, 31, Seagoville, indicted for Evading Arrest with a Prior Conviction;
  • Carrie Lynn Vaughn, 40, Chandler, indicted for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More;
  • Carrie Lynn Vaughn, 40, Chandler, indicted for Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger;
  • Carrie Lynn Vaughn, 40, Chandler, indicted for Endangering a Child;
  • Keith Dwayne Brunson, 34, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More;
  • Taylor Gene Eads, 20, Athens, indicted for 2 Counts of Theft/Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity;
  • Francisco Diaz, 22, Athens, indicted for 2 Counts of Theft/Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity;
  • Edna May Thornton, 23, Athens, indicted for 2 Counts of Theft/Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity;
  • Paul Ryan Standifer, 25, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Harassment of a Public Servant;
  • Donald Richard Wilson, Jr., 31, Kemp, indicted for 1 Count of Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction and 1 Count of Assault Family Violence Impede Breath;
  • Ramon Carlos Ortiz, 36, Athens, indicted for 3 Counts of Theft Over $1,500 and 1 Count of Theft with Prior Convictions;
  • Matthew Dwayne Walker, 29, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction;
  • Bruce Arlington Brown, 53, Athens, indicted for Credit/Debit Card Abuse;
  • Bruce Arlington Brown, 53, Athens, indicted for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information;
  • Shirley Darlene Doran, 54, Frankston, indicted for Intoxication Assault;
  • David Joe Sanders, II, 30, Canton, indicted for Failure to Appear;
  • Cara Lynn Taylor, 30, Eustace, indicted for Injury to a Child;
  • Malinda Shea Lucas, 38, Montalba, indicted for Theft Over $1,500;
  • Billy O’Neal Black, 52, Athens, indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver;
  • James Howard Dotson, III, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Aggravated Kidnapping;
  • James Howard Dotson, III, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon;
  • James Howard Dotson, III, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon;
  • James Howard Dotson, III, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon;
  • James Howard Dotson, III, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon;
  • James Howard Dotson, III, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon;
  • Tammy Michelle Mitchell, 39, Pineland, indicted for Theft Over $20,000;
  • Pedro Moreno Martinez, 53, Athens, indicted for Evading Arrest with a Motor Vehicle;
  • Willie Earl Davis, 52, Athens, indicted for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More;
  • Willie Earl Davis, 52, Athens, indicted for Evading Arrest with a Previous Conviction;
  • Ronald Glenn Rhoades, 48, Mabank, indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver;
  • Ronald Glenn Rhoades, 48, Mabank, indicted for Possession of a Prohibited Weapon;
  • Terry Wayne Pavatt, 47, Kemp, indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance;
  • Richard Craig Millar, 40, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Theft Over $1,500;
  • William Thomas Molock, 46, Royse City, indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon;
  • William Thomas Molock, 46, Royse City, indicted for Possession of a Prohibited Weapon;
  • Michael Lewis Hession, 38, Athens, indicted for Theft Over $1,500;