MOUNT PLEASANT — Authorities have released the names of two truck drivers who were killed when their rigs collided and caught fire in Titus County. They are Javier Galvex, 34, of Winfield and Tommy Gilbert, 51, of Wichita, Kansas. Investigators feel Galvex may have fallen asleep at the wheel early Monday morning and his truck drifted over into the oncoming lane of traffic. The two rigs hit head on around 4:45am on Highway 49, eight miles east of Mount Pleasant.
Nacogdoches Theft Ring Busted
NACOGDOCHES — Twelve persons have been arrested in a Nacogdoches theft ring and three more suspects are still being sought. The Precinct 4 constables office started serving arrest warrants Tuesday morning. The investigation into numerous thefts and burglaries began in April after authorities received an anonymous tip about possible stolen property. Besides the arrests, authorities have recovered a couple of rifles and chain saws, a flat screen TV, an all-terrain vehicle, flat bottom boat, and some property from a drilling rig site.
Motorcyclist Dead After Wreck in Tyler
TYLER An Anderson County man was killed after his motorcycle and a car collided in front of the Broadway Square Mall Tuesday morning. According to investigators the car, driven by Helen Rice Turner, 71, of Lindale, was traveling northbound on South Broadway and was in the left turn lane at Independence. She turned left on a yellow blinking light towards the Mall and was struck in the right front passenger side by the motorcycle, which was traveling southbound in the outside lane. The motorcycle and Kendrick Lee Clark, 23, of Palestine, caught on fire upon impact.
Kendrick was transported to East Texas Medical Center by EMS where he died from injuries. Turner was also transported to East Texas Medical Center for observation. The crash is currently under investigation.
Berman Lauds House Passage of Sanctuary Cities Bill
AUSTIN The sanctuary cities bill sails through the Texas House after several more hours of debate. Democrats like Austins Eddie Rodriguez argued hard against the bill, saying it takes away time from police to deal with real crime problems. But Republicans like Tylers Leo Berman say its vital to get criminal immigrants out of Texas. Says Berman, One of the biggest problems in the city that I live in is drive-by shootings, and its drug dealing, by gangs. And the gangs are made up of illegal aliens in Tyler. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Malakoff Man Guilty in Credit Card Scheme
TYLER A 26-year-old Malakoff man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in a massive credit card scheme that stretched through much of East Texas and beyond. Christopher Michael pleaded guilty to attempting to access device fraud Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, on Aug. 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at Michael’s residence. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered counterfeit charge card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit charge cards, and cash value cards. A forensic analysis of the equipment revealed that over 6,500 victim entries were fraudulently obtained by Michael.
According to prosecutors, further investigation revealed that Christopher Michael; his brother, Nathan Michael; Elizabeth Pickrell; and Corey Davis conspired together to commit access device fraud in Henderson and Smith counties. The four defendants allegedly obtained goods and services by using fraudulent credit card account numbers obtained through the Internet and at Chicken Express in Tyler, where Pickrell was employed at the time of the fraud. According to evidence, over 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Nov. 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes.
Christopher Michael faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing and possible restitution in the amount of $100,000. A sentencing date has not been set. Pickrell pleaded guilty on Apr. 5 and is awaiting sentencing. Nathan Michael and Corey Davis are set for trial on June 7.
Carjacking Victim Wounded
TYLER A spokesman for the Smith County Sheriffs Office has revealed details of Monday nights shooting near the Pilot truck stop. Officials say the shooting happened around 8:15 on County Road 310 near Farm Road 14. When deputies arrived on scene, Thomas Morrow, 24, of Tyler, was conscious and was able to tell the authorities about the incident.
The victim says he was attacked by four men, one of whom he knew, named Chopper. His real name is unknown and he is described as a 5’10” black male. Officials say one of the attackers shot him 4 times, family members tell us 6, and the group stole his car, a 2001 gray Saturn 4-door with a black hood, license plate LLS624.
After he was shot, Morrow got up and went to a known nearby neighbors house, but no one was home. He then walked about a mile to the truck stop, where he was expected to meet some other people from Dallas that he knew. Morrow was reportedly covered in blood when he reached the truck stop, and someone called 911. Morrow is in a local hospital and is expected to recover. He was also the victim of robbery a few weeks ago that he reported to Tyler police.
Police Seek Second Car in Fatal Hit-and-Run
MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) – Police in East Texas are looking for a second vehicle after an alleged hit-and-run that killed a 4-year-old boy and landed an unlicensed driver in jail on a manslaughter charge. The weekend incident in Mount Pleasant also critically injured the boy’s 13-year-old cousin, who remained in a Dallas hospital Tuesday. Mount Pleasant police Chief Jay Burch tells the Longview News-Journal that 21-year-old Edward Joseph Moya is suspected of driving the vehicle that hit Kameron Jones and his older cousin, Joclyn Roberts, when they were crossing a street Saturday night. Witnesses told police a second vehicle struck Kameron. Burch says the first vehicle was traced to Moya. Titus County sheriff’s Lt. Michael Garcia tells The Associated Press that Moya refused a court-appointed attorney and remained jailed Tuesday on $2 million bond.
