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LONGVIEW — Two men charged with sexually assaulting children entered guilty pleas Thursday. Willie Markham III, 29, of Longview accepted a four-year prison sentence under a plea agreement. Markham admitted to having sex with a girl in August 2009 when she was 14, making it a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If Markham is convicted of another sexual offense involving children, he could face an automatic life sentence, according to a stipulation in his plea agreement.

Also Phillip “Bubba” Hudson III, 20, of Longview entered a guilty plea to indecency with a child. A Gregg County grand jury in September indicted Hudson on second-degree indecency charges for touching a girl younger than 17 around Christmas 2009. Sentencing was set for July 5 to allow Hudson to find suitable employment and housing. Hudson is eligible for parole because this is his first felony conviction. Hudson is out of jail on $11,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have arrested a second teen in connection with a May 5 aggravated robbery at a local park. Officers took 19-year-old Erica Angela Pena of Longview into custody on Thursday, charged in the robbery and beating of a man and woman at Willow Park, in the 300 block of East Birdsong Street. Pena remained in the Gregg County Jail without bond on Friday.

Seventeen-year-old Eunice Abigail Zavalla remained jailed Friday on $50,000 bond following a Tuesday arrest related to the case, authorities said. The women are charged with aggravated robbery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

LUFKIN — A ban on burning and fireworks has been filed by Angelina County Judge Wes Suiter due to drought conditions across the county. According to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News, Suiter said the burn ban must be extended by county commissioners within seven days and the fireworks ban must be approved by Gov. Rick Perry’s office within 60 hours. As for the yearly city display, Suiter said he is exempting organized fireworks shows under fire department supervision.

TYLER — The teen accused of stabbing and killing John Tyler High School teacher Todd Henry in 2009 is headed back to a mental health facility. According to KETK, a judge ordered 18-year-old Byron Truvia to spend a maximum of 120 days in the facility. It’s all in an effort to try and get Truvia to regain competency, and see if he’s fit to stand trial. He could be tried as an adult on capital murder charges.

TYLER — Smith County is encouraging Internet safety for minors by providing East Texas parents with free parental Internet monitoring software, according to officials. The software, called Computer COP, is available at most Smith County offices including all constable and JP offices, the Courthouse Annex, Sheriff’s Office and Cotton Belt Building. “This provides parents insight into who their children are talking to online,” Sheriff J.B. Smith said. “Parents have a responsibility to monitor and protect their children online just as they do in real life.”

According to a county news release, the software helps parents monitor what their children are doing online by compiling an image review and text review which flags key words and phrases from emails and online conversations. The software runs off a disc and does not need to be downloaded onto the computer’s hard drive. It is compatible with Windows 95 through Vista. “Consistent monitoring and awareness of our children’s activities are critical to their safety,” County Judge Joel Baker said. ”This is a tool that can help parents combat on-line predators and encourage Internet safety.”

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office purchased the programs with drug forfeiture funds. More than 3,000 copies are available on a first come, first serve basis. Organizations wishing to pick up multiple copies of the program can contact Public Relations Liaison Adrienne Graham at 903-590-4607.

TYLER — After what was termed an extensive national search, Total Healthcare Center appointed Stephanie Jones-Theaker as its new Chief Executive Officer. According to press materials, the center is Federally Qualified and in 2010 served 8,416 patients with 16,969 visits from thirteen counties. The center’s mission is to provide a medical home for patient-centered access to affordable, quality primary and preventive health care. The center accepts patients with Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, private insurance, and no insurance.

Theaker, daughter of Bessie and Willie T. Jones, is a native of Columbus, Mississippi. Theaker was the former Chief Operation Officer of Tampa Family Health Centers, Inc. Tampa, Florida, which is also a Federally Qualified Health Center. She was in charge of the day to day operations of seven health centers and 250 employees. Theaker also served as the chairperson of the Health Education and Social Services committee in East Tampa. She has been in the healthcare field for fifteen years.

