Legal-Henderson County Now

Henderson County sentences upheld on appeal

District Attorney’s Office press release

A pair of hefty sentences was affirmed last week by two Texas Courts of Appeals. The convictions of George Wayne Smith and Samuel DeWayne Colbert, both of Henderson County, were affirmed after both appealed their convictions.

The 6th Court of Appeals affirmed the 99-year sentence of George Wayne Smith after he was convicted of his 12th DWI related offense. A Henderson County jury sentenced Smith, 46, of Log Cabin, to the long prison term for an Aug. 26, 2011 early morning DWI on FM 3054 in Log Cabin. Judge Mark Calhoon of the 3rd Judicial District Court presided over the trial. Continue reading “Henderson County sentences upheld on appeal”

Grand Jury report

Henderson County District Attorney R. Scott McKee, District Attorney reported the January Term, 2013, Grand Jury met on May 30 and returned 79 True Bills, including the following:

Aaron David Kiker, 24, Gun Barrel City, indicted for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child;
Jeremy Bermea, 32, Malakoff, indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender;
Ian Rae Roberson, 25, Henderson, indicted for 2 Counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and 1 Count of Indecency with a Child by Contact; Continue reading “Grand Jury report”

Honoring Walker for 50 years of service

Early this week, Deputy George Walker was honored for 50 years of law enforcement service. Walker, right, is pictured here with Sheriff Ray Nutt presenting him a plaque honoring his service. Walker started with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department in 1989. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

Lusk gets 4 life sentences for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

District Attorney press release

There was more than one storm brewing Tuesday night as a Henderson County Jury of eight women and four men handed down four life sentences and one 20-year sentence to Danny Ray Lusk, 37 of Kemp. Jurors convicted Lusk the evening before of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child by contact before sentencing Lusk to the maximum jail time available on each count.

Lusk was arrested in April 2011 for the aggravated sexual assaults of two family members under the age of 14. Monte Mansfield of the Gun Barrel City Police investigated the case along with assistance from the Tool PD, CPS, Children’s Advocacy Center and the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office.

Evidence presented by Assistant District Attorney Mark Hall and Assistant District Attorney Nancy Rumar during the week-and-half long trial revealed that Lusk began assaulting the two victims when they were 3 and 4 years old. Both victims testified that Lusk assaulted them for years before finally coming forward to other family members.

During the punishment phase Continue reading “Lusk gets 4 life sentences for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child”

County kids celebrate after post contest

(See more photos on our Facebook photo album.)

District Attorney’s Office press release

For the second year in a row, Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee stood in front of almost 200 Henderson County fourth graders from Eustace, Malakoff and LaPoynor ISDs and asked them for their help. McKee told the students that as an Army soldier, he and every other soldier has a battle buddy to look after them.

“I need each of you to promise me that you will look out for your buddy and tell a teacher, counselor or parent if you think things aren’t going well at home with your friend,” said McKee. McKee also asked them if they would be his soldiers in his war against child abuse. They all responded with a resounding “Yes, sir!”

The 2nd annual Kids Day was the capstone event to the month-long Go Blue campaign. The campaign begins in early April with a proclamation by Commissioners’ Court and culminates with the big day. Throughout the month, the Henderson Continue reading “County kids celebrate after post contest”