KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department announced Thursday the arrest of a man they say may have been selling narcotics to minors. According to KETK, Kilgore Police say Christopher “Pops” Sanders was taken into custody on a drug charge for methamphetamine. Narcotics investigators made the arrest after receiving tips Sanders was allegedly selling drugs to minors. Detectives were reportedly able to determine the suspect was selling drugs out of his home. He was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail on $10,000 bond for possession of a controlled substance. Sanders was also on probation at the time of his arrest.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has identified an alleged drunk driver who reportedly caused two accidents in south Tyler on Wednesday. According to KETK, Public Information Officer Don Martin says Gregory Acosta, 22, of Lindale, hit a car in a parking lot at On the Border, in the 4300 block of South Broadway. Martin says Acosta then fled the scene and caused a second crash near the intersection of Old Bullard Road and SSW Loop 323. The suspect was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released on $500 bond early the next morning. Martin says the investigation remains open.

TYLER — Tyler’s Azalea and Spring Flower Trail kicks off this weekend, but the opening ceremony won’t be held until 2 p.m. Sunday due to the strong chance of rain. The ceremony was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. today. Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau officials say the home of Guy and Joan Pyron, at 212 W. Dobbs St., will still be the location of the opening event as originally planned. Organizers have scheduled a wealth activities during the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, which runs through April 5. You can go to http://www.visittyler.com/azaleatrail for more information.

GLADEWATER – A one vehicle accident in Gladewater has killed a Longview woman. Angie Neldine Smith, 36, died at a hospital shortly after the accident that happened around 12:30 Thursday morning. The accident occurred in the 1600 block of George Richey Road. From looking at the wreckage to the woman’s SUV, it appears she was traveling at a high speed when the vehicle left the road and hit a tree.

MARSHALL — Marshall authorities say they’re investigating reports of a home hit with bullets and vehicles spray painted by an unknown person or people. According to KETK, around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Police responded to reports of a prowler near the intersection of West and Cypress Streets. When officers made it to the scene in the 600 block of Cypress, police found the home had been struck by gunfire several times, and vehicles at the house were spray painted with letters “NSG” in black coloring. Further investigation revealed several other homes in the neighborhood were spray painted with graffiti, along with numerous street signs. Continue reading Marshall PD Investigating Home Hit by Gunfire, Vehicles Spray Painted

TYLER — In conjunction with the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the public’s input in helping to identify two suspects involved in two recent armed robberies. The first robbery occurred March 13 at the Food Fast Convenience Store on Hwy 64 W in Smith County. In that robbery, one suspect believed to be either a black or Hispanic female walked around the counter to empty the cash register and also stole cigarettes from underneath the counter. The second suspect, believed to be a white or Hispanic male, was armed with a black handgun and ordered the clerk to stay put. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Aggravated Robbery Suspects

PALESTINE — The Mount Vernon AME Church in Palestine has been announced as one of the eight historic structures included in Preservation Texas’ 2015 Most Endangered places list. “This occurred through concerted and tireless effort by members of the local community of Palestine and the dedicated staff and volunteers at Preservation Texas,” according to a news release from the city of Palestine. The historic church sanctuary is included on the National Register, is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and is a City of Palestine local landmark as well, according to the release. Continue reading Palestine Church Named among State’s Most Endangered Places

TYLER — Hiway 80 Rescue Mission Ministries and the board of directors for Gateway to Hope have joined forces to allow the rescue mission to operate the Gateway to Hope facility for a six-month time period. Gateway to Hope, a Tyler resource facility for the homeless, is temporarily closed. According to a message on its website, “Right now, we are in the process of streamlining our community services to better serve our guest(s) and community as a whole.” Hiway 80 Rescue Mission is based in Longview and has an outreach office in Tyler. Continue reading Highway 80 Rescue Mission, Gateway to Hope Enter Agreement

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman was arrested after a car wreck sent one person to the hospital Tuesday night. According to KETK, Sarah Cathren Arnold, 18, drove through a stop sign on Texas Street at about 6:15. Her vehicle was hit in the left passenger side by a car. The wreck left five people injured. One passenger was thrown out of the vehicle and sustained a fractured skull. That victim was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center and received emergency surgery. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers said Arnold’s speech was slurred and she appeared to be disoriented. Continue reading Longview Woman Arrested after Several Injured in Wreck

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County jury has found Coby Ray Hudgins, 23, of Kilgore, guilty of murder. The trial continued Thursday with the punishment phase in the 124th District Court of Judge Alfonso Charles. Hudgins could get up to life in prison. On Sunday, October 6, 2013, Kilgore police arrested Hudgins for the murder of Kayla Elizabeth Williams, 17, of Hallsville. The incident took place at a home in the 3000 block of Mustang Drive in Kilgore. Hudgins was reportedly last seen leaving the residence where police found Williams’ body. Gregg County Judge Arthur Fort, who pronounced Williams dead the following morning, said Williams died instantly from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

