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TYLER – President Joe Biden has commuted the 9-year federal prison sentence of a former Deep East Texas Council of Governments executive director after he was found guilty of wire fraud back in 2017.

According to our news partner KETK, the White House released on Thursday, Walter Diggles, 72 of Jasper, was one of nearly 1500 people who were put on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those 1499 people are already back home with their families but the Biden administration has decided to commute their sentences meaning they’ll officially be out of custody much sooner. Diggles was convicted of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and three counts of money laundering on Aug. 3 of 2017, according to a 2018 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.

Information presented in court reportedly showed that Diggles, along with his wife and daughter, conspired to personally use money from federal block grants that Congress appropriated to help Texas recover from Hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike and Dolly, the press release said. Continue reading Biden commutes sentence of former DETCOG director

NACOGDOCHES – According to our news partner KETK, a professional angler and fishing YouTuber was arrested in Nacogdoches on Thursday for fraud in a freshwater fishing tournament.

Benjamin Milliken, 35 of New Caney, turned himself in to Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday for the charge of fraud at freshwater fishing tournament, according to a statement from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department(TPWD). TPWD said that Milliken turned in a Legacy Class ShareLunker bass caught at Lake Naconiche in February as an entry into the Toyota ShareLunker Program. The program rewards prizes over $10,000.

According to TPWD, their due diligence process discovered that Milliken allegedly didn’t have a valid fishing license when he caught the fish and filled out the program’s contest/tournament entry form. Continue reading Popular fishing YouTuber Ben Milliken arrested for fraud

LONGVIEW – The Longview Fire Department responded to a structure fire that caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the Crosby Group on Friday. The department responded to 2414 Crosby Way at around 6:45 p.m. on Friday and found heavy smoke coming out of the east side of the building. Crews began suppressing the fire until they found the source of the fire which had been extinguished by fire sprinklers.

Longview Fire Department said that a hydraulic hose for a large forging hammer broke and sprayed hydraulic fluid which was then ignited. No injuries were reported by Longview FD. According to our news partner, KETK, the department responded with three fire trucks, two ladder trucks, an ambulance and four support vehicles.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge in Las Vegas sentenced a Texas man to 100 years in prison for his role in a two-state shooting rampage on Thanksgiving 2020 that included the killing of a man in Nevada and a shootout with authorities in Arizona. Christopher McDonnell, 32, pleaded guilty in October to more than 20 felonies including murder, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, weapon charges and being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.

Clark County District Judge Tierra Jones sentenced him on Friday to a minimum of 100 years in prison, KLAS-TV reported. If he’s still alive, he would be eligible for parole in 2120 with credit for time served. McDonnell of Tyler,  his brother Shawn McDonnell, 34, and Shawn McDonnell’s then-wife, Kayleigh Lewis, 29, originally faced dozens of charges. Continue reading Texas man gets 100 years in prison for Nevada, Arizona Shootings

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, Pets Fur People has announced that their executive director Gayle Helms has retired from the Tyler animal sanctuary after serving as their leader for 26 years. Under Helms’ leadership, Pets Fur People successfully transitioned from being a kill shelter to East Texas’ only selective admission no-kill animal sanctuary, according to a Pets Fur People press release.

“We are deeply grateful to have worked alongside such a talented and dedicated woman,” said Angie Bullington, president of the board of Pets Fur People. “Gayle’s heart is truly with the animals. She has been a tremendous asset to Pets Fur People, and we are incredibly grateful for her leadership. We are confident that her legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of the Pets Fur People for years to come. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for her dedication and service.” Continue reading Pets Fur People announces retirement of Gayle Helms

KILGORE — With the holiday season in full swing, the Kilgore Police Department is highlighting an uptick in scams and frauds. The police department is warning residents of frauds and scams that pressure people for some form of payment in exchange for a prize or to resolve some type of problem such as tax issues, computer viruses or arrest warrants.

“Scammers often insist you pay them using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, wiring money through a company like Western Union, using gift cards or shipping a cashier’s check through a parcel company,” Kilgore PD said.

