CORSICANA — The fourth member of a multi-county mortgage fraud scheme has pleaded guilty to a first-degree felony for his role in a multimillion dollar enterprise that defrauded government-backed mortgages. Darrell Lynn Marriott, 57, of Gun Barrel City in Henderson County, was sentenced in Navarro County District Court to 28 years in prison for securing the execution of a document by deception. Under the terms of the plea deal, the defendant will now enter an identical plea in Kaufman County.
In a separate but related matter last month in Wilbarger County, Marriott pleaded guilty to the same charge involving a single home purchase. The district court sentenced him to nine years in prison.
The defendant’s wife, Kandace Y. Marriott, 54, is currently serving a 99-year sentence after a Navarro County jury in March 2009 found her guilty of first-degree mortgage fraud. In July 2009, she was also sentenced to two 20-year terms after pleading guilty in Kaufman County. Her sister, Karen Hayes, 59, of Henderson County, is currently serving an 18-year sentence for falsifying documents to obtain property or credit. The Marriotts’ daughter, Kally Marriott, 24, of Rockwall, was also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity for securing the execution of a document by deception. She pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony last December and served four months in jail as a condition of her probation.
TYLER — Tyler police have taken a suspected burglar into custody. It started around 10:00 Tuesday night when officers answered a burglar alarm at Tony’s Taqueria, in the 2800 block of Frankston Highway. Arriving officers reported finding the burglar still inside the business. The suspect, a 15 year old, was arrested after a short foot chase. He will be charged with Burglary of a Building, a state jail felony, and Evading Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.
TYLER — A 43-year-old Tyler man has been arraigned in Tyler on federal child pornography charges. Thomas Alvin Boyd was indicted July 14 and charged with production of child pornography. He’d previously been indicted on charges of possession of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, Boyd produced child pornography involving three minor males from about 2001 until at least 2005. If convicted, Boyd faces up to 30 years in federal prison for the production charge, up to 20 years each for the receipt and distribution charges, and up to 10 years for the possession charge. This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
TYLER — Police are renewing their call for help in solving a robbery earlier this month. On July 3, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Tyler Police responded to the CVS Pharmacy located at 1702 South Broadway Avenue on the report of a robbery. Officers arrived and spoke to employees at the scene. They told officers that an unknown male approached the sales counter and told them he had a gun. He then fled the area on foot with an undisclosed amount of merchandise. The suspect (shown here in surveillance video released Tuesday) is described as a tall black male, possibly bald. He was last seen heading eastbound on foot. 
MINEOLA — Authorities report the weekend drowning of a three-year-old in a Mineola swimming pool. According to KETK, Wood County deputies were dispatched to FM 1801 Saturday in reference to the accidental drowning. Mineola Fire Department First Responders were first on the scene and administered medical attention until East Texas Medical Center Emergency Medical Technicians transported the victim to the ETMC Emergency Room in Quitman. The victim is Crisslyn Thompson, the daughter of Joshua and Tammantha Thompson of Mineola. The investigation indicates that the child accidentally entered the family’s outdoor swimming pool and was unconscious when discovered. The child was later flown to Medical City Children’s Center in Dallas, where she was pronounced dead by attending physicians.
CANTON — In an effort to help authorities fight nuisance crimes such as the theft or destruction of road signs, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers is offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of people involved in these crimes. The group is offering a $100 reward per tip, plus $50 for each sign that is recovered from the thief or thieves. To qualify for the reward, anyone with information about sign-related crimes can call Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers at 903-567-STOP (567-7867) and give that information without identifying themselves. Once an arrest is made, the caller will be able to collect their Crime Stoppers reward.
TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White’s wife, Andrea, is talking up her husband’s trip to East Texas this week. Mrs. White says the campaign is going well, but her husband is still trying to introduce himself to Texans. She says, “A lot of people still haven’t heard of him, so that’s one reason he’s working so hard — but then, he works hard all the time.” Mrs. White is also promoting “Expectation Graduation” — a program Bill White started in his hometown of Houston, where he once served as mayor. The object is to get kids to re-enroll in school. Mrs. White explains that in September, project workers go door-to-door and ask kids who have dropped out to consider returning. So far, she says, the program has gotten over 8,000 Houston-area kids back in school — and has now spread to other towns. 