Lufkin Murder Trial Starts Thursday
LUFKIN The suspect in a Lufkin mans shooting death goes on trial this week. A jury was selected on Monday in the murder trial of Kendall Thompson, 20. The Lufkin woman is accused in the drive-by shooting death of Joseph Cooper, 63. The trial will begin tomorrow and is expected last four days.
Fatal Rollover Near Noonday
NOONDAY A two vehicle rollover accident Sunday leaves one woman dead and two injured. It happened Sunday morning around 9:30 on Hwy 155 about 2 miles south of Noonday. Officials say Allison Bryant Wiley, 51, Tyler, was driving south on 155 when she was struck by a northbound vehicle driven by Alicia Renee Morrison, 43, Flint. Morrison was pronounced dead at ETMC Tyler. Authorities say she was not wearing a seatbelt. Wiley is being treated at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler for broken bones and internal injuries. A 16-year-old in Wileys vehicle was also treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Head-On Collision Claims Life of 3-Year-Old
GILMER — A two vehicle wreck near Gilmer claims the life of a 3-year-old boy. It happened Saturday afternoon around 3:40 on Hwy 155 just north of Golf Road. The Department of Public Safety says a Jeep Wrangler driven by a 16-year-old crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit a Chevy Malibu head-on. The occupants of the Malibu were Ken and Jennifer Danapas, Big Sandy, their newborn baby girl, along with their son, Luke. Luke was air-lifted to Children’s Hospital in Dallas where he was pronounced dead Sunday morning, his 3rd birthday and Mother’s Day. The family and the teen driver received minor or no injuries. All parties were wearing seatbelts and the children were in child safety seats. The driver received a citation for being on the wrong side of the road. It’s believed he fell asleep. The investigation is still underway.
A tragedy fund has been set up: “Ken Danapas Special Fund” and donations can be made at any Austin Bank with a notation that it is for the special fund or by mailing a check to Austin Bank, PO Box 748, Big Sandy, TX. 75755.
Picture of Robbery Suspect Released
TYLER Tyler police have released pictures of the suspect wanted for the robbery of Kohls on South Broadway over the weekend. Saturday afternoon around 5:15 a woman is said to have entered the store and selected several clothing and jewelry items. She then entered a fitting room and concealed the items in a black and brown colored purse that she brought into the store, as well as a red purse that she took from the store. After leaving the fitting room, she left the store without paying for the merchandise.
As the suspect walked to her vehicle, she was contacted by a Kohls loss prevention employee. The employee asked the suspect to return to the store with the stolen items. The suspect refused and continued to walk to her vehicle. After she backed out of her parking space, she drove directly towards the store employee, striking the employees right hand with the vehicle. The employee received only a minor injury.
The suspect is described as a white female, with long dark hair and 4 gold colored teeth (2 gold teeth on top and 2 gold teeth on bottom). She was last seen wearing a black cover-up shirt over a black and white striped shirt, black spandex pants and dark colored sandals. The suspects vehicle was described as a silver or gold colored 4 door car (possibly a Honda Accord).
TJC Graduation Set for Friday
TYLER — Tyler Junior College will hold its spring commencement ceremonies at 2 and 6 p.m. Friday, May 13, in Wagstaff Gymnasium, recognizing 841 candidates for graduation. Students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science or Certificate of Proficiency will participate in the ceremony for students graduating with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Arts in Teaching. Associate’s degrees and certificates of proficiency will be conferred by college president Dr. Mike Metke.
Chapel Hill Teen’s Hearing Postponed
SMITH COUNTY — A hearing Monday to decide if a Chapel Hill teen accused of murder should be tried as an adult is postponed. Nate Anderson is accused of fatally shooting his sister, Amanda Anderson, 19, in their Chapel Hill home in September. He will remain in the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center until his next hearing date, May 23rd.
Woman Sentenced in Daughter’s Death
NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches woman was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison on two counts of injury to a child. Joy Faye Yates pleaded guilty in District Judge Campbell Cox’s courtroom to having a role in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, Kaylan Broumley, by failing to protect her and failing to get immediate medical care for her after finding out she was injured. Yates also pleaded guilty to hitting Kaylan with her hands. She was sentenced by Cox to two 12 year stints in prison, to be served at the same time, and a $10,000 fine.
Shooter in Death of Teen Pleads Guilty
TYLER — Gregory Dewayne Polley, 26, of Longview, waived a jury trial Monday and pleaded guilty to the Christmas Eve shooting death of 15-year-old Nicole Cartwright. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday in a Smith County district court, with testimony beginning Tuesday. Instead, Polley chose to plead guilty and sentencing has been scheduled for May 31. Cartwright, also of Longview, was killed at about 1:30 a.m. Christmas Eve by a stray bullet. She was visiting family and friends at the time of the shooting.
Polley is the second man to be arrested in connection with Cartwright’s death. Adrian Earl Blankenship Jr., 22, of Longview, also is charged in the teen’s death. He remains in Smith County Jail on $500,000 bond and his trial is scheduled for July. Polley was initially arrested Jan. 4 for a parole violation in Longview, with Smith County officials tacking on the first-degree murder charge after an arrest warrant was issued.