KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A former executive has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Tyler for making false declarations before court in a civil trade secrets case. Albert Davis, 54, formerly of Richardson, Texas, was arrested on Thursday in Lewisville, Texas on a federal arrest warrant issued by the Eastern District of Texas and the Western District of Missouri. Davis was recently charged in Missouri for his role in a fraud scheme in which a Dallas-area hospital paid more than $1 million to purchase an MRI machine from Davis and co-conspirators who impersonated representatives of Kansas City-based Cerner Corporation. Davis will have a detention hearing next Wednesday. Continue reading North Texas Man Indicted for False Statements While Under Oath

BULLARD – A stabbing is under investigation at Brook Hill School. The stabbing is said to have followed an argument between two students. It occurred around 5:30 Friday afternoon. A student was stabbed in the upper arm. His injury was said not to have been serious. One person has been detained

TYLER – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested Walter Ray Jones Sr., 59, of Tyler, on a warrant for arson. This is in connection with a fire earlier this month. The charge is classified as a state jail felony, according to a news release from Fire Marshal Jay Brooks. On February 9, several Smith County fire departments and the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to a report of a grass fire on North Shore Drive in southwestern Smith County. When they arrived, firemen also found a house on fire. The house fir e was determined to be caused by the uncontrolled grass fire which allegedly began as a controlled burn set by Mr. Jones to clean up another property, according to Brooks.

This is an unfortunate event which could have been prevented with more care. While it is not illegal in unincorporated areas of the county to burn natural growth from the property in which the burning is taking place, you are responsible for your fire at all times, said Deputy Fire Marshal Heath Hawley.

Residents are urged to remain with any fires while they are burning. Brooks says you should always maintain defensible space around the fire and keep a water hose or some other method of extinguishing a fire readily available. “While we have had plenty of rain this winter, the air is typically very dry and the ground cover is dormant this time of year,” added Brooks. “These two conditions lead to easy ignition and rapid fire spread. If you have a fire get out of control, please contact 911 immediately.”

TYLER — The Amega West Services plant on Smith County Road 313 East is expected to close this spring. In a letter sent to employees, President Reddy Godula stated the closing will most likely take place between April 21 and May 5. KETK reports the closing is expected to be permanent. About 75 employees are believed to be affected, according to a source. The Houston-based business focuses on manufacturing and rentals in downhole tools. At the Smith County facility, the company specializes in high-tech sideways drilling pipe. The company declined to comment at this time.

LONGVIEW — A memorial service for Katie Lanell Eager is set for 2:00 this afternoon at Grace Crossing United Methodist Church in Longview, which her mother, Laura Rodgers, attends. KETK reports Eager, 24, was found dead Tuesday in the Cedar Park apartment she shared with her boyfriend. Authorities allege the boyfriend, Adam Richard Solis, was responsible for the murder. Solis, 31, is currently held on $1 million bond. Rogers said Katie grew up in Longview and graduated from Pine Tree High School, where she was captain of the drill teamteam.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help finding a local fugitive, according to authorities. KETK reports that officials seek Stephanie Rachel Dyer, 24, of Kilgore, for allegedly driving while intoxicated with a child under the age of 15. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP (7867) and will remain anonymous.

ALPINE — Three suspects have been indicted in last fall’s murder of an East Texas coach after the case went before the Brewster County panel Wednesday. KETK reports that Keith McWilliams, 49, of Alpine, Rhonda Bloom, 42, of Terlingua, and Charles Morrow, 30, of Benbrook are charged with first-degree murder. The case involves the Halloween 2014 death of Kilgore resident Trey Sands, 28 (pictured). Officials say Sands was last heard from in October during a hunting trip in the Terlingua Mountains.

