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CARTHAGE — The attorney for convicted killer Bernie Tiede argues in a motion filed in Carthage that a pending theft charge against him should be dismissed because the former assistant mortician’s homosexuality played against him some 15 years ago. “Times have changed greatly since Mr. Tiede was charged with this theft,” attorney Jodi Cole argues in her motion filed in the 123rd District Court, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Among other things, Cole’s motion cites evidence she says reveals a deal offered Tiede to plead guilty to murder in exchange for a 20-year sentence to avoid the release of details regarding his homosexual relationships in Carthage. Continue reading Motion Filed to Dismiss Theft Charge against Bernie Tiede

MINEOLA — The cause of a fire at a beloved Mineola restaurant has been deemed “undetermined” after an official investigation. Last December 2, six fire departments responded to a blaze that caused heavy damage to the Ranchero Country Buffet. The initial call came in around 12:30 a.m. The Mineola Volunteer Fire Department and the other units battled the flames at the restaurant in the 1000 block of North Pacific Street for about an hour. Mineola Fire Marshal David Madsen tells KETK the investigation has come to a close and officials weren’t able to learn how the fire started. Madsen also said there is no indication arson was a factor in the blaze. No injuries were reported, but the restaurant remains closed.

TYLER — A 39-year-old Tyler, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Micol Jauron Sears pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced yesterday to 168 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Sears was also ordered to submit to forfeiture of $25,000. Federal prosecutors say on April 9, 2014, a federal search warrant was executed at Sears’ residence in Tyler during which law enforcement officers located 1.8 kilograms of crack cocaine, six firearms and a safe containing $39,900 in cash.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has received information of a possible scam. According to a police news release, individuals are receiving phone calls from someone indicating that the individual has won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and then requesting personal information. The Police Department reminds you never to divulge personal information to anyone you do not know.

LONGVIEW – There was a flurry of activity on the opening day to file for the Longview city elections in May. Five persons filed on the opening day Wednesday. Two of those are running for Mayor. They are Dr. Andy Mack, 54 and business owner Richard Manley, 60. The filing period runs through February 27th. Also on the ballot are Council Districts 1 and 2 and special election for the unexpired term of district 5. Filing Wednesday for the District 1 position were Ed Moore, 60, and Jearl P. Morris, 79. No one has yet filed for the district 2 spot. One person filed Wednesday for the unexpired term in District 5. He is Ben Stone, 34.

MARSHALL — Authorities say they’ve rounded up an escaped prisoner in Marshall. Tuesday afternoon just before 3:30, members of the Marshall Police Department’s SWAT team assisted the U. S. Marshals Service in carrying out a warrant in the 200 block of Enola Mae Drive. KETK reports Orie Fuller, 19, was arrested on a charge of escape while in custody. Fuller was in a work release unit in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, and had been evading authorities since December, according to authorities.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department has released the surveillance video and names of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a teen in the department lobby. KETK reports that according to the video, (see below) last Thursday at 6:28 p.m., 17-year-old Kristiana Coignard entered the police station, picked up the after-hours phone, called public safety communications, and asked for help. When asked what she needed, she refused to tell the operator what the problem was. Police officers were dispatched to the lobby a short time later. When Officer Glenn Derr arrived, Coignard indicated to him she had a gun. According to police, the words “I have a gun,” were written on her hand. This resulted in a physical confrontation when Officer Derr attempted to secure Coignard. Continue reading Video Released, Officers Named in Fatal Longview Police Shooting

PALESTINE — A Palestine man is behind bars after being arrested on drugs and weapons charges. Shortly after 6:45 Tuesday evening, members of the Palestine Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit along with three DPS teams, ATF agents, and TDCJ K-9 units served a warrant in the 300 Block of Variah Street. According to KETK, officials say Daniel Cummings III, 25, was located inside the house when SWAT made entry. SWAT members were forced to chainsaw the door to make entry, as the persons inside barricaded the front entry door, according to authorities. Palestine PD Patrol Commander Jeff Powell said, “We had a lot of complaints about the activity there. We just continue to ask for the public’s assistance in identifying and ridding Palestine of these and other problem areas within the neighborhoods.” Continue reading Palestine Man Arrested on Drug, Weapon Charges

LONGVIEW — One person is dead following a shooting in the 1700 block of Sandlin Street in Longview. This is the fourth fatal shooting in Longview this year. According to the Longview News-Journal, the victim was identified as Garrett “G” Neal, by neighbors. The newspaper reports a neighbor noticed the door to Neal’s house was open and his dog was running around in the front yard Wednesday morning. The neighbor then went to check on Neal, walking through his house and calling him by his nickname, when she found him in the dining room with an apparent gunshot wound. “There was blood everywhere,” she said. The investigation continues, and there’s no word on any suspects or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

