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MARSHALL – April Gibbons, 33, of Longview, was released on a $20,000 bond Friday after being charged with two counts of endangering a child. The death followed the February 12th death of one of her 18-month old twins. She told police one twin rolled on top of and smothered the other one. She has since admitted she had given both twins adult sleep medication. Investigators say the surviving twin was found to have several over-the-counter medications in her system that were not suitable for the child’s age. The investigation is ongoing as they await a toxicology report.

TYLER – Brookshire’s and the East Texas Food Bank are a step closer to getting into the Guinness Book of World Records. Friday afternoon, the final 2 cans, of 36,000 cans, were placed on the top of a 12-foot-tall pyramid, with a 17-by-17 foot base. They were put in place by Brookshire’s Chairman and CEO Brad Brookshire and the food bank CEO Dennis Cullinane. Next, they have to submit an evidence packet specific to this record to Guinness Book for their review. It includes photos, video, written statements, etc. Once they process it, the official certificate will be sent. Continue reading Records Are Made to be Broken

TYLER – A Tyler man plead guilty to his part in a Smith County Murder. Stanton Lane Pearce, 54, plead guilty to charges of tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. The charge stems from the murder of Luis Martinez, 62, of Tyler. His body was found in a cemetery in the Antioch Community last September. It took a manhunt of over 24 hours to locate Pearce. Sheriff’s deputies arrested him in the Jackson Heights Community east of Tyler. Continue reading A Guilty Plea in a Murder Case

TYLER – East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert has come under fire in some circles recently. He has chosen to forgo town hall forums before constituents for fear of drawing demonstrations by protesters of President Donald Trump. Instead, he is holding “telephone town halls.” Tonight, Gohmert will join KETK News LIVE during their news at 6:00. He will take part in a 30 minute question and answer session where he will answer questions from the KETK staff, as well as from East Texans. If you have a question for Rep. Gohmert, e-mail it to Newsroom-KETK@Nexstar.TV or submit them on the KETK Facebook page.

LONGVIEW – Ten persons have been indicted in Gregg County on a variety of drug charges. The indictments follow a year long investigation by Longview Police and the FBI. With the exception of one, all of the suspects are from Gregg County. At a news conference Friday, it was announced the investigation led to the seizure of over $1 million worth of drugs. They also recovered 14 guns and $50,000 in cash. Continue reading Indictments In a Major Drug Investigation

LONGVIEW – A man has been arrested following his indictment in Longview’s 15th homicide of 2016. At a news conference Friday, it was announced Christopher Pleasant had been indicted in the death of Victorria Jasmine Sam, 28, of Longview. On December 19th, her body was found in a car on Duncan Street. She had been shot to death. Pleasant had been arrested February 11th by Marshall Police on a parole warrant. He was served with the murder warrant in the Harrison County Jail.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Grand Jury has indicted a man involved in a police standoff last June. The district attorney’s office reports Sonny Dee Edwards Jr., 32, was indicted on a charge of criminal mischief causing a monetary loss of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000. He had been under a protective order and not suppose to be in the house on Mamon Drive. Edwards was said to have fired several rounds at a police robot, slightly damaging it. Two women in the home were able to escape unharmed through a bedroom window. Edwards surrendered after the over 7 1/2 hour standoff.

TATUM – A Rusk County woman remains jailed on drug charges. Melissa Wallace, 35, of Tatum was arrested following a Crime Stoppers tip. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Department and Tatum Police arrested her at a Tatum motel. Officers seized 34 grams of suspected methamphetamine, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, firearms and money. Wallace is in the Rusk County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Investigators anticipate additional arrests as the investigation continues.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man arrested for prostitution has been identified as a former East Texas school district superintendent. According to KETK, Jerry B. Roberts, 64, of Longview, was arrested Thursday and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Roberts was the Kilgore ISD superintendent from 1993–2007 and previously served as principal and assistant principal at Kilgore High School, as well as assistant middle school principal, counselor and teacher. Before Kilgore, he held the position of elementary school principal at New Boston ISD and was superintendent at Leverett’s Chapel ISD. Currently, Roberts serves as a Field Representative for the Texas Association of School Boards, according to the TASB website. He represents ESC Region 7, as well as parts of 8 and 10. Bond has not been set.

OVERTON — Overton ISD cancelled school Friday due to a city-wide water outage. Classes will resume as normal on Monday. No word on what caused the outage.

KILGORE – A woman, responsible for a fatal hit and run accident in Kilgore, is heading to prison. Kyrsten Nycole McCarty, 26, of Kilgore, waived a jury trial and pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She had been accused of hitting Robert Jack Moorehead, 5, on August 30, 2015. He was riding his scooter when he was hit on Florence Street in Kilgore. He later died in the hospital. McCarty was arrested the day after the accident.

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – who survived an assassination attempt – is urging members of Congress to “have some courage” and face their constituents. Her comments Thursday are in response to Republican Louie Gohmert of Tyler, who this week invoked Giffords’ 2011 shooting in explaining why he’s currently only holding telephone town halls. Gohmert says there are groups “from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology” who are attending town halls to wreak havoc and threaten public safety. Giffords says town halls were a hallmark of her time in Congress, and she continues to meet with the public today in campaigning for stricter gun laws. Continue reading Gohmert Responds to Giffords Comments

TYLER – A bicyclist has been injured when hit by a car at the intersection of West Gentry Parkway and North Confederate. Injured in the accident, shortly before 3:30 Thursday afternoon, was De’Keith Jacobs, 36, of Tyler. He’s hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Police spokesman Don Martin says Jacobs crossed in front of a vehicle a car and was hit, then struck the windshield of the vehicle and then fell to the ground. Officers determined that Jacobs failed to yield the right of way to the traffic on Gentry.

HENDERSON – The state has approved funding for the Rusk County Airport. The $200,000 was approved by the Texas Transportation Commission at its February meeting. The funds will be used for planned improvements at the airport 3 miles west of Henderson. This would include engineering and design for pavement improvements. The poject costs will be funded through Rusk County and TxDOT’s Aviation Facilities Grant Program. A project consultant will be selected this spring.

TYLER – A Smith County couple wanted for sex crimes, arrested in Louisiana February 16th, have been returned to Tyler. Johnny Floyd Crocker, 56 and his wife Angela ,41, had their initial court appearance Thursday. Both were appointed lawyers. They were then booked into the Smith County Jail. Each is being held on bonds totaling $575,000. Arrested near Shreveport, they had been on the run as they faced charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and tampering with physical evidence. The pair had been considered to be armed and dangerous. In fact, they had said they would not be taken alive. Johnny is a former law officer and is a registered sex offender.

TYLER – A report of a shooter at the University of Texas at Tyler turned out to be a false alarm. Police received an active shooter alert from a smart phone app that sends out alerts to threats and emergeny situations. Responding officers found out that the alert was inadvertently issued. The sender had not intended to send it. While they were confirming the mistake, the police received calls that gun shots were heard in the Braithwaite Nursing Building. As it was cleared by police, a shelter in place alert was issued. When no shooter was found, the all-clear was issued.

RED SPRINGS – A Lindale woman is killed and another Lindale resident injured in a wreck north of Tyler. Killed in the accident, Just after 5:00 Thursday morning, was Jolene Ellis Robinson, 42. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger, Adron Thomas, 42, is hospitalized. The accident occurred on Farm Road 16 at County Road 3165. The Department of Public Safety reports their SUV left the road on a curve, hit several trees and then rolled over and caught fire. The crash remains under investigation.

GLADEWATER – Gladewater police have issued a scam alert over someone posing as a city employee. Someone is calling claiming to be from the City of Gladewater Water Billing department. They are taking credit card information for billing over the phone. The problem is, the city does not take billing info over the phone. Gladewater residents are warned not to give out this information. If you get such a call, report it to the police. Any caller ID information or any other details will be helpful.

TYLER – Some members of the Tyler Police Department have been honored at their annual banquet. The awards cited employees for their performance in 2016. Officer Jason Shields was named Officer of the year. He was cited for, among other things, his excellent work ethic and care for others. Other awards went to Lieutenant Paul Robeson, the Sworn Suprevisor of the year, Detective Jason Compton the Plainclothes Officer of the Year, and officer Sandra Doss was named Rookie Officer of the Year. Also, Chaplain Doug Haning received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Continue reading Tyler Police Officers Honored

SMITH COUNTY — A Central Texas man was arrested in Smith County for multiple sex crimes. According to KETK, Chesley Dean Hayes, 42, of Gatesville, was arrested around 8:45 Wednesday night by Smith County Sheriff’s Officials. Hayes is charged with six counts of indecency with a child by contact and six counts of sexual assault prohibited/purport spouse. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on $1,350,000 bond.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP/STAFF) — Federal authorities say a man believed to have to have robbed 11 banks in Texas and four Western states has been arrested at a motel in Tucson. The FBI says Anthony James Lane, 50, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday by FBI agents and Tucson police. Called the “Barrel Chested Bandit,” he is accused of two bank robberies in Northeast Texas. He is a suspect in the robbery at the LeTourneau Federal Credit Union in Longview, last September 12th, and the robbery of the Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs last November 30. Continue reading The Barrel Chested Bandit in Custody

