KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A former Tyler seminary student has received five years probation and will be deported to Columbia. State District Court Judge Kerry Russell says Jorge Sanchez, 31, will remain in the Smith County Jail until he is deported. He will not be able to return to the country without permission from the U.S. Attorney General. Sanchez, a native of Columbia, was a student at Tyler’s Cathedral of Immaculate Conception after previous studies in Houston at the University of St. Thomas seminary. Sanchez was arrested in April on charges that he engaged in sexual contact with a teenage girl who was in a church youth group. Last month, he pleaded guilty to indecency with a child.

HALLSVILLE — A one vehicle accident on Interstate Highway 20, near the 610 Mile marker, has killed a Florida driver. The accident occurred around 12:45 Friday afternoon. Dead at the scene was Harold Spicer, 54.

The Department of Public Safety reports Spicer was west bound when his car started veering off the road. It hit a concrete culvert and traveled another 300 feet before stopping upside-down in a creek. Investigators feel Spicer may have had a medical problem or may have fallen asleep at the wheel. An autopsy has been ordered.

BEAUMONT – A 59-year-old Lufkin man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations. Philip Charles Taylor pleaded guilty on May 21, 2010, to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 102 months Friday in Beaumont by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 26, 2010, law enforcement officers made contact with Taylor after receiving information that Taylor was viewing child pornography in a Lufkin motel room with at least one child present. According to authorities, officers received consent to search Taylor’s computer and several DVDs found in the room, and discovered nine videos of minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Prosecutors say some of the videos depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. Taylor was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 17, 2010. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

TYLER — Police say they now have all three suspects in custody in this week’s robbery at a Tyler dollar store. On Friday, Tyler Police Investigators received a Crime Stoppers tip on the location of 36-year-old Michael Wayne West. Police went to Town Village South apartments at 200 Muller Garden and found West in his mother’s apartment. Police say West was taken into custody without force and transported to Smith County Jail.

The other suspects were apprehended soon after the robbery, which happened shortly after noon Wednesday at the Family Dollar store located at 530 S.S.E. Loop 323. Officers were advised that a man entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. He did not display a weapon. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man ran out of the store and got into a black SUV. The SUV was occupied by two women. A Smith County deputy constable followed the SUV and saw the man and one woman get out of the SUV at the Super 1 Foods located at 1105 East Gentry. The SUV then drove to the Family Dollar store located at 1401 E. Gentry.

Officers contacted the remaining woman in the SUV and arrested her for the robbery. Officers were advised that the two other suspects were seen leaving the Super 1 Foods. Officers were able to locate the second female suspect in the area of E. Line and Anderson Street in Tyler and arrested her for the robbery. The two females arrested have been identified as Lara Michelle Trumble, 37, of Tyler, and Amber Cordell Martin, 33, of Jacksonville. The women have also been transported to the Smith County Jail.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man accepts a lesser charge earlier this week for attacking a deputy during the 4th of July weekend. According to KETK, 25-year-old Norman Thacker was on drugs when he ran from and kicked a deputy. Having already served 101 days in jail, Thacker will finish out his six-month sentence.

TYLER — Tyler Police arrest two suspects after an alert citizen notifies authorities of suspicious behavior. It happened Friday morning around 2:00 in a neighborhood off of Rhones Quarter Rd. Police say during a traffic stop of the suspicious vehicle, numerous stolen electronic items were found. Aaron Brady Jones, 18, who is pictured here, and Kelton Derk Wilson, 18, both of Tyler, were arrested and charged with four counts of burglary. Officers say the two were reportedly only breaking into cars that were left unlocked. Police say they are attempting to find the owners of stolen property that was recovered.

LONGVIEW — Investigators have concluded a fire at a Longview business is intentionally set. Firefighters responded to Buccaneers Satellite Company around 3:00 Thursday morning. According to KETK, they were able to get the fire under control in less than an hour. No injuries were reported but the damage is estimated at $100,000.

BIG SANDY — No new charges will be filed for a Big Sandy student. Ashley Williamson, 17, is in the Upshur County Jail charged with manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance in a school zone. Authorities say Williamson is connected to the death of her 16-year-old friend, Britnee Mount, who was also a Big Sandy High School student. According to KETK, police say the events leading up to her death happened at the school. School officials say they have grief counselors on hand.

WHITEHOUSE — A one vehicle rollover accident on Hwy 110 Wednesday night, in the Whitehouse area, leaves one woman dead. According to KETK, Barbara Holmes was driving southbound when she attempted to move around a slower vehicle. Troopers say her car went off the road and hit a light pole and rolled over. The 46-year-old died on impact.

TYLER — There’s more on a Tyler drug case that emerged this week. On Tuesday evening, the Tyler Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on 28 year old Christopher Browning’s apartment in the Fox Run Apartment complex. Investigators say they located a small amount of illegal narcotics in the apartment along with a key piece of evidence that led them to a hotel room in south Tyler that was rented to Browning. Upon searching the hotel room, investigators say they discovered 39 lbs. of marijuana in one pound bags, 3 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 75 grams of Xanax tablets, and $28,000 in cash. The street value of the illegal drugs is estimated at $250,000 to $300,000. Browning is in Smith County Jail on a $402,500 dollar bond.

