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TYLER — After a lengthy four year investigation a 77-year-old Cherokee County licensed deer breeder has pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally transporting wildlife in the Eastern District of Texas and then lying about it to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent.

Billy Powell pleaded guilty to the felony offense of smuggling at least 37 whitetail deer, over a 3 year time span, from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio into Texas in violation of state and federal laws. Powell also admitted that he made a false statement and submitted a false document to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent who was looking into the matter. Powell has agreed to pay a $1 million fine, to be deposited into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Lacy Act Reward Fund, as well as $500,000.00 in restitution to Texas Parks and Wildlife, on his sentencing date.

Powell’s agreement with the government calls for Powell to serve 3 years probation with six months of home confinement which will be monitored with an electric anklet. During the term of probation, Powell will be prohibited from participating in any manner in commercial deer breeding.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man could face life in prison after admitting he planned to sell more than 240 grams of hydrocodone from his home. Raffiel Sirmon Cox, 31, entered a guilty plea Monday to first-degree felony drug possession, which carries a punishment range between five and 99 years, or life in prison.

Cox was arrested July 3 by Longview Police responding to a disturbance call at his 310 Davis St. home. While there, an officer saw a marijuana-filled cigar and a clear plastic bag with 6.7 grams of hydrocodone pills. Officers found another 234.2 grams of yellow and green hydrocodone pills and a large denomination of U.S. currency in a safe, reports showed. Cox was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

A sentencing hearing has not been set. Cox is out of jail on $20,000 bond.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin mother was arrested Monday morning for reportedly leaving her 1-year-old child home alone. Ashley Nicole Montgomery, 22, was arrested after 1:00 on a charge of abandoning a child with the intent to return.

An off-duty officer working security at Pinewood Park Apartments walked by a unit and heard a child crying inside. He stopped for a second and several people told him they saw the mother leave the apartment more than 30 minutes before he walked by. They said when asked about the child, she told them the baby wasn�t at the apartment, an arrest report stated. After searching, the witnesses reportedly found an open window and coaxed the child to it. They got the baby out of the apartment and turned it over to the officer.

Montgomery remained in the Angelina County Jail Monday on a $3,500 bond.

GILMER — The Upshur County District Attorney is under investigation for a possible violation of the Texas Constitution. According to KETK, documents show Billy Byrd has reportedly been paying employees bonuses with money from his hot-check fund. The Texas attorney general�s press office confirmed it received a letter May 6 from another county official requesting investigative assistance. It said the �matter is under review.� Byrd paid employee Christmas bonuses in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and wrote subsequent checks to reimburse the county for taxes on the bonuses, according to Upshur County documents.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) � A pool of prospective jurors remains at 21 four weeks after jury selection began for the trial of a former prison warden’s wife accused of helping an inmate she allegedly fell in love with escape. Defense attorney Garvin Isaacs says the jury pool for the trial of Bobbi Parker remained at 21 on Monday, the same number as Friday. Attorneys plan to pick 22 prospective jurors from which Parker’s 12-member jury will be chosen. Four alternate jurors will also be chosen. Parker is accused of helping convicted killer Randolph Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. Prosecutors allege she ran away with him, but defense attorneys say Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until she was rescued in 2005 in Shelby County, Texas. Parker has pleaded not guilty.

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORDIA � The original lead singer of the Coasters, and Tyler native Carl Gardner, has died. According to the group�s web site, “Carl had been ill with congestive heart failure and vascular dementia for some time.� Gardner, who was 83, died Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

He was born in Tyler in 1928. Gardner was trained in singing by an early teacher, a German classical pianist, who also trained his sister Carol. He later studied at Emmett Scott High School, where he linked up with Lasalle Gunter�s “territorial” band, singing and playing drums.

Gardner co-founded the Coasters in 1955. It�s his voice that leads such Coaster classics as “Yakety Yak,” “Poison Ivy” �Along Came Jones� and “Charlie Brown.” He was the last surviving member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Coasters. They were also the first group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group continues to perform. Carl Gardner Jr. has been the lead singer since his father retired in 2005.

TYLER � A suspect is taken into custody after allegedly pointing a gun at a Tyler police officer and a local resident. Monday morning around 10:15, Tyler officers responded to the area of Cedar and N. Spring Streets, on a report of a man walking around the area with a shotgun. Officers converged on the area and spotted the suspect behind a residence located at 112 E. Cedar Street. Police say the officer ordered the suspect, later identified as Christopher Dion Williams, 25, to drop his weapon. Williams allegedly pointed the 12 gauge shotgun at the officer and then fled on foot when the officer moved to cover.

According to police, Williams ran several blocks with the shotgun and was spotted several times by officers and citizens as he attempted to elude police. Williams was taken into custody by officers in the 1600 block of N. Border when they surrounded him. Williams was arrested, jailed, and charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, a first degree felony. Upon further investigation, Williams was charged with a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault. Police allege Williams pointed the shotgun at a citizen who lived in the area of the incident.

LONGVIEW � A Tyler man is being added to the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list in connection with the murder of his girlfriend�s young son. Authorities have been searching for Simon Lopez, 26, since late last November when a warrant was issued for his arrest. Lopez fled after he dropped the 18-month-old boy off at the home of one of the boy�s aunts, according to Tyler police officials. The boy was not breathing at the time.

Lopez was babysitting his girlfriend�s two children while she worked in Lindale that day, and had reportedly left the children home alone while he took his girlfriend, Emma Torres, to work. The victim, Jeremy Silva, was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital by his aunt. An autopsy report showed that his death was caused from a torn atrium in his heart, a result of blunt force trauma to his chest, officials have said. The report also indicated that Jeremy suffered prior abuse, including several broken ribs and bruising to his body, according to Tyler police.