TYLER –The visual and performing arts programs in Tyler public schools received support in the form of a $13,000 contribution on Thursday. The Tyler ISD Foundation awarded the funds to the Tyler ISD Fine Arts Department during the district’s school board meeting. The contribution came as part of the foundation’s annual commitment thanks to a major donation from the Frances Cowan Gibson Charitable Lead Trust, according to a TISD Foundation news release. The foundation established the Frances Cowan Gibson Tyler ISD Fine Arts Endowment at the East Texas Communities Foundation in 2014 to benefit under-funded and innovative art projects throughout the Tyler Independent School District, according to the release. Continue reading TISD Foundation Awards $13,000 to Support Fine Arts Programs

NACOGDOCHES – A woman has died at a Nacogdoches hospital after being struck by a hit and run driver. Killed early last night was Matilda Cruz, 54, of Nacogdoches. KETK reports she was walking with her husband in the 200 block of North Sanders Street when she was hit. The truck’s driver fled the scene. Justin Laird, 21, was later arrested and charged with failure to stop and render aid with a fatality.

TYLER – A missing Tyler man has been found. Tyler police had asked for help in finding Emery McCuin, 48. He walked away from a group home for mentally challenged adults around 6:30 Wednesday night, and failed to return. McCuin has a mental impairment that he takes medication for and has been diagnosed with mild retardation. McCuin was located by the Smith County Sheriff’s Department and was returned home safely.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have identified the alleged shooter in Thursday’s standoff at the Saddle Brook Apartments as Shayne Daniel Afzal, 20, of Longview. According to KETK, Public Information Office Kristie Brian said officers responded at 5:46 a.m. to an “unknown problem” call at the apartments, at 1400 H.G. Mosley Parkway. Police found there was a person in an apartment at the complex and there were believed to be gunshots from inside. Due to history, Brian said, officers were concerned, so they called in the SWAT team and negotiators. The suspect called 911 several times and during this time fired more rounds with his gun, according to police. Continue reading Alleged Shooter in Longview Apartment Standoff Taken into Custody

RUSK — A Cherokee County man has drawn a two-year prison sentence and ten years probation after pleading guilty last week to indecency with a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports that Charles Draper Skinner, aka “Draper Skinner,” entered a guilty plea Feb. 12 in the county’s Second District Court. Skinner got the prison time for the indecency with a child charge and probation for the assault charge. Upon his release from prison, Skinner will be supervised in Cherokee County. A probation violation could result in a sentence of between five years and life in prison.

TYLER – Tyler ISD has received another award for its high level of financial transparency, according to information from the school district. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts recently awarded the district with its Platinum Leadership Circle Award. The award recognizes local governments across Texas that strive for a high level of financial transparency by opening their books to the public, providing clear, consistent pictures of spending and sharing information in a user friendly format, according to a TISD news release. Continue reading Tyler ISD receives Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle Award

AUSTIN – Police Thursday offered more details on former Longview resident Katie Lanell Eager’s killing at a Cedar Park apartment, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend. That’s according to KETK and its affiliate KXAN. At a press conference Thursday morning, Cedar Park Police Chief Sean Mannix called the murder a “rage killing” made in passion. Mannix says Adam Richard Solis was involved in a heated argument with Eager before shooting her in a crime of passion, something police say is evident from the number of shots fired. Continue reading Police: Former Longview Woman’s Death Was a “Rage Killing”

TYLER — Anyone with outstanding court costs and fines for which a warrant has been issued has until Friday, March 6, to pay. According to a news release, Smith County is combining forces with other jurisdictions across Texas to participate in the largest joint warrant round up of this type in the state. On March 7, officers will begin visiting homes, neighborhoods, and places of work to arrest anyone who has not settled his or her debt with the county. Continue reading Warrant Round Up Begins March 7

LONGVIEW — The intersection of Hawkins Parkway at Judson Road in Longview is undergoing signal work today. The purpose of the work is the change the signals for the intersection’s improvements according to information from the city. Drivers wishing to travel through this intersection may consider using alternate routes. A traffic policeman will direct traffic during the signal outage. The work is expected to last all day. This project was approved by voters as part of the Capital Improvements Bond Election in May 2011. The project is being constructed by East Texas Bridge of Longview. If you have any questions related to construction, call the city’s project manager, Alton Bradley, at 903-237-1067.