TYLER — A McKinney man who was arrested for allegedly robbing Tyler’s Capital One Bank last August 11 will be in a Tyler court February 12 for a plea hearing. KETK reports a joint investigation between the Tyler Police Department and the FBI led to the arrest of Daniel River Burson, 37. Burson was a corporate security consultant-investigator for the bank. At 7:52 a.m. August 11, Tyler police received a 911 call of a robbery from an employee of the bank, located at Copeland and Loop 323. The bank employee said she and another female employee were walking back towards the drive-thru building door when they were approached by a man telling them to drop the black night deposit bag. The man then grabbed the bag and fled in a dark Mercedes Benz four-door sedan with no license plates. Burson faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is still investigating a drive-by shooting that happened Monday night. Around 6 p.m. police responded to a gunshot call on the 300 block of Nikki Drive, according to KETK. Police say a male was driving the car and the shots likely came from a female passenger, who allegedly shot at a house and vehicle. One bullet struck the vehicle. Police say this was likely an isolated incident stemming from a previous conflict between the shooter and the car’s owner. Public Information Officer Kristie Brian said drive-bys are not very common in Longview. Anyone with any information is asked to call Gregg County Crime Stoppers or the Longview Police Department.

RUSK — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reports one person is dead after a shooting in Rusk. According to KETK, officials said a woman reported her husband was threatening to kill her and himself at a house on the 100 block of Joplin Street. The Rusk Police Department said officers responded to reports of a shot fired at around 2:00 yesterday afternoon. When officers were getting out of their patrol car, a shot was fired from within the home, according to officials. Police say they entered the building and found a man dead. His identity was not immediately released. The body has been sent for autopsy.

LONGVIEW — Preliminary autopsy reports have come back in connection with two deaths in Longview. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. On January 13, police discovered the body of Philander Carlton Peters, 48, of Longview, at the scene of a Tuesday evening shooting in the 1600 Block of Hawthorne Street. An eyewitness at the scene reported hearing four gunshots and seeing a black male running from the home. The preliminary autopsy report states Peters died from a gunshot wound to the head with perforation of the brain, deeming the death a homicide. The shooting remains under investigation. Detectives are still asking that anyone with information on the identity of the person seen running from the scene come forward and help solve the crime. Continue reading Preliminary Autopsy Reports Come In on Two Longview Deaths

JACKSONVILLE — State officials have released a detailed report of Klein Animal Shelter conditions following concerns brought to their attention at the Jacksonville facility. That’s according to our news partner KETK. In the unofficial quarantine facility inspection, presented by Dr. Melinda Hergert and Angela Hopkins, officials said the shelter passed the “Q inspection” on January 14 but “failed miserably” on the impoundment of animals. Inspectors say they found two dead dogs and two injured dogs in the compound. One of the animals, a Schnauzer, was discovered lying in its own feces, according to the report. Continue reading Officials Report on Conditions at Klein Animal Shelter

CANTON – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is advising motorists of changes to the traffic signals this week at I-20 and SH 19 in Canton. Flashing yellow arrow left-turn signals have been installed to improve safety at the intersection and were due to be operational Tuesday, according to a TxDOT news release. The flashing yellow arrows replace the traditional circular green lights used to let drivers know that they must yield on green to turn left. The project called for periodically closing the intersection’s left turn lanes Tuesday while the conversion to the flashing yellow arrows was conducted. Continue reading Flashing Yellow Arrow Signals Installed at Canton

AUSTIN – Flint resident JoAnn Fleming has been selected to chair Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s newly-created Grassroots Advisory Board. In 2011, then-Senator Patrick created the Tea Party Caucus of the Texas Legislature and its citizen advisory committee. The caucus met regularly with members of the advisory committee to discuss public policy. Today, Patrick continues his practice of coordinating with grassroots leaders, according to a news release from his office. Continue reading Fleming Named to Chair Patrick’s Grassroots Advisory Board

JACKSON HEIGHTS — A Smith County man who was being sought by the United States Marshals Task Force in connection with multiple crimes is in custody. According KETK, Smith County Precinct 4 Constable John Smith said officials had been seeking Sydney C. Lynch, 51, of the Jackson Heights community. Lynch was wanted on charges of child sexual assault and felony theft. Details of his arrest were not immediately made public.