According to our news partner KETK, scammers have tried everything such as sweepstakes scams, warrant scams to ransom scams where they claim to be a government agent informing them they have detected illicit materials on their computer or device or their identity has been stolen. Continue reading Scams, frauds on the rise during holiday season

HENDERSON COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man, Daniel Richard Simpson, 38 of Malakoff, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after admitting to ingesting a “block of meth” during police pursuit and tampering or fabricating with physical evidence.

The Athens Police Department was dispatched to a Walmart Super Center in August 2021 in reference to two men suspected of shoplifting. Authorities approached the individuals, who at the time entered a black car in the parking lot. Simpson, the driver, was issued a criminal trespass warning for Walmart and learned that he had a warrant for his arrest for a parole violation. When Simpson learned of his active warrant, he reportedly fled through city limits of Athens and eventually lost control and slid into a ditch. Simpson reportedly admitted to officials he had ingested a “block of meth” and had traveled around 38 miles with speeds up to 105 mph. Continue reading Man sentenced after admitting to taking meth during pursuit

SMITH COUNTY, TX – According to a release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the SCSO received a transfer case from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office regarding allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving three children. During the investigation, authorities learned that two sisters, under ten years of age, made an outcry of sexual abuse to their father in July 2024 and he, in turn, reported the allegations to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Two suspects were interviewed and subsequently arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child on warrants issued by Judge Taylor Heaton. They are identified as Raywin Lyons, 65, and Melissa Branch, 38. Both suspects were incarcerated on two counts each of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child with bonds totaling $600,000.

TYLER – One of three people charged with killing an Tyler U.S. Army Veteran in February of 2023 has been sentenced to life in prison on Thursday, according to our news partners at KETK. Herbert Simpson, 56, Stephanie Brasher and Anthony Taylor were charged with capitol murder in August of 2023 after Warren Edward Rogers, 61 of Tyler, was found dead in his home with a gunshot wound. On Thursday, Dec. 12, a jury found Simpson guilty of capital murder by terror threat or other felony and he was sentenced to life in prison, according to Smith County judicial records. Brasher and Taylor currently have no cases listed by Smith County judicial records.

TYLER – UPDATE: The two missing boys have been found safe.

The Tyler Police Department has issued an AMBER Alert in the search for a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy who were reported missing on Friday. Legend Sandford, 3, and Kannon O’Neal, 4, were last seen at the Evergreens Apartments located at 4123 S Park Dr in Tyler at around 10 p.m. on Thursday. Legend was last seen wearing a blue Paw Patrol shirt and black, red and white pants and Kannon was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants with blue and red stripes. Legend is described as a 3’9? tall Black child with brown eyes and brown hair who weighs around 42 pounds. Kannon is described as 3’2? tall Black child with brown eyes and brown hair who weighs around 35 pounds and he has a scar on his forehead, a scar behind his right ear, a right ear piercing and a gap between his teeth, according to the AMBER Alert. Continue reading Amber Alert Update: Two boys found safe

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report the Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association has announced they’re planning an 8-hour power outage on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The outage will start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday so the cooperative can upgrade the electrical distribution system in Southeast Troup, Blackjack and Concord. Cooperative officials said that they’ll need access to every transformer. If the weather is inclement on Tuesday, officials said that they’ll push the outage to the next day of clear weather. Anyone with questions during the outage is asked to call 903-683-2248.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department said they’re searching for a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy who were reported missing on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Legend Sandford, 3, and Kannon O’Neal, 4, were last seen at the Evergreen Apartments located at 4123 S Park Dr in Tyler at around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Legend was last seen wearing a blue Paw Patrol shirt and black, red and white pants and Kannon was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants with blue and red stripes. Police said that the boys were reported missing by their mother at around 7:10 a.m. on Friday. Officials said there’s currently no evidence of foul play.

Officers are searching the area and anyone who has seen them is asked to call 911 or 903-531-1000 with any information.