VAN — New information has been released about an incident at an area camp and conference center. According to a news release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on March 8 at approximately 1 a.m., patrol deputies were dispatched to Sky Ranch in the 24000 block of CR 448 in Van. Upon arrival, responding deputies met with a camp counselor and discovered that an unknown white male had been seen in Cabin 2. He reportedly ran out of the cabin upon being noticed by a counselor. The suspect is described as being in his late teens to early twenties, 5’10” – 6’ with a slender build and shaggy dark hair. He has a tattoo on his right upper arm of a dragon and a butterfly as well as a tattoo on his left inner arm just above the elbow of three flowers with decorations. Continue reading Sheriff’s Office Releases New Information on Sky Ranch Incident

TYLER – A 38-year-old Tyler man has been sentenced for wire fraud. Mohammad Moosa Yahya pleaded guilty on Nov. 19, 2014. He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Yahya was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $455,000. Continue reading Tyler Man Sentenced for Tyler Automax Fraud

TYLER – A 65-year-old Athens man has been sentenced for federal income tax violations. Joseph A. Masso pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2014 to making and subscribing to a false tax return for the calendar year 2011. He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Masso was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $900,000 to the Internal Revenue Service. Continue reading Athens Man Sentenced For Federal Income Tax Violations

TYLER – A 43-year-old Whitehouse man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation. Robert Dean Jackson pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2014, to being a felon in possession of a firearm after he was previously convicted on an assault family violence charge. He was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Continue reading Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearm after Family Violence Conviction

TYLER — Tyler police are looking for the owners of some recently-recovered stolen property. On Tuesday, police arrested two people for allegedly stealing a package from a front porch and mail from an address on Cloverdale in South Tyler. The adult suspect arrested was identified as Jonathan Blake Weaver (pictured), 22, of Tyler. The second suspect is a juvenile and his name is being withheld. Continue reading Police Seeking Owners of Apparently Stolen Property

LONGVIEW – Longview police are investigating a reported attempted robbery involving gunfire. KETK reports that on Tuesday, officers responded to the Penwood Apartments in the 500 block of Scenic Drive, around 8:30 p.m. Police said they learned two black males were trying to steal a person’s wallet and unknown drugs. A struggle occurred during the incident and multiple rounds were fired. No injuries were reported. Police are looking for the men, but they currently do not have their names. Officials were able to describe one robber as 5 feet 4 inches tall and the other at 6 feet tall.

QUITMAN — A man allegedly involved in the deaths of two children had his bond lowered after the prosecution determined the suspect could not currently be convicted. According to KETK, documents from the 402nd Judicial District show Thomas J. Liles, Jr., had his bond lowered to $20,000 for each injury to a child by omission charge. He had been in the Wood County Jail on $1 million bond. Liles was arrested on July 24, 2014, by the Quitman Police Department for allegedly tampering with evidence. That same day, officers responded to reports of two young children who were not breathing. When authorities arrived, they found Gabriella Guerrero, 3, and Natalye Price, 1, dead. It was later determined they had died from blunt force trauma to the head and trunk in a homicide. Continue reading Man Linked to Quitman Toddlers’ Deaths Has Bond Reduced

TYLER — A gunman is on the loose following an incident early Wednesday morning. Around 5:20 a.m., Tyler Police responded to 2428 Plume in reference to an aggravated assault. Upon arrival officers located a 28-year-old man, identified as Joshua Amos Carrillo, who had been shot multiple times in the driveway of 2428 Plume. Carrillo was transported to a local hospital by EMS where he is listed in stable condition. The suspect fled the area before officers arrived on the scene. Investigators say they’ve confirmed that the suspect is Samuel Isai Ortega (pictured), 23, 5’7” tall, 110 lbs. He is believed to be driving a silver 2008 Honda Civic, Texas license plate KRY-619. Continue reading Tyler Police Search for Gunman

TYLER – A 39-year-old Longview man has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. John Blake London was indicted on Sep. 17, 2014, and pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2014. He was handed his sentence Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Continue reading Convicted Felon Sentenced for Federal Firearms Violation

BIG SANDY — A five-week-old girl thrown from a vehicle during a crash east of Big Sandy has been flown to Children’s Hospital in Dallas. According to KETK, DPS officials said on Monday, an SUV traveling east on Highway 80 left the right side of the road and hit a culvert. The vehicle went airborne and rolled several times, eventually coming to rest on its left side. A responding trooper reported the infant appeared to have been in a child safety seat but was not strapped in at the time of the crash. The car seat was still fastened inside the vehicle when the trooper investigated. The child’s condition was not immediately available. The driver was identified as Earnest McNeary, 20, of Longview. The mother, who was in the front seat passenger side, was identified as Jasmine Link. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER – A 42-year-old Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations. Terry Drennen pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2014, to possession of child pornography. Drennen was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. According to information presented in court, Drennen, a registered sex offender having been previously convicted of indecency with a child, was found to be in possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a child. Drennen was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 19, 2014.