Total Healthcare Center spokespeople say Theaker worked her way up the ladder, originally starting out as the office manager of a clinic. During her time with Tampa Family, she was promoted from Office Manager to Administrative Manager, Director of Administrative Services, Deputy Chief of Operations and finally Chief Operations Officer. THC officials say Ms. Theaker wrote many grants for the organization that provided additional services in the East Tampa area and throughout Hillsborough County. Officials say she attended many community meetings in order to help educate the community about the healthcare services in Tampa. During her time at Tampa Family, Ms. Theaker earned her MBA from the University of South Florida in 2009, and she holds a Bachelor of Science, Health Care Management, from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Spokespeople say the Total Healthcare Center organization is excited about having a CEO who has extensive Federally Qualified Health Center experience. A special reception is being planned later this month to introduce Theaker to the entire community.

SMITH COUNTY — Department of Public Safety Officials are investigating a wreck Friday morning that sent one man to the hospital. Authorities say alcohol was a factor in the wreck. It happened a little before 8:00 on Hwy 110 near County Road 2234 south of Whitehouse. DPS officials say a truck was driving northbound on Hwy 110, when it was struck by a driver heading westbound on County Rd 2234 who failed to yield. The driver who failed to yield right of way had reportedly been drinking. One man was pinned in his vehicle and had to be removed.

TYLER — The teen arrested for an arson fire in Tyler was in a Smith County courtroom Thursday. The judge ordered the teen to undergo a mental health evaluation and to be detained at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center until the next hearing, set for June 27. The teen has been charged with arson. The fire was reported around 9:15 Wednesday morning at Dollar General Store on Erwin. Tyler Fire Department spokesman Paul Findley said damage was minimal.

GREGG COUNTY — A Hallsville woman has been charged with forging prescriptions after she tried to pick up diet and pain pills at a Walmart pharmacy. Mary Cecilia Acosta, 25, remained in the Gregg County Jail on $5,000 bond. She was arrested about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday after authorities said she forged a doctor’s signature to obtain prescriptions of Vicodin and Phentermine.

LONGVIEW — Recent LeTourneau University graduate Matthew C. Bradley has been recognized as a 2011 Texas Student Teacher of the Year for the state of Texas. Bradley graduated in May and did his student teaching in the spring of 2011 semester at Pine Tree ISD, teaching fifth grade language arts and 7th grade Texas history.

State judging took place during the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE) summer conference recently in Austin, Texas. Bradley has been hired by Tyler’s Hogg Middle School to teach seventh grade language arts beginning in the Fall 2011 semester.

Dean of LETU’s School of Education Dr. Wayne Jacobs said Bradley’s honor is indicative of the quality of the school’s students and its program. “We are proud of Matthew’s accomplishments in student teaching,” Jacobs said. “He is an example of the quality of students we are blessed to have in our program. Our teachers are some of the best in the state, and we are excited to have another ‘shining star’ recognized in this way.”

TYLER — Officials have tentatively identified a dead body found in Tyler this week in a vacant field by an individual who was mowing the field with a brush hog. Investigators located a wallet on the badly decomposed body, found Tuesday in the 400 block of NNE Loop 323. A Mexican identification card was discovered in the wallet that belonged to 49-year-old Asuncion Baldovinos-Toribio. Investigators also located a cell phone and apartment key that belonged to Baldovinos-Toribio in the immediate area of the body.

Investigators have talked with family members of Baldovinos-Toribio, and they confirmed that Baldovinos-Toribio has not been seen in the last month. Investigators believe at this time that the remains are those of Baldovinos-Toribio. Tests are being conducted, such as DNA testing, for final confirmation. The cause of death has not been determined and is still under investigation. Baldovinos-Toribio is also identified by the name of Valdovinos Chon in judicial records

HUDSON — The case against a former Hudson High School teacher charged with having an improper relationship with a 17-year-old student will be difficult to prosecute, as the two are now married, according to Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington. Jesus “Jesse” Gonzalez, 23, and the girl, who is now 18, filed for a marriage license June 11 in Cherokee County, according to a Cherokee County records clerk. Herrington said that turn of events could affect the state’s decision to prosecute.

“I found that out (Wednesday) and the charges had already been filed for several days. It could present a difficult situation with the husband/wife privilege where in the young lady does not have to testify against him,” Herrington said. “For now we will leave the charges pending, complete the investigation and then make some sort of decision as to how to proceed.” Gonzalez’s attorney, Al Charanza agreed that the marital status of the two will impact how the case is handled.

