KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A 44-year-old Tyler man pleaded guilty to child pornography violations in a Tyler courtroom. Thomas Alvin Boyd, Tyler, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography on Mar. 8 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on Mar. 29, 2010, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Boyd’s residence and seized several computers, USB drives, CDs, DVDs, and other forms of digital media. A forensic examination of the seized items was conducted and found to contain several thousand images of child pornography and, at a minimum, 250 videos of child pornography.

Boyd was aware that the settings on the peer-to-peer software allowed certain other users to download child pornography from him and acknowledges that the illegal images were distributed in that they were accessed and downloaded by others. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and some of the images are considered sadistic or masochistic. Boyd was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010.

TYLER (AP/STAFF) — Governor Rick Perry says the Legislature should keep its hands off the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Perry repeated his position against tapping the fund Tuesday at an appearance at the Brookshire’s distribution facility on the Tyler loop. Perry said using the fund now would simply “kick the can down the road” and make Texas vulnerable to financial pressures in 2013.

Perry said the Rainy Day Fund is a valuable insurance policy against “a future that continues to be uncertain on a national and global scale, and must be used as an absolute last resort, not a quick fix.” According to Perry, “Here in Texas, we know you can’t tax and spend your way to prosperity, and as long as we remain committed to our job friendly principles, such as low taxes and a fair legal system, we will continue along a successful path for Texas families and employers.”

The Governor declined to say whether he’d veto any bill that taps the fund. He said his policy remains to avoid discussing legislation before it reaches his desk.

Texas is facing its worst budget crisis in generations. Some Republican lawmakers have proposed tapping the state’s Rainy Day Fund to make up for a $27 billion shortfall. But Perry continues to oppose any effort to raise more state revenue, or to tap the fund.

Strengthening the principles that have helped Texas lead the national economic recovery and add more jobs than any other state in 2010, including keeping taxes low, and maintaining a predictable regulatory climate and fair legal system, remains a priority for the governor. The governor said he is committed to keeping taxes low in order to help small businesses continue to succeed and create jobs, and reiterated the need to make permanent the small business tax cut that was passed last session. This measure cut taxes for 40,000 small businesses, and allowed them to focus on job creation and growing their businesses.

The governor also emphasized his commitment to further strengthening Texas’ legal system by creating a “loser pays” system to provide stronger protections against frivolous lawsuits, establishing an early dismissal option for frivolous lawsuits, ensuring new laws cannot create causes of action unless expressly established by the Legislature, and setting up expedited trials and limited discovery for lawsuits with claims between $10,000 and $100,000.

VAN – A one vehicle accident in Van Zandt County has left one person dead. It occurred just before 7:00 Monday night on State Highway 110, two miles north of Van. Killed was Donald Garrett, 24, of Van. According to state trooper Josh Sneed, Garrett was northbound when his car hit a horse and then a tree. The victim was not wearing a seat belt.

PALESTINE – A two vehicle accident has killed one person and sent another to a Tyler hospital. The wreck occurred around 5:15 Sunday evening on U.S. Highway 287, about a mile south of Palestine. Killed was Pamela Crowson, 47, of Crockett. She was on the back of a motorcycle driven by her husband James Marcus Crowson, 49. He was flown to Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center where he is listed in fair condition. The Department of Public Safety report says it appears as if the motorcycle was attempting to make a U-turn when it was hit by a pickup pulling a trailer. The report said both persons on the motorcycle were not wearing helmets.

NACOGDOCHES – A parent’s complaint has the American Civil Liberties Union upset with the Nacogdoches school system. The problem stems from bible’s that were handed out last year at a Nacogdoches middle school. The A.C.L.U. claims members of the Gideons handed out the bibles during a lunch hour last year and that the school principal was encouraging the students to take the books.

A statement released by the school system Tuesday said, “We take the concerns of our students, teachers and community very seriously and were shocked to learn of the A.C.L.U.’s concerns.” Nacogdoches school officials say they have yet to receive any written correspondence on the matter but have contacted legal counsel and are researching the situation.

AFTON GROVE — There is a boil water notice in effect for Afton Grove Water Supply in the Jacksonville area. The notice includes all of CR 4215 between Highway 79 East and Myrtle Drive (CR 4205). According to KETK, the boil water alert will continue until further notice. If you have any questions, you can contact Loretta Sorenson with the Afton Grove Water Supply Corporation at 903-586-2969.

TYLER — Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a recent robbery. On Saturday, March 5, a black male suspect entered the Valero Gas Station located at 1736 E. Gentry around 5:00 p.m. Police say the suspect observed the cashier counting the money in her cash drawer and saw an opportunity to steal a large amount of cash sitting next to the cash register. According to police, the suspect distracted the cashier so that he could reach over the counter and take the bundle of cash. The suspect ran out the store, got into a dark green Cadillac, and got away.