TYLER — The 1910 Smith County Courthouse will be commemorated with a subject marker by the City of Tyler Historical Preservation Board. Smith County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve having the marker installed outside the present Smith County Courthouse. According to a county news release, the 1910 courthouse serves as a reminder of the importance of historic preservation. The subject marker program serves as a vital part of Tyler’s heritage by conveying stories of local, regional, state, and national history, according to the release. Officials say the marker will provide education to the public by revealing the historical background of the Courthouse. The history of the county’s sixth courthouse, as well as a full color digital graphic of the building, will be included on the marker. Continue reading Commissioners Approve Subject Marker for 1910 Courthouse

ATHENS (Staff/AP) — Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee is not pleased that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted Wednesday’s scheduled execution of convicted killer Randall Wayne Mays (pictured). In a statement provided Tuesday to our news partner KETK, McKee says the order “is disappointing for the family and friends” of the victims “as well as the entire law enforcement community. In Texas and the United States, the law holds that it is unconstitutional to execute a person who does not know why they are to be executed and that the execution is imminent. We believe that Mays is fully competent and that the people of Henderson County, through the jury in this case, issued a clear message in its verdict.” Continue reading DA Responds after Court Halts Wednesday Execution

TYLER — A Tyler man is in custody on charges related to burglary and copper theft. According to a news release, last Friday, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a call of a suspicious vehicle that was stuck in the mud behind a business near the intersection of Hwy 64 E. and Loop 124 (Old Henderson Hwy). It was determined by responding deputies that the truck had been used to steal several feet of copper wire and scrap metal from the business. Continue reading Suspect in Custody in Burglary and Copper Theft

BIG SANDY — The Big Sandy Police Department has arrested two people in connection with Friday’s bank robbery. According to KETK, police say Chanel Collins, 22, and Darreyel Greer, 24, were taken into custody Sunday morning for allegedly robbing the First National Bank in Big Sandy. They are currently being held in the Upshur County Jail for aggravated robbery. Each suspect’s bond has been set at $1 million. Continue reading Two Arrested in Big Sandy Bank Heist

TYLER – A multiple vehicle accident in Smith County has left one person dead. The wreck happened Monday night at the intersection of State Highway 31 East and County Road 223. The Department of Public Safety said the deceased has been identified as Jarrett Deon Rider, 31, Tyler. Officials said Rider was stopped to pull into his drive-way when he was rear-ended. Rider’s vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic, where he was struck head-on. Four other people were taken to a Tyler hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

GREGG COUNTY — The jury selection phase of an East Texas murder trial is underway. According to Gregg County judicial records, jury selection for accused murderer Coby Ray Hudgins, 23, of Gladewater, began Monday morning in a the 124th District Court of Judge Alfonso Charles. On Sunday, October 6, 2013, Kilgore police arrested Hudgins for the murder of Kayla Elizabeth Williams, 17, of Hallsville. According to KETK, the incident took place at a home in the 3000 block of Mustang Drive in Kilgore. Continue reading Jury Selection Underway in Teen’s Murder

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is using the social media to help solve seven homicides. All have occurred over the past several years. Hoping to generate some information from the public, the police posted photos of the victims along with a brief description of each case. The most recent case was that of Da’Coreyan Blankenship, 21, of Longview. Earlier this month he was found shot on the city’s south side. He later died at a Longview hospital. Continue reading Social Media Used as a Crime Fighting Tool

WINNSBORO – The Department of Public Safety continues to try and track down a vehicle involved in a Wood County hit and run. It happened last Thursday afternoon around 5:45 southeast of Winnsboro on Farm Road 852. The pedestrian was taken to Tyler’s Mother Francis Hospital for treatment. DPS spokesperson Jean Dark says no one got a vehicle description, though they have a piece of the passenger side mirror to work with. With Wood County deputies going by the dealerships, they believe they have narrowed the suspect’s vehicle down to a 2006-2013 white or off white Chevy Impala. The vehicle will be missing the passenger side rear view mirror. The mirror motor assembly is believed to still be attached to the vehicle. It is believed the vehicle travels down FM 852 frequently or is at least familiar with the area. Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact the DPS in Tyler or Garland or their local law enforcement agency.

CUSHING – Authorities are investigating human remains found in Nacogdoches County. Initial reports are the body parts, which were found near Cushing, may have been in the area several years and foul play is suspected in the person’s death. Officials feel they may know the identity of the victim but it will take the crime lab using DNA to make a positive identification. A person looking for a pet found a bone Friday night. A search by authorities Saturday morning turned up other human remains. Sheriff Jason Bridges told KETK that evidence found at the scene has raised concern that possible foul play may have been involved. Several key body parts have been recovered that should enable authorities to use DNA to identify the victim. But that process could take several months. Currently, the investigation is being treated as a questionable death and homicide has not been ruled out.