TYLER — Area residents are being advised of a gun safety presentation occurring on the UT Tyler campus today. The presentation will include the firing of 10 shots of blanks, and university officials want to make sure it’s not mistaken for an emergency situation. The Outsiders, an Old West reenactment group, will fire 10 shots of blanks between 8:15 and 8:45this morning. According to a news release, UT Tyler campus police officials are working with the group to ensure safety. UT Tyler Chief of Police Mike Medders also has notified city law enforcement officials.

LONGVIEW — A South Longview daycare reopened Thursday morning after a half-hour evacuation when workers detected a gaseous odor. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that fire, hazardous materials, and police units responded to Longview Child Development Center, in the 1200 block of South High Street, shortly after 8:00am. Administrators said they smelled gas in the front entryway and hallways before evacuating children to a nearby playground and calling authorities and parents. Several parents arrived to pick up their children during the evacuation. Shortly after 8:45, crews with the Longview Hazardous Materials and Rescue Unit tested the air and determined that it was safe for children to return to the building.

LONGVIEW — Longview police jailed a 39-year-old man on charges related to allegedly attacking and stabbing his 67-year-old father. Police took Michael Eric Lee into custody at his home in the 800 block of South Eastman Road shortly before midnight Wednesday; one month after an arrest warrant was issued.

According to a Gregg County Sheriff’s Office complaint, an argument ensued between Lee and his father at Lee’s mother’s house in the 5800 block of Judson Road on May 19, because the father would not agree to give Lee an acre of family land in Gladewater. According to authorities, Lee yelled at his father and moved toward him “in an aggressive manner” before swinging his arms at the father, who reportedly defended himself with pepper spray before leaving the home. “Once outside, (the father) realized that he had been cut by (Lee) with an unknown object,” the complaint showed.

Lee told sheriff’s investigators that he used an ax handle and was swinging it merely to open a door screen for air after the pepper spray was used, reports showed. When asked how his father sustained a cut on his right arm that required 12 stitches at Good Shepherd Medical Center, Lee replied, “I don’t know. I’m guessing he’s saying I did it,” reports showed. Lee remained in the Gregg County Jail without bond on Thursday.

LONGVIEW — An arrest this week for online solicitation of a minor is the latest in a series of such arrests by Longview police. A Diana man remains in the Gregg County Jail on charges of online solicitation of a minor and unlawful carry of a weapon. Longview police arrested Gregg Lee Haden, 36, at the intersection of Alpine and Page roads at 11:00 Tuesday morning. Authorities say, on Monday and Tuesday, Haden reportedly sent text messages to who he believed was a 14-year-old minor to meet for sex. When Haden arrived to meet the minor at the location, he was instead met by officers. Haden posted $21,000 bond and was released Wednesday from the Gregg County Jail. Jail records showed that he has an alias, Gregg Lee Mathison.

Earlier, a Spring man was arrested by Harris County sheriff’s deputies after Longview investigators posed as a 14-year-old female. Longview police said Bryan Dudley sent sexually explicit images of himself to someone he thought was a young girl. Stephen Wayne Perritte, 66, of Henderson, is out of jail on $20,000 bond after his May 25 arrest in Longview for online solicitation of a minor. Meanwhile, Charles Abner Richey Jr., 62, of Christianburg, Va., remains in the Gregg County Jail on $200,000 bond and a U.S. Marshal’s detainer following his May 5 online solicitation arrest.

MARSHALL (AP) – A federal trial is underway in East Texas over claims that Pilgrim’s Pride closed two plants where it had a monopoly in order to boost chicken prices. The trial in Marshall centers on a lawsuit filed by chicken farmers in four states. The suit says Pilgrim’s Pride violated federal and state laws by manipulating the price of commodity chicken when it shut down the Arkansas and Louisiana processing plants. Pilgrim’s Pride has said it closed those plants and others during bankruptcy reorganization to save costs. It emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2009, a year after the filing. It then sold a majority stake to Brazilian beef giant JBS. The company’s headquarters moved from Pittsburg in East Texas to Greeley, Colo.

LONGVIEW — A Morris County man is in the Gregg County Jail after authorities said he impersonated a public servant and attacked two police officers while trespassing at a Longview apartment. Charles Lawrence Johnson, 53, of Omaha, was arrested at about 6 p.m. Tuesday by Longview police, who were responding to a criminal trespass call at Churchill in the 1500 block of East Whaley Street.