LINDALE — Supporters of a Lindale family are working to help after the family was able to escape a house fire early Monday morning.
A funding website — http://www.youcaring.com/emergency-fundraiser/taking-care-of-the-terry-s-/297255#.VMaITxi0XB8.facebook — has been set up to help Jon and Mallory Terry and their three children, Cannon, 9, Kennedy, 5, and Clate, 1, with their expenses. Continue reading Effort Underway to Help Family that Escaped Fire

LONGVIEW (Staff/AP) — A teenager who was shot in the lobby of the Longview Police Department reportedly suffered from mental illnesses. According to KETK, much of the information comes to light on http://thinkprogress.org in an interview with Kristiana Coignard’s aunt Heather Robertson. Robertson said her niece suffered from depression and bipolar disorder ever since the girl’s mother died when Coignard was four years old. Robertson said Coignard had been hospitalized twice recently after failed suicide attempts. During one instance, Robertson said Coignard tried to hang herself and drank toilet bowl cleaner in a second attempt. She went on to tell the website Coignard didn’t have a criminal record and was “only harmful to herself.” Continue reading Report: Teen Killed in Longview PD Lobby Suffered from Mental Illness

NACOGDOCHES — The body of an East Texas man was found Monday afternoon inside a mobile home. Nacogdoches County Deputies initiated a welfare check in the 1800 block of Stephens Street after receiving a call around 3:15 Monday afternoon. The 57-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. According to KETK, authorities said no obvious signs of foul play were detected. His body has been sent for autopsy. His identity has not been released.

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Fire Department reports that crews contained a downtown building blaze Monday. According to KETK, drivers were diverted from the area while firefighters battled the flames. The cause of the fire, extent of damage, and further details weren’t immediately available.

LINDALE — Fire has destroyed A warehouse full of furniture and fabric in the 13000 block of County Road 496 near Lindale. According to KETK, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office says the blaze was called in around 11:30 Monday morning. Lindale, Red Springs, Flint-Gresham, Noonday and Dixie Fire Departments extinguished the fire. The owner of the warehouse suffered minor burns and was treated at the scene. No word on the cause of the fire.

TYLER — A Palestine man is being charged with federal income tax violations. Jefferson Kincade, 37, appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell and was released on an unsecured bond. Kincade was indicted on January 21 and charged with 31 counts of preparing income tax returns with false statements in them, six counts of theft of government money, and six counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to three years in federal prison for each of the 31 counts, up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the six counts of theft of government money, and up to two years in federal prison for each of the six counts of aggravated identity theft. Continue reading Palestine Man Indicted on Numerous Federal Income Tax Charges

TYLER – The death of a Smith County man during a robbery attempt remains under investigation. Killed Sunday night was Courvoiser Kimmetrrius Butler, 24, of Tyler. He was said to have been shot during the shootout with the owner of the Mi Pueblo Food store on Morningside Drive. Butler’s body was found lying on the floor of the store. He was wearing a ski mask and gloves. The store’s owner was not injured. Authorities believe Butler may have been accompanied by a second person. He is described as a black male in his mid twenties, driving a late model green two door vehicle (possibly a Pontiac), who was seen at the store just before to the robbery.

TYLER — The death of a Tyler man remains under investigation. Tyrone Lee Underwood, 24, was found dead in his car which had struck a telephone pole. Investigators say Underwood was shot before the accident. A caller told police her children told her they heard what they believed to be several gunshots. The car crash occurred around 2:45 yesterday morning in the 400 block of West 24th Street.

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas man has been arrested on charges of attempted capital murder following a shooting involving Henderson County law officers. Steven Clement Rei was arrested in the 200 block of North Cherokee Shores Drive in Cherokee Shores. Sheriffs’ deputies were sent to the area in response to a domestic disturbance involving a firearm. Continue reading Man Arrested in Officer-Involved Shooting

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Eastbound I-20 at Mile Marker 534 in Van Zandt County is now open again after being closed due to an overturned 18-wheeler that caught fire around 9 a.m. TxDOT says a second crash involving an 18-wheeler and a car, also at Mile Marker 534 in the westbound lanes, was cleared earlier. All travel lanes are open to traffic.

LONGVIEW – More details are being given out on the impending closure of Johnny Cace’s Seafood & Steak House, a Longview landmark that will cease operations March 28. It was announced last week that the eatery will soon end 66 years in business. Cathy and Chelsea Cace told the Longview News-Journal The decision to close the restaurant came after months of prayer and of pondering options. They said the 13,000-square-foot, 50-year-old building needed so much repair and upkeep that the restaurant, and its owners, were buckling under the strain. Continue reading More Details Given on Closure of Johnny Cace’s

LUFKIN – A Lufkin woman has been charged with assault causing bodily injury after being accused of attacking her mother and sister. Bonds were set at $3,000 for Cherish Davonne Jackson, 24. No word on the argument that led to the attack. It is said to have occurred Saturday in the 800 block of Willow Bend Drive.

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of January 26.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler, along with Special Crews, will also be conducting mill and inlay operations on Farm Road 14 at Interstate Highway 20. Expect the roadway to be reduced to one lane using flaggers to move motorists through the work zone. Expect delays. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates