KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LINDEN — According to our news partner KETK, a Hughes Springs man was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 on Wednesday and has been sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Vincent Riddle was arrested on March 24 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, according to Cass County Jail records. The Cass County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said Riddle’s trial was scheduled to start in front of a jury on Wednesday morning, however, the defense and prosecution reached a plea agreement before opening statements could begin.

The court held a preliminary hearing to decide who the proper ‘outcry witness’ would be in this case in regards to evidence. The DA’s office said hearsay evidence is usually inadmissible, but Texas law allows exceptions to the hearsay rule for this certain type of testimony.

“Under Texas law, the first adult who the child told about the abuse in sufficient detail is allowed to testify about what the child told them,” the DA’s office said. Continue reading ETX man gets 60 years for sexual assault of a child

CHIRENO – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for an 88-year-old man with dementia who was last seen leaving his home in Chireno on Thursday.

According to our news partner KETK, Syndey Alvers, 88 of Chireno, was last seen leaving his home in the 4000 block of County Road 350 in Chireno on Thursday afternoon. He was last seen walking away from the home while wearing a white shirt with red lettering, blue jeans and house shoes. Alvers has dementia and his family last heard from him at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The sheriff’s office was notified of his disappearance at 1:30 p.m. on Friday and responded to his home to help search for him.

The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Chireno Volunteer Fire Department, Melrose Volunteer Fire Department, Swift- Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department and Hudson Rescue are currently searching near his home with the help of community members. Anyone who’s seen Alvers since he left home is asked to call the sheriff’s office dispatchers at 936-559-2600.

POLK COUNTY – A man was sentenced to 25 years in prison as a habitual offender for engaging in organized criminal activity, which involved stealing and selling copper materials, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Raymond Leroy Smelley Jr. was booked on Nov. 14, 2024, and was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, theft of material less that $30,000, and theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000.

The evidence presented to the jury proved Smelley and others stole telecommunication wire from Highline before selling the copper material for profit, the DA’s office said. Continue reading Man sentenced to 25 years for copper theft

OWENTOWN – Our news partner KETK reports that Smith County Emergency Services District 2 has confirmed that a cyclist was injured on Friday in a presumed hit-and-run crash on Highway 271.

According to the district, a passerby noticed a cyclist bleeding and foaming from the mouth in the 12990 block of Highway 271 in front of the Southwest Food Brookshire’s Distribution Center in Owentown, south of Winona.

The passerby called 911 at around 9:06 a.m., and fortunately, an EMS crew was passing by when they made the call. EMS deployed a Lucas device on the cyclist to do CPR on him automatically. Continue reading Smith County officials investigating hit-and-run

RUSK COUNTY – The owner of a stolen John Deere Tractor and front-end loader is offering a substantial reward for any information leading to the tractor’s return, according to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK.

The stolen tractor is reportedly a 2009 green John Deere 6115D cab tractor and was stolen from FM Road 225 in Rusk County on July 25. According to officials, the owner of the tractor is offering a $4,000 reward for information that leads to the tractor being returned or the arrest and indictment of the person who stole it.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Larry Hand at 903-571-3488.

LINDALE – According to a report from our news partner KETK, Eastbound lanes on I-20 near Lindale are now open, and traffic is flowing normally. Continue reading UPDATE: Traffic issue on I-20 near Lindale resolved

HENDERSON COUNTY – Three people were arrested Thursday night after a traffic stop led Henderson County authorities to find two young children home alone with large amounts of suspected cocaine and marijuana, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Around 11:09 p.m., investigators from the Henderson County Sheriff’s office stopped a SUV in the 5900 block of County Road 3925 in Athens, where three suspects were detained, Karl Tremayne Dora, Brealzane Hernandez-Walker and Jkeyvia Ntoi Hurd.

While investigators were searching the SUV, they found a gallon-sized Ziploc bag filled with a large amount of suspected methamphetamine. This search led officers to search Dora’s home where they found two young children alone inside. Continue reading Children reportedly found home alone with drugs, three arrested

TYLER — The Smith County Emergency Management Office is hosting a Community Preparedness Night to educate residents about the importance of being prepared for a disaster. According to a news release from Smith County, the free event will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, August 7, at UT Health Northeast in the amphitheater of the main building.

Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore will talk about recent disasters, preparedness and public education, supporting vulnerable populations, training opportunities and hazard mitigation. They will talk about how you can volunteer with Smith County CERT, how to provide input in the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, and signing up for life-saving disaster alert systems. Continue reading Smith County Community Preparedness Night

CARTHAGE — A lawsuit filed in Panola County accuses several officials of misconduct, racketeering and operating a “duck fund” to trade favorable trial outcomes for cash. According to our news partner KETK, the lawsuit was filed on July 8 in the 123rd Judicial District Court by Lisa and Steven Broomfield, joint permanent managing conservators of a minor child, amid ongoing family court proceedings.

The lawsuit was filed against current County Court at Law Judge and former Acting Assistant District Attorney for Panola County Eric Scott “Rick” McPherson,  former Acting Assistant District Attorney for Panola County Joey Fenlaw, f ormer Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson along with 10 unnamed Panola County officials and agents. Continue reading Panola County officials accused of misconduct, racketeering

HENDERSON COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a former Eustace police officer was sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography in the 392nd District Court. Mitchell Burris was arrested in January on four counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography. The arrest came after authorities obtained three videos reportedly depicting minors engaging in sexual conduct.

In December 2024, investigators examined the items collected during the search warrant, where they reportedly found screenshots of several videos of infants and young child pornography. Investigators contacted Eustace Mayor Dustin Shelton, who reportedly identified the man as Burris.

“While looking through the content folder, [the investigator] observed a photo of a white male’s face sitting inside a car. The background of this photo appears to be a police car,” the affidavit stated. “While looking through the folder, there was another image of the same male, in the suspected police car from a different angle.” Continue reading Former Eustace officer gets 20 years for child porn

SMITH COUNTY — Two men who planned to kidnap, rape and murder a Texas woman have now both been sentenced to decades-long prison sentences. According to our news partner KETK, Brad McKinney, 53 of Kilgore, was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on Thursday after he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit capital murder on June 23. Dustin Adlai Yates, 52, was sentenced to 30 years in state prison for conspiracy to commit murder on July 15.

According to an arrest affidavit, Yates contacted McKinney to gather information on Yates’s ex-girlfriend and would pay him for his services. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested Yates on Dec. 27, 2024 for stalking, after his ex-girlfriend informed them that Yates was contacting her by email on Oct. 31, 2024.

Yates was attempting to contact her despite warnings from the Houston Police Department not to contact her following a family violence case. The woman sent screenshots of the following messages from Yates on Dec. 1, 2024, to detectives: Continue reading Men sentenced for kidnapping, murder plot

BULLARD — The City of Bullard announced on Thursday that some residents may encounter little to no water pressure due to a water main break, according to our news partner KETK.

The city said its utility department is currently working on repairing the issue, and thanks its residents for their patience during this time.

TYLER — The Hill Creek Branch bridge on Park Road 16 in Tyler State Park has been closed as of Wednesday, July 30, after routine inspections revealed erosion in parts of the structure. According to a news release, officials said out of an abundance of caution, TxDOT officials made the decision to close the bridge immediately to ensure visitor safety. Plans for repairs are currently underway, with construction expected to be completed in Fall 2025.

“Safety is always our top priority,” said Jeff Williford, Public Information Officer for the Tyler District. “TxDOT routinely inspects every bridge in the state to ensure they meet all safety standards and remain safe for the traveling public.”