District Attorney’s Office press release
On Friday, Sept. 13, visiting Judge Harold Entz sentenced Brian Keith Fugett to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections for the felony offense of Theft. Fugett was convicted by a jury on July 16, 2013, but opted to be sentenced by the judge.
Fugett, along with his girlfriend Brandi Melton, were arrested in August of 2012 by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for the offense. Fugett and Melton were hired to care for an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Several items, including silver flatware, plates, and jewelry were taken from the 84-year-old woman. Due to her medical condition, the victim was unable to testify. Two of her daughters testified as to the devastating impact the crime had on their mother.
Investigators Casey Hampton and Brad Gray were able to recover some of the items at a pawn shop in Gun Barrel City, where Fuget and Melton had pawned them. The victim’s daughter testified that many of the items, including her mother’s dishes, she received as a wedding gift 50 years before, were not able to be located.
Fugett was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox. Prosecutors urged the court to sentence Fugett to the maximum sentence
According to Sheriff’s reports and testimony at trial, Fugett and Hyde were hired by the daughters to help care for their elderly mother. Beginning in May of last year, the daughters noticed that some of their mother’s belongings were missing from her home. At the time, the daughters believed the missing items were gone because their mother had misplaced them.
However, in August, they noticed that many large items, such as sterling silver flatware, plates, and jewelry were also missing. The daughters contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators Casey Hampton and Brad Gray conducted the investigation. During their investigation, investigators found pawn tickets at a Gun Barrel City Pawn shop linking Fugett and Melton to the stolen property. Fugett and Melton were promptly arrested.
“I am very pleased with the maximum sentence allowed under the law handed down by the judge in this case,” said District Attorney Scott McKee. “Anyone who takes advantage of our elderly in this way should go to prison.”