MARSHALL — A Longview woman involved in a murder-for-hire plot has been sentenced to prison time after reaching a plea deal with the state. According to KETK, Amanda Denise Smith, 26, pleaded guilty Wednesday and was ordered to serve seven years in prison. She will be eligible for parole after serving a standard amount of time, said Harrison County DA Coke Solomon. Another Longview woman accused of being involved, Sydney Brook Sides, was eventually let go after her May 2013 arrest. Solomon stated she was just “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Smith was caught trying to kill her estranged husband, a Hallsville police officer, in order to collect a life insurance policy. The woman was taken into custody after attempting to hire an undercover Texas Ranger as a hitman.

TYLER – Tyler police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man. Emery McCuin, 48, is said to have walked away from a group home for mentally challenged adults around 6:30 last night, and failed to return. McCuin has a mental impairment that he takes medication for and has been diagnosed with mild retardation. He is described as a black male, 6′ 01″ / 200 lbs., last seen wearing a red hoodie, white baseball cap and blue jeans. Anyone with information on McCuin’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

ALPINE — The murder of an East Texas coach went before a grand jury Wednesday in Brewster County. KETK reports that 49-year-old Keith McWilliams of Alpine, 42-year-old Rhonda Bloom of Terlingua, and 30-year-old Charles Morrow of Benbrook are charged with first-degree murder. The case involves the Halloween 2014 death of 28-year-old Kilgore native Trey Sands (pictured). Officials say Sands was last heard from in October during a hunting trip in the Terlingua Mountains.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is inviting the public to an open house today, kicking off a ten-day comment period for citizens to review and provide feedback on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The event will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Tyler Development Center, at 423 W. Ferguson St. Copies of the draft and comment cards will be available at the open house. Continue reading Tyler Area MPO Holds Open House on Transportation Improvement Program

AUSTIN — A woman found dead in a Cedar Park apartment Tuesday has been identified as 24-year-old former Longview resident Katie Lanell Eager, Cedar Park police announced Wednesday. According to KETK and its Austin affiliate KXAN, detectives were called to the apartment complex about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 2000 block of S. Lakeline Blvd. where they found Eager shot to death. Investigators were speaking with Eager’s boyfriend Tuesday evening. No charges were immediately filed in connection with the case. Pine Tree ISD officials say Eager was the Pine Tree Precision Drill Team Captain from 2008-2009.

TYLER — A man accused of killing his wife in Smith County accepted a plea deal in a Tyler courtroom on Wednesday. Judicial records show Kelly Kevin Gage, 52, of Gun Barrel City, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Gage was indicted for murder on July 28, 2014, in the beating death of his wife, 48-year-old Patti McHugh Gage. The incident happened on Thanksgiving night in 2011. Continue reading Man Who Beat Wife to Death Pleads Guilty

TYLER — The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, recognized the City of Tyler Wednesday as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas program. This year’s cohort includes 124 programs from all levels of government that are at the forefront in innovative government action, according to information from the city. “Tyler being recognized as a top government innovator in the country, including organizations of all sizes and levels, is affirmation that our conservative business principles are truly effective,” said Tyler Mayor Martin Heines. “Our City employees are doing a terrific job creating new and more efficient methods for completing their work, and our community is reaping the benefit.” Continue reading City of Tyler Recognized as Harvard Ash Center Bright Idea in Government

LONGVIEW — A 7-week-old child is hospitalized with what are termed life-threatening injuries following a late Tuesday night crash in Longview. KETK reports that police were dispatched just before 11:15pm to a jaws of life call near the intersection of Lilly and Sapphire Streets. When officers arrived they were told that the driver of a 2000 Ford Expedition had just left the scene of a domestic disturbance in the 600 Block of North Access Road. Police say the driver, identified as Dekeshia Charity Thomas, 23 of Longview, struck another vehicle, causing her to lose control of the Expedition, strike a tree, and roll several times. Continue reading Baby’s Injuries in Crash Deemed Life-Threatening; Mother Arrested