MARSHALL – Geoffrey Davis, who has served as the campus minister at Mobberly Baptist Church’s campus in Marshall, has been named Marshall Campus Pastor. Church members approved the shift during a church conference Wednesday evening. Davis grew up attending Mobberly and served as a youth minister at the church in 2010 and 2011. He joined the staff at one of its church plants in Spearfish, South Dakota, and returned to Mobberly this past June. During the church conference, the church also confirmed three new deacons, including two who attend the Marshall campus. The two new Marshall campus deacons join three other deacons on the campus that formerly attended Mobberly’s Longview campus.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have arrested three persons who are accused of using a skimmer on a gas pump in an effort to steal credit card information. Police arrested Beniurkis Hernandez-Rodriguez, 31, of Houston, Tamara Valle-Hernandez, 33, of Houston, and Junior Miguel Peralta-Montilla, 19, of Tampa Florida. All three were booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of unlawful use of a criminal instrument. They are also being held on an INS detainer. Continue reading A Skimmer Lands Three in Jail in Longview

TYLER – John Tyler High School speech and debate students Tacorian Tilley and Triston Ferguson have qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament. It will be held in Montgomery, Alabama in June. Tacorian will compete in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking and Triston in Congressional Debate. Classmate Jose Romero earned an Alternate spot in Congressional Debate. To prepare for the national tournament, Tacorian and Triston will spend the next few months researching current events and practicing various speaking styles and tactics. They will be concentrating on details such as speaking slowly and clearly, voice pitch and articulation. This will be the second time in three years students from John Tyler High School have advanced to the National Tournament. After high school, Tacorian plans to attend the University of North Texas to major in communications and minor in political science. Hopeful for a career in politics, Triston plans to attend Hillsdale College in Michigan.

LONGVIEW – Stealing a bundle of firewood has resulted in robbery charges against two Longview teens. One of three teens bought some items, including a bundle of firewood from a store on Judson Road. A witness told the clerk the teen had taken an extra bundle of wood when he left. When the clerk confronted the three in their vehicle, the driver pointed a hand gun at him and drove away. When officers found the vehicle, with only two inside, they arrested arrested Sean Tyler Boo Boo Huffman, 18, and James Ray Braxton, 17. Both were charged with aggravated robbery. When marijuana was found in Braxton’s jacket pocket at the jail, he was also charged with possession of marijuana. They’re still looking for the third suspect.

TYLER – Videos posted on social media, showing a big brawl at a Tyler apartment project, are drawing a lot of attention. It happened Tuesday night at the Reserve Apartments on County Road 272, also known as Adam Henry Road. The videos show a large group fighting in the parking lot of the apartments. Some appear to be hit by a car that was backing up at a high speed. When police arrived, the group scattered. No injuries were reported and no one stayed to talk with officers. Police spokesman Don Martin says there is not much they can do until someone comes forward to file a complaint.

TYLER – A man from the metroplex has been sentenced in Tyler federal court for a variety of crimes in East Texas. LaQuaylan Wesley Patterson, 25, of Lancaster, has been sentenced to 171 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Ron Clark. Patterson had been accused of robbing a bank in Big Sandy in 2015 and a Metroplex bank in 2014. Patterson and a co-defendant are also accused of taking a woman’s car at gun point from a south Tyler apartment complex in March of 2015. He used the stolen car to drive to Big Sandy where he robbed the branch of the 1st National Bank of Gilmer of nearly $30,000.

MINEOLA — An East Texas man who has been previously charged in connection with the death of two toddler’s is back behind bars. According to KETK, the Mineola Police Department arrested Thomas Wayne Liles, Jr., of Mineola, on two warrants. He is charged with CAP serious bodily injury to child failure to seek medical treatment and CAP serious bodily injury to child failure to seek medical attention. He is being held in the Wood County Jail on bonds totaling $500,000. The suspect was released from jail January 25, 2016, following a tampering with evidence arrest. On July 24, 2014, Quitman police responded to reports of two young children who were not breathing. When authorities arrived, they found two girls, Gabriella Guerroro, 3, and Natalye Price, 1, dead from blunt force trauma. Both deaths were ruled a homicide. Daphne Elizabeth McDaniels was charged with capital murder in the death of her daughters. Continue reading Suspect Connected to Toddlers’ Deaths Arrested Again

TYLER (AP/Staff) – A conservative East Texas Republican Congressman has chosen to forgo town hall forums before constituents for fear of drawing demonstrations by protesters of President Donald Trump. In a statement issued Tuesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert said he was concerned that “groups from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology … who are preying on public town halls” would “wreak havoc and threaten public safety.” Instead, Gohmert said he is holding “telephone town halls.” He said that in the time it takes to appear live before 30 to 100 constituents, he can communicate with thousands by telephone conference with telephone company assurance that participants are residents of his East Texas district. Continue reading East Texas Congressman Opts for “Telephone” Town Halls

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a reported pedestrian accident on West Bow Street and West Gentry Parkway Tuesday night. According to KETK, a woman made the call around 7:45 Tuesday night. She told responding officers that she was sideswiped by a car but was unable to describe the vehicle. The woman was taken by EMS to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.