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TYLER – A man and woman have been sentenced in federal court in Tyler to prison for child exploitation violations. Brian Casper, 27, of Tyler, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2016. Federal District Judge Ron Clark, on Monday, sentenced him to 336 months in federal prison. Taylor Keeth, 22, of Indianola, Iowa, (pictured) pleaded guilty on December 7, 2016, and Judge Clark sentenced her 282 months in federal prison. The two will also be required to register as a sex offender upon their release from federal prison. Continue reading Two Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Children

GILMER – Juries have now been seated in two Upshur County cases. A jury was selected Monday morning in the trial of Lee Roy Settles, 36, of Winnsboro. He is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. His trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. And a jury has been selected for the sentencing of Andrew Denton Hockman, 21, of Lone Star. He pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to the aggravated robbery of a gas station in Ore City. The jury is scheduled to take up his case on Wednesday, April 20th.

GILMER – A Gilmer man will be going to prison for a drug violation. Prior to jury selection a Gilmer man, Corbin Patrick McBride, 22, pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams, which occurred on December 14, 2015. He has now been sentenced to 18 years in prison. With the plea bargain being reached, there is no appeal and the sentence is final.

NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a murder suspect. He is Lester Butcher, 54. He is said to have killed a James Steitler off County Road 817, Northwest of Nacogdoches, early Sunday morning. Butcher, who authorities say is dangerous and may be armed, was last known to be in Henderson County. They say he may be hiding out in the Chandler area. Butcher is said to be 5’11” and weighs around 205 pounds. He has hazel eyes and blond hair. If you know where Butcher can be located, you are asked to immediately contact your local law enforcement agency.

NOONDAY – The Smith County Tax Office in Bullard is relocating. It was announced Monday that the tax office branch in Bullard would be moving to Noonday. After being in the Bullard City Hall for more than a decade, It will close on Tuesday and reopen on Wednesday in the Noonday justice of the peace and constable facility. Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber said the move would allow Bullard to expand its offices. And he said, by moving into the Noonday facility, it allows the tax office the opportunity to expand its services in the future.

TYLER – The police Chief of the TISD Police Department has decided to run for justice of the peace. Danny Brown has filed the necessary paperwork to run for Justice of the Peace in Precinct 5. Brown had a 20 year career with the Tyler Police Department. He then spent five years as a special investigator with the Texas Department of Family & Protective Service. He held that position until 2012 when became the TISD Police Department’s Chief. He becomes the second person to announce for the post. Tyler police Sgt. Darin Grisson announced last month he was also running for the justice of the peace position.

LONGVIEW — An unnamed Spring Hill ISD faculty member has resigned over allegations of misconduct involving a student. According to KETK and the Longview News-Jornal, the superintendent says Longview police and the State Board of Education have been notified, and an investigation is underway.

TYLER – The 33 Annual Taste of Tyler comes to Harvey Hall Tuesday night. From 6:30 to 8:30, you will be able to sample the food and beverages from nearly three dozen Tyler restaurants. Along with the food and drink there will also be entertainment. There will also be a cook-off featuring high school teams. This city-wide event raises money to support ProStart, a High School Culinary Education Program across North East Texas. A member of the East Texas Restaurant Association, Roger Lumley with Papacita’s, says there are 17 schools and they help those schools with a $1,000 donation each year. Continue reading It’s Time for the Taste of Tyler

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas fugitive, wanted on numerous charges, including warrants, is arrested Sunday. According to the Henderson County Sheriff, Timothy Brian Berry, AKA “Blue, 41, Gun Barrel City, was wanted for three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and a violation of protective order. Continue reading Henderson County Fugitive Arrested

EAST TEXAS — A bill to save the failing police and fire pension fund in Dallas will face an important vote in Austin today. The House Pension Committee, which has been hearing from both sides of the hot-button issue, will take a vote on a bill designed to bailout the fund, which could run dry in coming years because of bad investments in the past. If the bill, sponsored by Republican Dan Flynn of Van Zandt County passes it would then be voted on by the full house. But some, like Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings have testified to lawmakers that the pension rescue plan would put too much burden on taxpayers and limit the city’s ability to provide services. Mayor Rawlings says it could be out a billion dollars.