ATHENS — A jury in Athens deliberated just eight minutes before sentencing a Henderson County man to 15 years behind bars for his role in a wild chase. KETK reports 34-year-old Joshua Calhoun was found guilty of evading arrest as well as using a vehicle as a deadly weapon. In June of last year, authorities in Henderson County tried to pull Calhoun over after the truck he was driving was reported stolen. Calhoun led law officers on a dangerous chase, reaching speeds up to 90 miles an hour. He ran two vehicles off the road and even cut through the front yard of a house. The heavy sentence was also based on several previous convictions for Calhoun. One of those came after he stole a small plane from the Athens airport with no flight experience and crashed it.

TYLER — A McKinney man, who was arrested for allegedly robbing Tyler’s Capital One Bank last year, has pleaded guilty. Daniel River Burson, 37, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tyler Tuesday. He’ll be back in court at a later date following a pre-sentence investigation. Burson could get up to 20 years in federal prison. Continue reading Tyler Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

LONGVIEW — All three Longview officers involved in the fatal shooting of a teenager are now back on the job. Public Information Officer Kristie Brian tells KETK officers Glenn Derr and Grace Bagley returned to work last week. Officer Gene Duffie was back on the force February 9th.

January 22nd, Kristiana Coignard entered the police station, picked up the after-hours phone, called public safety communications, and asked for help. When asked what she needed, she refused to tell the operator what the problem was. Police officers were dispatched to the lobby a short time later. When Officer Glenn Derr arrived, Coignard indicated to him she had a gun. According to police, the words “I have a gun,” were written on her hand. This resulted in a physical confrontation when Officer Derr attempted to secure the girl. She was shot when officers say she pulled a knife.

During the physical confrontation, Officer Glenn Derr determined she had a large butcher knife which she was attempting to pull out of her waist band. According a video of the incident, Officer Derr was able to get away from Coignard. At this time, Officer Gene Duffie entered the lobby and drew his taser. When a third officer, identified as Officer Grace Bagley, entered the lobby, she saw Coginard had a knife. As Coignard charged Officer Derr with the knife in what’s termed a threatening manner, Officer Duffie shot his Taser at Coignard, but it had no affect on the teen. Officer Derr then discharged his gun three times and Officer Bagley fired her gun twice.

EMS was called to the scene and Coignard was taken to a local hospital at 6:45 p.m. She was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace James Mathis. As a result the three officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.

TYLER — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert reacts after a South Texas federal judge temporarily blocked President Obama’s executive action on immigration. That action could spare deportation for as many as five million people. Gohmert told KETK, “I want to keep immigration coming, but it’s got to come legally — and not be rewarding people that jump to the front of the line.” Obama has vowed to appeal Judge Andrew Hanen’s decision.

TYLER — A former employee of an East Texas hospital has been sentenced to federal prison for criminal HIPAA violations. Joshua Wade Hippler, 30, formerly of Longview, pleaded guilty on August 28, 2014, to wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. He was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. According to federal prosecutors, from December 2012 through January 2013, Hippler was an employee of a covered entity under HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. During this time, Hippler obtained protected health information with the intent to use it for personal gain. Hippler was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 26, 2014.

TYLER — A 55-year-old Murchison, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzlement. Deborah Cornett pleaded guilty on June 9, 2014 to embezzlement by a bank employee. She was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Cornett was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $365,988.43. Federal prosecutors say from November 2007 to May 2013, Cornett was an officer and employee of the First State Bank of Ben Wheeler. During that time, Cornett embezzled from bank payroll accounts, the bank’s Christmas Club account, certificates of deposit, and from fraudulently issued bank loans.