Authorities say, Johnson was told twice in 2009 to stay out of the property. On Tuesday he refused management’s requests to leave a residence. When officers arrived and tried to arrest Johnson, he said he was a Texas Ranger and displayed a badge that was actually a money clip, reports showed. When officers again tried to subdue Johnson, he fought violently until he was overtaken and cuffed.

Johnson reportedly hit an officer several times in the face with his fist during the struggle. Johnson is charged with impersonating a public servant, resisting arrest, assault of a public servant and criminal trespass. He remained jailed Wednesday on $11,500 bond.

TYLER — One person has been arrested in connection with a fire at the Dollar General Store on West Erwin. The fire was reported around 9:15 Wednesday morning. Damage was minimal. From the outset, investigators said the blaze was suspicious. Wednesday afternoon Tyler Fire Chief Paul Findley said a juvenile had been arrested in the case. Findley said the teen was charged with arson and that additional charges could be filed.

LONGVIEW – What started out as a criminal trespass case has resulted in additional charges being filed against an East Texas man. Just before 5:30 Tuesday night, Longview police responded to a criminal trespass call in the 1500 block of East Whaley Street. On the property, officers found Charles L. Johnson, 53, of Omaha, who had previously been warned by police on two separate occasions to stay off the property.

When the officers tried to take Johnson into custody, they say he resisted and struck one of the officers several times. During the incident Johnson is said to have told the officers that he was also a peace officer. Johnson was eventually taken in to custody and charged with criminal trespass, impersonating a peace officer, assault on a public servant, and resisting arrest.

One of the officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an aggravated assault that occurred in the parking lot of apartments in the 3400 block of Varsity Drive. The victim told officers she had been assaulted Wednesday afternoon by a woman known only to her by the name of Ann. She said the assault occurred as a result of an earlier argument over some damaged vehicle tires owned by the victim.

She told officers she was in the parking lot of the apartments when the suspect pulled up in a car and began swinging a knife at her. The assault was broken up by others in the parking lot. She had small cuts under an arm and face as well as a small puncture wound on her abdomen. She was treated at Mother Francis Hospital and released. No other injuries were reported. The investigation continues.

AUSTIN – Texas Monthly magazine is out with its list of the best and worst members of the Texas legislature. While no East Texas legislator made the best list, two were on the worst list. They are Tyler’s Leo Berman and Center’s Larry Christian. All on the worst list are Republicans, including Lt. Governor David Dewhurst.

AUSTIN – A Northeast Texas man is being named Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie announced that he will appoint Bill Brannon of Sulphur Springs to the post, effective July 1st. He will be succeeding Ruben Hernandez.

Richie said, “I’ve thought long and hard on this decision, and I’m very confident that Bill will do a tremendous job at the helm of the TDP. Bill has spent a lifetime working to foster inclusion, coordination and cooperation in Texas Democratic politics and he works well with grassroots organizers, officeholders and major donors, all of whom are important to Democratic success. Bill’s leadership will allow the TDP to continue and strengthen its fundraising, political, organizational and communications tasks.”

According to the group’s news release, Brannon has been professionally involved in politics for over 30 years. He has been part of over 150 campaigns at all levels and in virtually all positions. As an administrator, Bill has directed numerous campaign staffs and has over ten years experience as the District Director for two congressional offices. Bill has participated in the Texas Democratic Party at all levels – as an activist, Precinct Chair, County Chair and SDEC member.

TYLER — The City’s Tyler Against Graffiti (TAG) team and Keep Tyler Beautiful Board announce the beginning of a partnership with the Smith County Juvenile Services office to put young offenders to work cleaning up the City’s graffiti. Starting Monday morning, June 20, 2011, the TAG team will be putting the partnership into action. Organizers say the partnership is aimed at using young people who have been found guilty of violating Tyler’s graffiti ordinance to clean up the tags found around the city. The youth range in age from 14 to 17.

“This is a very exciting opportunity to get at-risk youth involved with the community in a positive way,” said Marjorie Mustard, board chairperson for Keep Tyler Beautiful. “We are hoping that this program will show young offenders that graffiti is harmful to the community; it takes hard work to clean up and it is expensive.” By engaging these young offenders in cleaning up graffiti, it is also hoped that they will take on some ownership and have some pride in their work, Ms. Mustard added.

