KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler Investigators have been informed that James Schell has been located in Marshall, Texas and is ok. The information has been confirmed by Marshall Police Department. James Earl Schell, 44, Tyler, was reported missing on March 24, when he failed to return home.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Canton Police arrested seven suspects on drug charges after receiving a tip that methamphetamine was being sold at the Motel 6. Authorities say they received a call about a man looking into the windows of rooms at the motel at around 2:00 this morning. After attempting to detain a man outside the room, officers chased the man into a hotel bathroom, where he attempted to flush a loaded syringe. A large amount of suspected methamphetamine, along with Xanax, were clearly visible.

Taken into custody were: Holly Renee Hortman, 42, of Mineola; Edward Robert Preston, 40, of Fruitvale; Russell Lynn Turner, 36, Gilmer; Barbra Ann Pritchett, 29, of Mineola; Ian Joseph Daley, 25, of Mineola; Matthew John Prough, 25, of Canton: and Kimberly Ann Herring, 21, of Canton. They all face charges of manufacture and/or delivery of a controlled substance.

LUFKIN (AP) – An East Texas man has been convicted of showing two siblings child pornography and then forcing the youngsters to perform sex acts on each other. Wesley Don Parish, 52, of Diboll was sentenced to 10 years on each of 2 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. A jury in Lufkin late Thursday convicted Parish of aggravated sexual assault of the children he was baby-sitting. Investigators say the girl was 8 and the boy was 6. Parish testified that the children were lying about him and that he overheard the boy ask the girl to perform a sex act on him. Parish says he told the children it was bad behavior and to stop. Parish was indicted in December.

TYLER — Tyler’s big spring showcase event, the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, kicks off today and runs through April 10. Susan Travis is assistant vice president of tourism and servicing for the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau. She predicts another year of solid local economic impact, as strong as last year’s $3.2 million or stronger. Travis says things went well in 2010 despite a late blast of winter weather, and that’s not in the forecast this go-round. She points out that the azaleas are already blooming.

There are plenty of activities on the schedule. You can go to http://www.tylerazaleatrail.com for more information. For complimentary visitor packets, go to http://www.visittyler.com or call 1-800-235-5712. You can also check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for information on the various activities.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating the death of a teenager. Shortly after 6:45 Thursday morning, Tyler Police, Fire, and EMS were called to 3017 Brookdale on an unresponsive 17 year-old. Officers were told the mother had entered her son’s room to wake her son for school and found him unresponsive. Emergency personnel on the scene were unable to revive the young man. Smith County Justice of the Peace James Meredith pronounced Jacob Aaron Green, age 17, dead at the scene. Tyler Investigators arrived and had the body taken to Southeast Texas Forensic Center for an autopsy. Preliminary results indicate that Green, a student at Robert E. Lee High School, died from an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

TYLER – Authorities say a 32-year-old Mexican national illegally living in Tyler has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Jorge Blas-Mundo pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on Mar. 23 by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis during a Tyler proceeding. Blas-Mundo was also ordered to submit to the forfeiture of $50,000.

According authorities, from an unknown date until Apr. 23, 2010, Blas-Mundo conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Smith County area. Blas-Mundo was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

TYLER – A 22-year-old Henderson man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas. Kylon Jeffery Henson pleaded guilty in Tyler on Mar. 23 to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2009, Henson possessed approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine with intentions to distribute it in the East Texas area. Henson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 2, 2011 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations. Henson faces a minimum of five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — 22-year-old Matthew Dwayne Patton of Tyler, named as the suspect shot by Smith County Deputy Constable Derek Phillips in a home invasion, was released from East Texas Medical Center Thursday. Tyler Officers arrested Patton at the hospital and charged him with burglary of habitation, a first-degree felony. Patton was transported to Smith County Jail. Bond was set at $250,000.00