Anyone with information about the suspect involved in this crime 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 an arrest and charges filed against the suspect or suspects in this or any felony case.

DIBOLL — Less than a week after the resignation of Diboll’s longtime police chief Kent Havard, a new interim chief is announced. Donald R. Morris, retired Texas Ranger and career lawman, will serve as interim chief until a permanent replacement can be found, according to Diboll City Manager Dennis McDuffie. “I will be appointing Donald R. Morris as interim chief March 14,” McDuffie said in a city council meeting Monday night. “We intend to take our time finding a permanent chief.” Havard resigned March 2, following an ongoing investigation, according to Diboll City Attorney Jimmy Cassels. Because the investigation is active, the details could not be released as of Monday. In the meantime, Sgt. Steve Baker is acting as interim chief.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say they’ve brought in a Gladewater man in an aggravated kidnapping case. On Monday, officers responded to a domestic dispute in the 100 Block of Evergreen Street. Upon arrival officers were told that there were no problems. Upon further investigation they spoke with relatives of the victim. They told police they had located the victim’s vehicle in a ditch near the intersection of Brentwood and Clinton Streets with what appeared to be new damage to it.

Police say through further investigation by the officers, and with the assistance of the Gladewater Police Department, police were able to locate the involved parties and bring the case to a peaceful conclusion. The victim told police the suspect, 24-year-old Kransten Turner, had struck her vehicle with his SUV, causing her to veer off the roadway. He then allegedly forced her out of her car and into his SUV. Turner then reportedly drove to his home in the 300 Block of Allison Drive in Gladewater, where officers located him and the victim a short time later. Turner was taken in to custody for an outstanding warrant for assault family violence and was also charged with aggravated kidnapping.

GLADEWATER — Officials now say an early morning fire destroyed a Gladewater business on Monday. The fire at Southwest Plastics was called in shortly before 1:30 a.m. Due to safety concerns, firefighters had to battle the fire from the outside. Officials say the fire could have been a lot worse: a full 3,000-gallon oil tank was less than 20 feet from the building. The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time and remains under investigation. No one was hurt in the fire.

DALLAS (AP) – Gov. Rick Perry is visiting Dallas and Tyler to tout his tough stand on budget cuts and what he calls a pro-business climate in Texas. Perry will first stop in Tyler before heading to Dallas on Tuesday afternoon, where he will attend a fundraiser for American for Tax Reform. That group opposes all attempts to raise taxes. Texas is facing its worst budget crisis in generations. Some Republican lawmakers have proposed tapping the state’s Rainy Day Fund to make up for a $27 billion shortfall. But Perry continues to oppose any effort to raise more state revenue, or to tap the fund. Perry is expected to use his public appearances to drive home that message.

QUITMAN – A preliminary autopsy ruled an 81-year-old Winnsboro man’s cause of death to be homicide, Wood County Justice of the Peace Cindy Weems said. Weems said the report attributed the man’s death to “multiple sharp force injuries.” According to Wood County Sheriffs’ Lt. Jerry Blaylock, deputies were called to the residence located at 2460 FM Road 852 near Winnsboro on Feb. 25 where they found the body of Don Randoll Askew. Blaylock said investigators believe someone placed the emergency 911 call, after evidence was found near Askew’s home, which indicated there may have been problems. No arrests have been made, but police said they are searching for a person they believe to be responsible for the death.

TYLER — Smith County prosecutors have filed papers to have a teen murder suspect tried as an adult. Nathaniel “Nate” Anderson, 15, is accused of shooting his sister, Amanda Anderson, in the head last September. The motion, which was filed last Friday, was signed by a judge yesterday. The teen remains in custody at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. His next court appearance will be next Monday.

SIERRA LEONE — One person has been killed and nearly a dozen injured when violence broke out during a routine medical screening that Mercy Ships was providing in Sierra Leone. Problems began when a crowd stormed the Freetown National Stadium when the screening was taking place.

A news release issued by the Smith County Organization said Mercy Ships is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred today during medical screening at the Freetown National Stadium when a crowd stormed the gate resulting in several injuries and one life lost. Mercy Ships personnel working at the site attended the injured and accompanied them to local hospitals.

According to Don Stephens, Mercy Ships’ founder, “Our hearts and prayers are with the individuals and families of those affected by today’s events. The occurrence of this incident in the course of activities intended to restore lives is tragic. We move forward with tremendous sadness, but great determination, to assist as many people as possible in the next ten months.”

The news release went on to say that Mercy Ships has served Sierra Leone five times over the past two decades, also helping establish two land-based health care facilities. For the next ten months, Mercy Ships will be providing surgeries for qualified patients while working alongside the Sierra Leonean Government to support its five-year healthcare plan and strengthen the functions of the national health system.