District Attorney’s Office press release
Tuesday marked the end of a long road for two Henderson County fugitives. Joy Lynn Everett and Pete Quinonez had been on the run from law enforcement but were finally brought to justice.
Everett was convicted in early February 2012 for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Assistant District Attorneys Justin Weiner and Nancy Rumor prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office. All it took was seven minutes for a Henderson County Jury of six men and six women to deliver a convicting verdict.
On April 3, 2012, a month later, the court heard evidence at a punishment hearing where Weiner said, “This is someone who has failed to take responsibility for their actions on every level. While she was out on bond, and awaiting a trial in this court, she was caught with even more suspected methamphetamine, and went to great and extremely bizarre lengths to try to conceal evidence.”
The court sentenced Everett to a term of eight years in prison. She appealed the case, was granted bail while the appeal was pending, and ultimately was out on bond yet again. On April 24, 2013, the Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler affirmed the conviction securing Everett’s eight-year sentence.
Everett had been on the run ever since, until some hard work of the Henderson County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday paid off. Early in the morning, Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Pochobradsky received information regarding the whereabouts of Everett. Everett was living in a residence at 117 Estrota Drive in Cherokee Shores with Pete Quinonez who also was a fugitive from justice. Quinonez had an outstanding bond forfeiture for a Possession of a Controlled Substance case as well as a Motion to Revoke pending for failure to pay child support.
Ultimately, Everett’s presence in the home was verified. Captain Bryan Tower, Captain Kay Langford, Deputy Michael Teel, and Narcotics Investigator Wick Gabbard arrived at the residence where a lengthy standoff ensued. District Attorney’s Office Investigator Ronny Halbert and Weiner also arrived on scene. Everett eventually removed the barricade from the front door to the home and came out willingly once she realized that legal forced entry was imminent.
Both Everrett and Quinonez were taken into custody and transported to the Henderson County Jail. Everett will await transport to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to serve out her sentence and Quinonez will be held on his current pending charges.
McKee praised the work of Pochobradsky for his efforts in locating the fugitives.