Lopez faces charges for capital murder in connection with the toddler�s death and assault on a public servant in connection with an incident in Dallas, U.S. Marshal officials said. U.S. Marshals officials said a reward up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading directly to Lopez�s arrest. Anyone with information regarding Lopez�s whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Communications center at 800-336-0102. You can visit http://www.usmarshals.gov for more information.

DALLAS (AP/Staff) – Largely because of a high-profile Tyler case, Texas is close to enacting a law that would provide teachers with more detailed information about the criminal histories of students in their classrooms. Texas already provides some background information about students, but the new law would turn over details of crimes and arrests that most states keep confidential. The measure was spurred by the fatal stabbing of John Tyler High School teacher Todd Henry (pictured) in 2009.

Juvenile experts complain the new law could make it harder for young offenders to lead a normal life after they are released. But educators insist teachers are in too much danger. The legislation is adding to a national debate over whether teacher safety should outweigh the rights of young offenders. It was passed by the legislature last month and awaits approval by Gov. Rick Perry.

TYLER — In a groundbreaking move, the March of Dimes, Children’s Miracle Network, and At Home Healthcare unveil a new kiosk/information center at Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler for use by parents and family members of children born prematurely. Officials say the comprehensive Internet-based system pools the answers to many of the questions that families have when they find themselves unexpectedly with a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Mother Frances. According to information from Mother Frances, the kiosk is the first one installed in a Texas hospital.

Parents and family members of premature children can access the kiosk free of charge at any time for answers to NICU-related questions. Funding for the kiosk was provided by At Home Healthcare and Children’s Miracle Network.

NACOGDOCHES � A routine traffic stop ended in officers seizing almost 26 pounds of marijuana, according to a Nacogdoches police report. Around 8:45 Saturday night, police pulled over a car for speeding around the 900 block of South St. Once officers made contact with the two in the car, the report describes the officers suspecting illegal activity. During a search of the vehicle, officers say 25.6 pounds of marijuana was discovered in the rear seating part of the car. They arrested Danetra Rainey, 20 of Missouri, and Adrian Osborn, 28 of Missouri, for possession of marijuana.

HENDERSON � The Rusk County Sheriff�s Office and Rusk County Crime Stoppers are asking the public for information leading to the arrest of three suspects responsible for a burglary at Clayton�s Mini Mart, Farm Road 322 North, in Elderville, May 28. Authorities say an alarm call triggered the investigation.

An arriving deputy discovered the front door of the business was forced open. The owner confirmed that a safe, money, and lottery tickets had been removed from the store. The total amount of loss was approximately $14,000; in addition to approximately $700 in property damage. Later that afternoon, authorities say a safe had been found on Etheridge Road, in Longview which later was identified as the safe missing from the store. The safe had been pried open.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-TIPS(8477) or call Rusk County Sheriff�s Office at 903-657-3581.

TYLER (AP) � A recent high school graduate from Louisiana has been identified as the passenger killed when a church van crashed and rolled in East Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday identified the victim as J�Marco Jewel Greenard, 19. DPS says the van blew a tire Saturday while eastbound on Interstate Highway 20, about 12 miles northeast of Tyler. Nine other passengers were hurt. Cotton Valley, La., High School Principal Beatha Brantley says Greenard graduated in May. DPS listed Greenard�s hometown as Arcadia, Texas., but Brantley says he was from Cotton Valley. DPS had no information on the van�s church affiliation. The Shreveport Times reports the van was from Mount Sariah Baptist Church in Cotton Valley. The church�s voice mail was full Monday and not accepting messages.

TYLER � A motorcyclist has been killed in a two vehicle accident. Dead at the scene was Adam Clark Beddinghauf, 26, of Tyler. According to investigators, just before 12:30 Saturday morning, a 2010 Honda motorcycle was traveling westbound on Highway 64, just under two miles west of Tyler, when it struck a 1996 Pontiac traveling in the outside lane. Witnesses say the motorcycle was going at a high rate of speed when it hit the car.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled perform pavement repairs on State Highway 64 west of Tyler in various locations between Loop 323 and Farm Road 724 near the airport. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also, TxDOT severs SCR 2297 (Brewer Road) today as part of ongoing construction on Segment 5 of Loop 49. Residents will have access to Farm Road 756 (Paluxy Drive) via SCR 2191.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to begin seal coat operations on Tuesday on State Highway 135 in Jacksonville in the curb-and-gutter section, followed by the same work on Farm Road 2274 between State Highway 204 in Ponta and U.S. Highway 79. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2206 between State Highway 42 and Loop 281 in Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 1798 between Farm Road 839 in McKnight and Farm Road 1662 near Laneville. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs in various locations on Ranch Road 2970 between Farm Road 753 and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude resurfacing operations on State Highway 294 between U.S. Highway 79 and Farm Road 322. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual seal coat preventative maintenance program is scheduled to resume on Monday, June 20, in Van Zandt County. Crews are scheduled to begin on State Highway 19 south of Canton and in the following additional locations:
*FM 751 between the Hunt County Line and FM 47
*SH 198 between SH 64 in Canton and the Kaufman County Line
*FM 315 between FM 279 and Henderson County Line
*FM 47 between SH 243 and SH 198 Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 778 south of Farm Road 49 and U.S. Highway 80, followed by the same work on Farm Road 69 north of FM 515 in Coke. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.