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AUSTIN – An East Texas man who is currently serving 99 years in prison for the 2013 shooting death of a teenager was granted a new sentencing hearing on Wednesday by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, according to our news partner KETK. In 2015, Coby Hudgins, now 33, was sentenced to 99 years in prison in 2015 in a Gregg County court after being found guilty by a jury of shooting and killing his girlfriend’s bestfriend while drinking with her, his cousin and his girlfriend’s sister. The concurring opinion issued by the court of appeals states that because now Hudgins brings expert evidence showing that he suffered from PTSD at the time of the offense, a new punishment hearing has been granted. Continue reading Convicted Longview murderer gets new hearing

HENDERSON COUNTY — A 79-year-old man was arrested in Henderson County on Wednesday for continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14-years-old. According to our news partner KETK, Billy Lide, of Brownsboro, was arrested after officials said the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Task Force, Narcotics Investigators and Special Assignment deputies executed a search warrant at a home on CR 3410 in Brownsboro.

According to the sheriff’s office, during the execution of the search warrant, probable cause was found to issue an arrest warrant for Lide “with additional charges to come for delivery of a controlled substance or marijuana to a minor, a second-degree felony.”

Lide remains in the Henderson County Jail, as of Thursday morning, and is awaiting arraignment. Officials said the arrest was a joint investigation with the Cherokee County Children’s Advocacy Center and Cherokee County Child Protective Services.

TYLER — Tyler ISD denounced the new Title IX regulations imposed by President Joe Biden that expands protections for LGBTQ+ students during Tuesday’s school board meeting according to our news partner KETK. During the meeting, the school board said they aim at protecting the rights of female students and rejected Biden’s new regulations that “attack the fundamental fabric of Title IX protections for daughters, wives and mothers by transforming traditionally private or single-sex settings into unsafe spaces for biological women.”

Title IX, a regulation imposed by the U.S. Department of Education, aims to protect people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. The new regulation to be enacted on Aug. 1, would mandate that schools cannot discriminate against students based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Continue reading Tyler ISD denounces Biden’s new Title IX regulations

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, TxDOT reports that 10 out of 657 DUI-alcohol related crashes last year in the Tyler District happened during the July 4 holiday. TxDOT said last year’s crashes in the Tyler district resulted in 46 fatalities and 106 serious injuries. The release said that from June 21 to July 7 patrols are increased to reduce the amount of DWI-related crashes and injuries. Currently, a DWI can result in fines and fees of up to $16,000 in Texas.

“Drunk driving can change lives forever,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “In the worst case, families lose loved ones or face devastating injuries. But even when there isn’t a crash, the decision to drink and drive can ruin careers and relationships. That’s why we want everyone to know how important and easy it is to always plan ahead for a sober ride.”

“Even though the number of drunk driving deaths on Texas roadways in 2023 is down 15% from 2022, we must strive to continue that trend,” TxDOT said.

AUSTIN – Kerry Max Cook is innocent of the 1977 murder of Linda Jo Edwards, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals found, citing stunning allegations of prosecutorial misconduct that led to Cook spending 20 years on death row for a crime he did not commit, that according to an article in the Texas Tribune. Cook was released from prison in 1997 and Smith County prosecutors set aside his conviction in 2016. The ruling Wednesday, by the state’s highest criminal court, formally exonerates him.

“This case is riddled with allegations of State misconduct that warrant setting aside Applicant’s conviction,” Judge Bert Richardson wrote in the majority opinion. “And when it comes to solid support for actual innocence, this case contains it all — uncontroverted Brady violations, proof of false testimony, admissions of perjury and new scientific evidence.”

Cook, now 68, became an advocate against the death penalty after his release. The ruling ends, as Richardson wrote, a “winding legal odyssey” stretching 40 years that was “marked by bookends of deception.”
Continue reading State court finds Kerry Max Cook innocent of 1977 Tyler murder

CANTON – First Monday Trade Days vendors and visitors voiced their opinions at Tuesday’s Canton city council meeting. The city owns part of the grounds and the Lewis family has owned the other side since 1979. Vendors and citizens are against a change concerning the vendor entrances and exits on the Lewis side. “It would prevent older vendors from getting to the basics of pavilion one to be able to set their booth and have their restock trailer on Lewis property because you have to cross about a 25 to 30 feet section of city property,” Vendor for 30 years Robert Shumate said. Under this change, the city will put bollards along their property line, not allowing Lewis vendors in through city entrances. Continue reading Concerns over restricted access at First Monday Trade Days

HENDERSON – The Henderson ISD school board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Thurston Lamb on Tuesday night at a special called meeting. Lamb joined the district as superintendent in 2019, and in 2022, was named the Region 7 Superintendent of the Year. In a statement, the school district said Lamb submitted his resignation effective July 8, and said he was leaving to be closer to his family. Continue reading Henderson school board accepts resignation of superintendent

PALESTINE — The State of Texas has filed a motion to execute death row inmate Robert Roberson October 17th. Anderson County prosecutors convinced a jury that Roberson’s two year old daughter died in 2002 of “shaken baby syndrome.”