Earlier Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had Browning’s apartment under surveillance when a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot. Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area. Police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where narcotics were allegedly recovered upon search of the vehicle. Along with Browning, police arrested 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects were initially charged with possession of narcotics.

TYLER — There’s more on a Tyler drug case that emerged this week. On Tuesday evening, the Tyler Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on 28-year-old Christopher Browning’s apartment in the Fox Run Apartment complex. Investigators say they located a small amount of illegal narcotics in the apartment along with a key piece of evidence that led them to a hotel room in south Tyler that was rented to Browning. Upon searching the hotel room, investigators say they discovered 39 lbs. of marijuana in one pound bags, 3 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 75 grams of Xanax tablets, and $28,000 in cash. The street value of the illegal drugs is estimated at $250,000 to $300,000. Browning is in Smith County Jail on a $402,500 dollar bond.

Earlier Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had Browning’s apartment under surveillance when a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot. Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area. Police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where narcotics were allegedly recovered upon search of the vehicle. Along with Browning, police arrested 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects were initially charged with possession of narcotics.

LUBBOCK — The race for Texas agriculture commissioner between two East Texans is getting nasty. Democrat Hank Gilbert of Whitehouse says incumbent Republican Todd Staples of Palestine is at fault for the death of a Lubbock toddler. Vantashia Samuels died from inhaling fumes. Her family purchased pesticides supplied by an employee who wasn’t licensed to do so. Gilbert blames Staples for lax regulations and inspection, saying, “He knew this agency was understaffed when it came to regulatory inspectors. He did nothing.” In a statement, Staples said Gilbert has stooped to an all-time low with what he calls the latest false, libelous and slanderous accusation.

TYLER — Brookshire’s Grocery Company announces the big winner of its “Thanks a Million Collect and Win” game.
Ferral Bonnette of Tyler brings home $50,000. Numerous customers participated, picking up game pieces in the checkout line.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department holds an outstanding warrant for a 2nd degree felony robbery charge on the suspect allegedly involved in Wednesday’s robbery of a Family Dollar Store. He has been identified as 36-year-old Michael Wayne West. Police are investigating the robbery shortly after noon Wednesday at the store, located at 530 S.S.E. Loop 323. Officers were advised that a man entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. He did not display a weapon. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man ran out of the store and got into a black SUV. The SUV was occupied by two women. A Smith County deputy constable followed the SUV and saw the man and one woman get out of the SUV at the Super 1 Foods located at 1105 East Gentry. The SUV then drove to the Family Dollar store located at 1401 E. Gentry.

Officers contacted the remaining woman in the SUV and arrested her for the robbery. Officers were advised that the two other suspects were seen leaving the Super 1 Foods. Officers were able to locate the second female suspect in the area of E. Line and Anderson Street in Tyler and arrested her for the robbery. Officers are continuing to search for the man. He’s described as around 6 feet tall weighing about 180 pounds, thin build and last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie. The two females arrested have been identified as Lara Michelle Trumble, 37, of Tyler, and Amber Cordell Martin, 33, of Jacksonville. The woman have been transported to the Smith County Jail.

Anyone with information about West is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to his arrest.

TYLER — VOTE YES Committee Co-Chairs Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber say their committee’s continuing a push to inform the public about the TISD bond proposal on the November ballot, which VOTE YES supports. Eltife and Seeber say 17 informational meetings have been scheduled in the last two weeks before the election. The $89.8 million dollar package is Phase 3 of the ongoing plan to finish the work started on elementary schools and to build a new middle school relief campus for overcrowding and growth. Eltife and Seeber say the bond package can be funded with the current debt service tax rate and does not require a tax rate increase.

“We will continue right up to election day to do our best to inform the voters. We can finish the job we started on elementary schools and build a relief campus for middle school overcrowding with no increase in the tax rate. We believe the more information we can provide the taxpayers on this bond proposal the more they will like it. These public presentations allow the public to gather information on the bond proposal and to ask whatever questions they may have,” Eltife said.

Seeber added, “As we get additional requests from service groups and community organizations we will do our best to accommodate them in the short period of time we have until the election on November 2. We’re all working hard to make sure everyone gets as much information as possible before election day. Members of the TISD Administration and Board Members will make the presentations and answer questions and the Vote Yes Committee will continue to work to promote the bond proposal.” The public is also invited to join the VOTE YES Committee. For more information, you can call the campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).

The citizen group Grassroots America – We the People (GAWTP) is opposing the bond issue, saying it entails too many unanswered questions. GAWTP also claims that information bond backers are supplying on tax impact is misleading. GAWTP recently requested that VOTE YES and TISD schedule a town hall meeting on the bond issue.