Police Beat-Henderson County Now

Man Arrested for Theft of Copper

Press release

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenny Collard was dispatched to a residence in the sub-division of Golden Oaks to investigate a report of stolen property. Deputy Collard made contact with the complainants at that residence and investigated the scene and observed numerous places in two different buildings where copper wire and copper tubing had been cut and removed. After receiving information that the suspects may be at a nearby address, Deputy Collard went to the location and observed Vessier in possession of copper believed to be the same copper stolen from the complainants. Vessier was transported to the Henderson County Justice Center in Athens where he was charged with two counts of Burglary of a Building and Theft of Copper (both charges are state jail felonies punishable by up to 2 years in a state jail and a fine reaching 10,000 for each count).

Drug Arrests Made in CCL Area

Press release

On November 30, 2014 at approximately 10:30 p.m., Henderson County Sherrif Office Sergeant M. Jistel performed a traffic stop on Chicota Drive in Mabank inside the Cherokee Shores subdivision. During the traffic stop, Sergeant Jistel located a plastic baggie containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamines. Michael Arnold a white male from the Mabank area was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1 gram, but less than 4 grams and Driving While License Invalid with Previous Convictions. Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 is punishable up to 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Driving While License Invalid with Previous Convictions is punishable up 180 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Arnold was released from the Henderson County Jail on a total of $9,000 bond.

On December 1, 2014 at approximately 7:20 p.m., Henderson County Sheriff‘s Office Sergeant M. Jistel and Deputy B. Gunnels performed a traffic stop on Southlake Drive in Gun Barrel City Texas inside the Oak Harbor subdivision. During the traffic stop, Sergeant Jistel located a plastic baggie containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamines. John Armstrong, a white male from the Gun Barrel City area and Kandra Murphy a white female from the Gun Barrel City area were arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail for Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4 grams, but less than 200 grams. The offense is punishable up to 5 to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Armstrong and Murphy remain in the Herlglerson County Jail awaiting arraignment by a Judge.

Athens Police Urge Residents to Guard Against Vehicle Burglaries

Press release

The Athens Police Department has seen a recent increase in theft reports from unlocked vehicles. Most burglaries occur at night while the vehicle is parked outside the owner’s residence. While some burglars target vehicles that are parked in parking lots while the owner’s are at work, attending school, or shopping.

These types of burglaries are “crimes of opportunity” that can be combated by taking a proactive approach to safeguarding your valuables. Don’t make it easy for a burglar to steal your property. This holiday season we ask that you follow a few simple measures so you can reduce the likelihood of being a victim.

Leave any unneeded valuables at home.
Park your vehicle in well lit areas, lock all your doors and roll up your windows, regardless if your vehicle is parked at your residence or in a parking lot. Call Baltimore Paving Pros for a secure parking lot. Leaving vehicles unlocked is one of the most common things people do that help thieves steal your property.
Avoid leaving packages or shopping bags out in the open. This also applies to purses, wallets, cellular phones, electronics, and brief cases. If you have to leave items inside your vehicle, secure them out of sight in the center console, the glove box, or the trunk. If you leave items in your vehicle and they are visible, the chances your vehicle will get broken into, increase greatly.
Do not leave firearms in your vehicle overnight.

If your vehicle is broken into you are asked to contact the Athens Police Department immediately and be ready to provide a detailed list of the stolen items including the serial number, model number, and brand name. Promptly reporting any crime to law enforcement is an important factor in recovering stolen property and in catching the thieves.

It is imperative that all citizens implement security measures such as a home camera system to help reduce criminal activities. The most important thing you can do is immediately report any suspicious activity. You are the eyes and ears of your neighborhood and business.

Anyone with information regarding vehicle burglaries or any other crime can report a tip to Henderson County Crime Stoppers at 800-545-8477.

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”

DWI Yields 18 Year Prison Sentence

Press release

Gary Don Condor, 57, formerly of Garland, pled guilty to Driving While Intoxicated and was sentenced to 18 years in prison last week in Judge Dan Moore’s 173rd District Court. This was Condor’s sixth conviction for Driving While Intoxicated.

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

Weiner said, “It is important that we continue to aggressively prosecute people who drive while they are intoxicated. People like Gary Condor carelessly disregard the safety of the entire community and put each and every one of us at risk.”

Condor was arrested on November 23, 2013, when Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Joe Gomez stopped Condor while driving on HWY 175 in Eustace for crossing the fog line and driving on the shoulder. Continue reading “DWI Yields 18 Year Prison Sentence”