Smith County Juvenile Services Director Ross Worley says he is very excited about the program and is optimistic over its future. “We look forward to being involved with the TAG program again and partnering with the City of Tyler to help eradicate graffiti while fostering a sense of responsibility and community with our juvenile offenders.” The City of Tyler spends nearly $24,000 per year on graffiti abatement through the TAG team efforts. The team averages about 40 reports per month. The TAG program is sponsored by Keep Tyler Beautiful.

LONGVIEW — Pilgrim’s Pride is headed to court Thursday in a federal lawsuit filed by former chicken growers. The lawsuit is a combination of two 2009 complaints filed by the city of Clinton, Ark., and Shelia and James Adams, who own or have owned 368 poultry farms in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, including in Nacogdoches and Mount Pleasant. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the lawsuits were originally filed in federal bankruptcy court, but a Fort Worth federal court consolidated the cases and moved the venue to Marshall.

The lawsuits allege Pilgrim’s violated the Packers and Stockers Act through its plan to manipulate the price of chicken, its creation of an insider system of advantages and its retaliation for and termination of growers who refused to continually make capital investments in their facilities. Pilgrim’s denies the allegations. Formerly headquartered in Pittsburg, Pilgrim’s Pride filed bankruptcy in 2008. It emerged from bankruptcy in late 2009 after selling a majority stake to Brazilian meat producer JBS USA. Company headquarters was moved from East Texas to Greeley, Colo., in 2010.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview seek the public’s help in solving a laptop theft that happened last month. On May 6 at around 2:00 p.m., thieves took the laptop from a store located in the 1800 block of West Loop 281. According to surveillance video and witness statements, three people, two black males and one black female, entered the store during regular business hours. Once inside, the female took an Acer laptop and put it down the front of one of the suspect’s pants. That suspect then went over to another male and put the laptop down the back of his pants.

The female is described as being between 23 and 40 years of age. She was wearing a black wig, black tight-fitting dress with cutouts down the side of the dress, red belt, and red high heeled shoes. The two male suspects are described as being between 20 to 40 years of age and both were wearing white shirts and blue jeans. Anyone who recognizes these individuals is encouraged to contact Detective Gary Shirley with the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199. Information may also be reported anonymously by contacting Gregg County Crime Stoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com or 903-236-STOP.

LUFKIN — Former Hudson High School debate teacher Jesus Gonzalez, 23, has turned himself in on charges he had an improper relationship with a 17-year-old female student. According to an affidavit, an exchange took place between Gonzalez and the girl on a school trip to Austin in March and again in a car in Hudson a week later. According to Hudson ISD superintendent Mary Ann Whiteker, Gonzalez resigned when allegations were made known. Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington said in 2009 a law was passed making sexual relationships between an educator and student illegal no matter the student’s age. Gonzales is out of the Angelina County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

MARSHALL – A Marion County man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations. Dever Lee Applewhite, 54, of Jefferson, pleaded guilty in January to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was sentenced Tuesday in Marshall to 72 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge T. John Ward.

According to information presented in court, on January 10, 2010, Applewhite purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a WalMart, a Walgreens and a CVS in Marshall. The purchases were all made within less than 30 minutes of each other. Applewhite’s co-defendants have already been convicted and sentenced in this case. Summer Berry Applewhite was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on April 20, 2011, and Ralph Arthur Finley was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on May 18, 2011. The case was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010.

LONGVIEW — Authorities reduced the Gregg County Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted list Tuesday with the arrest of a Longview man. Gregg County sheriff’s deputies took Brad Hagen “Sledge” Hammer, 36, into custody Tuesday morning following a grand jury indictment for felony drunk driving. District Judge Alfonso Charles set Hammer’s bond at $30,000 and scheduled a June 24 arraignment hearing.

The charge stems from Hammer’s Nov. 11 arrest on drunk driving charges. Prior to his arrest, he completed a three-year jail term for a 2009 drunk driving conviction in which a drug possession charge was dismissed. He remained in the Gregg County Jail on Tuesday afternoon.

TYLER — A man who held off SWAT team officers for about 2 hours before he was taken into custody. He’s now being sought after Smith County jailers mistakenly let him go. Officials are searching for Steven Ehrlish, 33, Lindale, after his accidental release on May 31. A jailer reportedly received a teletype from the Watauga Police Department stating a warrant they had for Erlish had been dismissed. The jailer mistook that message as the prisoner’s holding warrant and released him. They realized the mistake several hours later. If you have any information about his location, contact authorities.