UPDATE: JACKSONVILLE – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that Colton Maldonado has been found safe after he was reported missing on Thursday.

(PREVIOUS STORY) – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing man who was last seen on County Road 1401 on Friday at around 9:30 a.m. Colton Maldonado, 30 of Jacksonville, was reportedly last seen in a 2008 Chevy with the Texas license plate: NCR8520. according to our news partner KETK, Maldonado was heading towards Highway 204 on County Road 2401. Anyone with information is asked to call the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 903-683-2271.

UPSHUR COUNTY – Gary Rumbaugh, 57, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for online solicitation of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, Rumbaugh spoke to multiple minors via Facebook Messenger, with one explicitly telling him she was 12 years old. He also invited the child to his home as well as inviting others to meet in Gladewater Park. In recovered messages, he told the victim that he’s had sexual relations with children her age before. In a statement from the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, authorities were unable to contact the victims involved.

TYLER – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued new guidelines to protect your children from on-campus police officers, after a South Carolina school resource officer admitted to sexually abusing two children according to our news partner KETK.

In recent years, school districts across the nation have added more police presence on their respective campuses to keep the students, faculty and staff safe. In fact, half of East Texas’ school districts have enlisted extra help from officers. However, the DOJ has now issued guidelines to protect your children from those same officers.

With roughly 20,000 police officers stationed at schools across the United States, these cases are becoming more common but remain unknown to most. According to a Washington Post investigation, from 2005 to 2022, 200 officers were charged with crimes surrounding sexual abuse. That’s something Avera believes is shocking and unacceptable.
Continue reading New school sexual misconduct guidelines reaction

SMITH COUNTY– Our news partner, KETK, reports that Smith County Jail records have revealed that two men have been charged for allegedly stealing Legos from several stores across several states and in East Texas.

An arrest affidavit alleged that Brian Fleming and Shane Joel Gentry, both of Lancaster, took part in a theft ring which stole from several Walmart and Target stores in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania Florida and Texas, including stores in Longview, Tyler, Kilgore and Gun Barrel City.

A Department of Public Safety trooper first noticed 19 new Cricut electronic cutting machines sitting in the back of a vehicle during a traffic stop in October of 2022, according to the affidavit.
The driver of that vehicle was arrested for an unrelated warrant and the machines were ultimately traced back to the Walmart that they were allegedly stolen from and a search warrant was reportedly obtained for the driver’s phone. Gentry was allegedly texting that driver in order to buy the Cricut machines at a low price, the affidavit said. Continue reading Two booked for $400,000 Lego theft ring

HENDERSON COUNTY — A state trooper has been arrested after allegedly forcing himself into an East Texas house demanding to see a girl. According to an arrest affidavit and our news partner KETK, officials were dispatched to a house on County Road 2507 in Eustace on Dec. 1 at around 3:16 a.m. due to a possible burglary. When authorities arrived to the address, they spoke with an individual who claimed an unknown man wearing a grey hoodie showed up at his house and showed him a badge stating he was a state trooper. The trooper reportedly demanded to know where his niece was.

The man, later identified as Jacob McKeon, a state trooper from Ellis County, pushed the individual to the side and entered the house without permission. McKeon allegedly walked into the rooms waking up the parents in the house. Continue reading Trooper arrested after reportedly forcing himself into house

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department responded to a house fire Wednesday afternoon where a firefighter was injured.
According to Tyler Fire Battalion Chief David Admire, a firefighter was sent to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries after responding to an apartment complex fire at 1:20 p.m. on Erwin Street. No one in the apartment was injured, and officials said the house was a total loss. Tyler Fire Marshal Joey Hooton said that they will notify the Red Cross to help the home’s residents find a place to stay. Our news partner, KETK, reports that as of 1:50 p.m. eastbound traffic had been diverted, and the fire was mostly out.