Roberson’s attorney, Gretchen Sween, says Roberson rushed the girl to Palestine Regional Medical Center with what Sween says was advanced pneumonia, which caused her brain to bleed and swell. She adds, the child had had no skull fractures and that Roberson was arrested before an autopsy was performed. Sween also claims that prosecutors zeroed in on Roberson’s alleged lack of emotion, but what they didn’t say is that he has autism.

Sween is asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to intervene.

RUSK COUNTY – A White Oak man was arrested on Monday after allegedly attempting to steal 21 firearms from a habitation near Lake Cherokee. According to our news partner KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office was alerted of a burglary of a habitation in progress by a lake patrol officer. Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez said after probable cause was developed and consent to search the vehicle led to the discovery of 21 firearms, Mark Wiggins, 65 of White Oak, was arrested. Wiggins was charged with burglary of a habitation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and theft of a firearm. He is currently at the Rusk County Justice Center with bonds totaling $65,000.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information will be released at this time,” Valdez said.

UPSHUR COUNTY — An Upshur County man was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a 10-year-old and 13-year-old in Pritchett. According to our news partner KETK, the jury reportedly took less than 20 minutes to assess the maximum punishment for one life sentence and two 20-year sentences for indecency with a child. The district attorney’s office thanked the jury for delivering the maximum sentence.

According to a release, the trial began on Tuesday where the jury learned that one of the children was adopted by new parents after being removed from her biological parents’ house due to neglect and drug use. Two years later, her grandfather began sexually abusing her by first showing her pornography and then acting those things out, the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said. Continue reading East Texas man sentenced to life for child sex crimes

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County District Attorney’s office says a 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison, for stealing more than 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel from gas stations across Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Duniesky Gonzalez was sentenced for engaging in organized criminal activity. The DA said the charge stemmed from stealing diesel from gas stations across nine different counties in Texas by using fraudulent credit card information.

Gonzalez was arrested alongside Ramon Perez-Torres and Camila Cruz Concepcion who were also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.
Continue reading 50 year prison sentence for over 9,000 gallon diesel fuel theft

SMITH COUNTY – A Washington nonprofit, dedicated to honoring fallen officers, stopped in Smith County Monday with a travel memorial. According to our news partner KETK, the organization is called, Beyond The Call of Duty. The Spokane, Washington based group has one mission. To honor men and women across the United States who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their communities. Their travel memorial is called “End of watch, ride to remember.”

During this year’s memorial, Lorenzo Bustos, a Smith County deputy that was killed while conducting a traffic stop in 2022, was honored. Bustos is one of 245 peace officers that died in 2022.
Continue reading Nonprofit visits Smith County to honor fallen deputy

SMITH COUNTY – Since the first round of severe storms pummeled East Texas on May 13, Smith County emergency officials have fielded more than 1,000 calls for help. During this time, the county has had the services of two volunteer groups to assist residents with personal property damage: Team Rubicon and the Texas Baptist Men. Both groups helped in cleaning up damage.

Smith County and FEMA are working to open a Disaster Recovery Center. This will located downtown, at The Hub. There FEMA representatives will be able to help those in getting resources in person. County officials say they will announce when FEMA is ready to open the center.

Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore said in a release, “Recovery will take some time due to personnel constraints and the amount of debris accumulated. Citizens with damaged homes are encouraged to participate with FEMA personnel to apply for potential assistance.”

You can get more information by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov or call FEMA’s helpline: 800-621-336.

HAWKINS – The city of Hawkins approved a new police chief at a council meeting on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, he is Paul Holland. Holland has been in law enforcement for 32 years. Holland previously served at the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Allen Police Department, Collin County Sheriff’s Office and the Dallas Police Department.

Hawkins has seen a lot of turnover in it’s city government recently. The mayor and mayor pro-tem resigned in January. In March, the municipal court judge, the police chief and two police officers resigned.