On March 3, police responded to the Wood Trail Apartment Homes at 1909 Shiloh Rd., apartment # 118, on a report of a home invasion with shots fired. Officers arrived, found Patton shot in the upper chest inside the apartment, and were told that a second suspect had run away on foot. Patton was hospitalized. Phillips was visiting a friend who lived in the apartment. The second suspect, 21-year-old Patric Thurston of Tyler, was later caught. He was charged with first-degree felony burglary and transported to Smith County Jail. According to a police report, officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun that was thrown into the woods when Thurston fled the area. Initial details of the investigation indicated that the home invasion was a random act of violence by the two suspects.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested after allegedly making threats in his neighborhood. Steve Slay Laughlin was taken into custody on unrelated charges. There have been three separate reports in just one week of Laughlin waving a firearm and threatening to shoot people. One neighbor says, “He has said that he has a gun on him and if anything gets in his yard, be it a pet, an adult, or a child, he will not discriminate on which and he will handle the problem.” The resident said she wants to remain anonymous, in fear of retaliation. Tyler police say they’ve been out to the house several times in the past week. Public record shows Laughlin has two counts of theft and one alcohol related charge on his record. We’ll have more on this story as more information is released.

TYLER – A 23-year-old Irving man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Peter Keovongphet pleaded guilty on May 20, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to prosecutors, on July 14, 2009, Keovongphet was arrested in Smith County with approximately a half pound of methamphetamine in his possession. An investigation revealed that since 2007, Keovongphet was involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Dallas County, which was then transported through the Eastern District of Texas for redistribution. Keovongphet was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 5, 2009 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities investigate a vicious robbery. It happened on Smith County Road 150, where a man says he was hanging out with friends when he was approached by three men. Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana says a shotgun was pulled on the victim as he was ordered to strip down to his underwear. Dana says the men robbed him of his money, cellphone, and prescription drugs, including methadone, Xanax, Klonopin, and Adderall. The victim was able to get to a gas station and call for help.

BULLARD (AP) – An East Texas deputy who was directing traffic away from an injured stray cow is hospitalized in critical condition after being attacked by the half-ton animal. Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith says Deputy Robert Britton of Tyler early Thursday responded to a call about a cow hit by a vehicle near Bullard. Smith told The Associated Press that the 54-year-old deputy was directing traffic on County Road 344 when the cow charged him. The sheriff says Britton was knocked into the air, landed on his head and “then the animal continued the assault.” Other deputies rescued Britton. He was in critical condition in intensive care at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Smith says the cow has been put down. The owner is sought.

TYLER — An officer is shot while serving a warrant Wednesday night. United States Marshals were at the Arbors on Chimney Rock Drive in Tyler around midnight apparently looking for Christopher Summerville, 26, Tyler, for a parole violation. A woman, Kara Adams-Hanley, 29, Tyler, reportedly answered the door when a shot was fired from inside striking Smith County Deputy Sheriff Josh Caulkins in the chest. A second round was fired from a suspect inside the apartment which struck the opposing apartment door. Caulkins was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was transported to East Texas Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Members of the Task Force returned gunfire and were able to take into custody all occupants in the apartment including Summerville, Adams-Hanley and Jeffery Andrysiak, 30, Tyler.

Police say Summerville is hospitalized at East Texas Medical Center for an overdose of methamphetamine that he reportedly had injected into his body just prior to the arrest warrant being served. Summerville was taken into custody at the scene for the parole warrant and transported by law enforcement officers to the Tyler Police Department. While in custody it was determined that Summerville needed to be transported to East Texas Medical Center by EMS due to his medical condition. Summerville has been placed under guard by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office until he is released.

Initially, Andrysiak was held on possession of a controlled substance, and Adams-Hanley was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both are now additionally charged with manufacture or delivery of controlled substance, a first degree felony. Bond was set at $500,000 dollars each, and the two remain in custody at the Smith County Jail. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate an early Thursday morning burglary. It happened at 3820 Lamb Drive. The resident told officers a white male suspect entered the home through an unlocked door and searched through the residence while the victim hid under a bed. The victim was unable to determine if anything was taken from the residence. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police or Crime Stoppers.

NACOGDOCHES — For months Stephen F. Austin State University Police have been investigating reports of drugs on the campus. So far, 19 persons have been arrested, and not all are students. According to police chief Marc Cossich there are 23 suspects in the case. Along with the arrests they have recovered Marijuana, Xanax and ecstasy.