GUN BARREL CITY – An aggravated sexual assault is being investigated by Gun Barrel City Police. It occurred on the walking track at the city park Saturday night. Due to the nature of the current investigation, the amount of information that has been released about the incident is limited. They are asking any person who was at the walking track between the times of 7:00pm and 8:00 Saturday night to please contact the Gun Barrel City Police Department at 903-887-7151 and ask for Investigator Sgt. Jeff Norris.

TYLER — Tyler’s North Tenneha Church of Christ hosted “First Responders Day” Saturday — a chance for residents to meet, greet, and build relationships with public safety personnel. Evangelist Kennon Olison Sr. says the event was a big success. He commented, “I’m very happy to see the community. I was very surprised by how many non-members of the faith-based community…actually showed up and were a part of it. So I think it was very good — I think it was a very good start. I think there’s more to do, but there was a very good start.” Continue reading First Responders Recognized in Tyler

MARSHALL – Two persons are facing drug charges following a traffic stop in Marshall. Arrested early Saturday morning were Tobias Prudencio, 30, of Marshall, and Stephanie Carbajal, 19, of Maryland. Their car was stopped on East End Boulevard South. Officers said they could smell marijuana as they approached the vehicle. Prudencio denied a search of the vehicle claiming there were no drugs inside. A police K9 indicated there were drugs in the car. Officers found 87.5 grams of methamphetamine, two digital scales, a .45 caliber handgun and small bags, commonly used in the sale of narcotics in the vehicle. They also learned the car had been stolen in Maryland. Both were booked into the Harrison County Jail.

TYLER – One man has been injured in a Tyler shooting. It was reported shortly before 11:00 Sunday morning at Noble E. Young Park on Seaton Street. A 25 year old man was taken by private vehicle to a Tyler Hospital with a hand wound. Investigators say the two subjects knew each other and had got into an altercation while in the park. The police are withholding the names of the suspect and victim pending further investigation.

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department held its Twenty-Sixth Annual Awards Banquet Saturday night at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. During the ceremony, firefighters, along with retired firefighters and civilians were honored for their actions and service to the City of Tyler. Additionally, firefighters receiving promotions over the past year were also recognized. Among the awards that were handed out; Firefighter of the Year Award went to Driver/Engineer Damon Daugherty

Other awards included:
Outstanding District Award:
District 1 A-Shift, led by District Chief Joey Wiggins Continue reading Tyler Firemen Honored

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is facing drug and weapons charges following his arrest. James Earl Buchanan, 29, was arrested on Ruby Lane after the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit, SWAT team, Longview Police officers, the Special Investigations and Apprehensions Unit, and the ATF executed a warrant. In the house officers found meth, cocaine, heroin, hydrocodone, marijuana, K2, and promethazine. They also found 3 handguns, 1 AK-47, and several hundred rounds of ammunition in the house. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling half a million dollars. Buchanan is being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, 3 outstanding Gregg County warrants and an outstanding warrant from Upshur County.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is being charged with charged with assault family violence strangulation with a previous assault family violence conviction. In the Gregg County Jail under a $20,000 bond is Joseph Patrick Bible, 27. The woman he is accused of assaulting told officers Bible does not live with her but they have two children together. She said she was pushed into a coffee table, grabbed by the neck and hair, pushed her to the floor and then Bible attempted to strangle her. A friend of the victim, who was visiting, was able to separate the two.

HENDERSON – A East Texas man has been sentenced to prison for cattle theft in Rusk County. Charlie Long, 36, is the last of four Nacogdoches men to be sentenced in the case. Long has been sentenced to two years in state prison, plus court costs and a $75 donation to Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Operation Cow Thief. In October 2014, Long and Christian Collins, Jovante Fields and Gwivonna Long cut a lock and stole four cows, which they took to the livestock auction in Athens. That’s where the cattle were recovered. That’s when TSCRA Special Ranger Larry Hand, an other law officers, began the investigation that resulted in the arrest, conviction and sentencing of the four suspects.

GILMER – The step son of a man found shot to death in Upshur County has now been charged with murder. Upshur county investigators say they had gathered enough information to charge Clinton Ray Allen, 45, of Gilmer, with first degree murder. The shooting of James Earl Robinson was said have stemmed from a family dispute. Robinson was found dead Thursday evening. Officers responded to a welfare check on Holly Road, southwest of Gilmer, around 6:00 and discovered Robinson’s bod in the house. His body was sent to Tyler for autopsy. Officials first arrested Allen on a charge of public intoxication. As the investigation progressed, the murder charge was added.