WINNSBORO – An East Texas woman is accused of stealing pieces of pipe valued at about $49,000 from her husband’s business partners, arrest documents said. Kattie Steele is facing charges after material was reportedly stolen from her husband’s drilling company and was placed behind bars on Monday. According to the arrest affidavit, the drilling company filed bankruptcy and business partners were in the process of dividing the property when 107 pieces of pipe went unaccounted.

According to our news partner KETK, a witness said they saw Steele’s vehicle leaving 4690 Hwy 37 pulling a trailer with the pipes, and informed one of the owners. The witness said Steele later called them claiming they had paid for the pipes, but the arrest documents say the victim provided investigators a receipt for the property. Continue reading Woman steals nearly 50-thousand dollars worth of pipe

LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that a mountain lion collided with a Longview police patrol vehicle around 3 a.m. on Tuesday in the 3800 block of Loop 281.
According to the Longview Police Department, an officer was patrolling when his vehicle hit the mountain lion.

“Due to the extent of its injuries, the animal was put down at the scene,” the police department said. “A Texas Parks & Wildlife biologist and game warden were contacted.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife said mountain lions are also called cougars and in Texas are found “throughout the Trans-Pecos, as well as the brushlands of south Texas and portions of the Hill Country.”
Although the animal was hit in the city, TPWD said they are generally found in remote mountains or hilly areas that have cover. Mountain lions are usually active in the mornings and nights. The police department said the game warden took the animals carcass.

HENDERSON – A High School teacher is behind bars accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, the district said. According to Henderson ISD officials and our news partner, KETK, authorities informed them on Tuesday that one of their teachers, whose identity is not being released at this time, had been arrested after a police investigation.The police department’s investigation came from a report that claimed the high school teacher was having an inappropriate relationship with a student, whose age and identity was not released.

District officials said the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave and they are cooperating with law enforcement. HISD said they remain “committed to the safety and security” of their students.

NACOGDOCHES — One person is in custody and another still on the run following a Monday afternoon armed robbery in Nacogdoches according to our news partner KETK.

According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, on Monday at around 2:33 p.m. officials responded to a 911 call from a gas station employee in the 3200 block of North St. The employee said the store was robbed by an armed man who had taken an unknown amount of money and merchandise before leaving the scene. Authorities conducted a search for a second person driving a blue car connected to the robbery. Police later located the car and the occupant, Isaiah Hartsfield, 22 of Nacogdoches, in the 200 block of E. Lakewood St. and developed a probable cause linking them to the crime.

Hartsfield has since been arrested for aggravated robbery and is being held at the Nacogdoches County Jail. Continue reading Search continues for second person following armed robbery in Nacogdoches

LONGVIEW – A 35-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested after authorities found hundreds of pills containing fentanyl on Tuesday in a Longview home. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department, the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit and Longview SWAT conducted a search on a home in the 900 block of Doyle Street.

The police department said around 440 counterfeit Percocet fentanyl pills, two stolen handguns and a rifle were found during the search. Desmond Simmons, 35 of Longview, and Baylin Harris, 20 of Ore City, were arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Continue reading More than 400 fentanyl pills seized in Longview

UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after police found black tar heroin in a tin can buried in his backyard.

According to the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney, on Monday William Avery Griffin pled guilty to possessing more than 20 grams of black tar heroin with intent to sell prior to a jury being seated. In March, a search warrant was conducted by the Gilmer Police Department at Griffin’s home at 813 Frazier Street. Police reportedly found “cocaine, marijuana, pills, digital scales, bags for packaging drugs, a loaded 9 mm handgun and a large amount of cash.”

Authorities also found black tar heroin buried in a tin can in Griffin’s backyard. Police went undercover and successfully purchased heroin from him on at least two occasions. Due a lengthy arrest record, Griffin was charged as a habitual offender.In 1996, he was sent to prison for 10 years for felony theft in Upshur County. In 2000, he was sentenced for 20 years for possession of heroin with intent to deliver.And in 2008, he was sentenced back in prison for 15 years.

Griffin was on federal probation but will now be transferred back into their custody where he will serve the remainder of the sentence before beginning to serve the 50-year sentence.