LONGVIEW – With the help of some neighbors, Longview police have arrested a man who forced his way into a couple’s home. Malique Makail Henderson, 20, of Longview is said to have hit an elderly woman in the head with a rock and forced his way into her Green Street home. He is then said to have hit an elderly man. After stealing some items from the house, he ran away. Neighbors chased him and help police locate Henderson. They found the items taken from the couple’s home. Henderson has been charged with aggravated robbery and burglary of a habitation. He is being held in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $1.5 million.

TYLER- A man, who is said to be a local drug kingpin, is in custody in Smith County. With his attorney with him, Eduardo Ramirez Pineda, 24, of Tyler, turned himself in to authorities Friday morning. Pineda is said to be the local leader of an East Texas drug trafficking ring. He has been charged with criminal conspiracy to possess marijuana, more than 50 pounds and less than 2,000 pounds, and is being held in the Smith County jail under a $400,000 bond. The ring is believed to be connected to at least 15 marijuana fields found in the area. Continue reading Major Drug Suspect in Custody in Smith County

TYLER – A Van Zandt County man has been indicted in Smith County for running a gambling operation. The indictment against John Christopher Borgstedt, 38, of Ben Wheeler. He was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity. He was arrested in late November for running a gambling operation in the 800 block of Lindsey Lane. A couple of weeks later, authorities found five illegal gambling devices at the Valero Gas Station on the Chandler Highway at Loop 323. Several more gambling devices were found at a location near the intersection of Loop 323 and Commerce Street.

TYLER – The Smith County Grand Jury has indicted four persons in connection with a February Tyler Robbery. The four are Keelan Rashod Smith, 21, Harley Dee Linton, 21, Kendrick Shaun Warfield, 22 and Terryaun Lamar Rodgers, 22.(pictured) They were arrested in with the help of the the US Marshal’s Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force. They are accused of robbing a person they contacted by way of the social media to buy a car. When the victim arrived, they pulled guns and robbed him.

SMITH COUNTY — Two East Texas women have been sentenced to prison for murder. According to KETK, Rebecca Bond, 38, Tyler, pleaded guilty to last year’s murder of Luis Martinez, 62, Tyler. As part of a plea agreement, Judge Christi Kennedy sentenced Bond (pictured) to 50 years in prison. Also on Thursday, Laurie Perry, 56, Chandler, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for tampering with physical evidence. The body of Martinez was found in a cemetery in the Anitoch Community September 23. Continue reading East Texas Women Sentenced to Prison for Murder

UPSHUR COUNTY — Upshur County officials are investigating a murder after a man was found dead Thursday evening. According to KETK, officers responded to a welfare check on Holly Road around 6:00 and discovered the body of the man who lived in the house. Further investigation revealed that foul play was involved in the man’s death. The victim has been identified James Earl Robinson. His body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy. Officials have arrested a man in connection with the homicide. He’s Clinton Ray Allen. For now, he’s been charged with public intoxication. Upshur County officials say they plan on questioning him about the murder.

TYLER – In Tyler Thursday night, Arts in Education Awards were presented to 6 teachers by Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. The awards honored the teacher for their service to the visual arts. For her years of commitment to her students and the arts, Tyler ISD art teacher Carolyn Stewart received the Lifetime Achievement Award.The Distinguished Service to the Profession Award, honors teachers who have given back to their own art form. The honoree in this category is, Kimberley Funderburk, Theatre Director at Carthage High School. Continue reading Teachers Honored in Tyler

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man has been arrested on drug charges. Kimo L. McClain, 26, was arrested at a home on Glover Drive. That’s where members of the the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit and officers of the the Special Investigations and Apprehensions Unit, executed a search warrant. McClain has been charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and theft of a firearm. He’s now in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $116,000.

TYLER – A project that caused Reed Road to be closed has been completed. The road was closed for installation of a culvert drainage pipe. The city has announced that the Reed Road drainage culvert project in southeast Tyler is complete and the road was reopened to traffic Thursday afternoon.

LONGVIEW – A Kilgore man is heading to prison for a home burglary last spring. State District Judge Alfonso Charles sentenced 55 year old Robin Bernard Giddings to 35 years in prison. A home owner on Post Oak Road in Kilgore surprised Giddings in his home late last May. The Longview News Journal reports A sheriffs deputy saw Giddings walking in the area. When he tried to arrest him, Giddings broke free and ran. His flight was stopped by the deputy, who shot him with a stun gun.