Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
HUGHES SPRINGS – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Hughes Springs daycare worker was arrested on Monday after investigators reportedly discovered a video of her sexually assaulting a child.
According to the arrest affidavit, the Hughes Springs Police Department began an investigation into the possible continuous sexual assault of a child by Benny Edward Littlepage. After searching Littlepage’s phone, officers found 4,000 nude photos and 1,000 videos of a girl under 18.
The document said that investigators discovered a video that occurring on Nov. 11, 2024, at 7:17 a.m. that showed a child while Samantha Michele Smith, 34 of Hughes Springs and Littlepage performed sexual acts on the child and with each other. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Two people were arrested on Wednesday afternoon after methamphetamine and a firearm were found inside a home.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies conducted a search warrant on a home off County Road 3816, where they discovered 9 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Officials identified the people inside the home as Sara Jean Mulder and Dillon Austin Lambright.
According to our news partner, KETK, Lambright and Mulder were arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon while engaged in criminal activity.
NACOGDOCHES – A man was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to shooting a Nacogdoches police officer.
The incident occurred in December 2023 when the officer conducted a traffic stop, pulling over Jose Iraheta, the driver, and Gabriel Ramirez, a passenger. Ramirez proceeded to open fire on the officer before fleeing the scene.
According to reports from our news partner, KETK, Ramirez and the driver were found a few days later, and were arrested for aggravated assault against a public servant. Following his arrest, Ramirez was transported to the Nacogdoches County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT – A cockfighting ring involving hundreds of people was discovered in Mount Pleasant and, animal organizations said local authorities did nothing to stop it.
According to Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), over the weekend they presented to Titus County Sheriff’s Office with evidence of a cockfighting event, but deputies did nothing to stop it. The organizations said that representatives showed up to the cockfighting event, and took drone footage showing about 225 vehicles and people holding roosters. The groups claimed it was the biggest cockfighting event they have ever seen.
Our news partner, KETK, reports that four deputies showed up to the property after the organizations handed over evidence, but the groups said they feel more could have been done. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK and the Texas A&M webiste the Smith Co. 10-acre fire is 100% contained. Smith County ESD2 Chief Eric Greaser said crews were dispatched to 11340 Highway 64 W. at around 2:45 p.m. after a controlled fire got out of hand. The fire is 100% contained, according to the Texas A&M Incident Viewer. The Texas A&M Forestry Service assisted local first responders.
“The wind shift can get off into the grasses that are now dry and with the low humidity, they [a fire] can really run faster than most of us could imagine,” Greaser said.
Greaser said the Fire Marshal’s office will be issuing a citation to a contractor next to the Northeast Texas Biker’s Church.
UPDATE: According to our news partner KETK, Womack is safe and has returned home.
LUFKIN, Texas (KETK)- The Lufkin Police Department is searching for a missing 11-year-old boy who was last seen Wednesday evening.
Zaviar Womack was last seen near Lufkin’s Garrett Primary school at around 5:15 p.m. Womack was wearing the shirt shown in the photograph along with blue jeans and glasses.
Photo courtesy of Lufkin Police Department
Anyone with information on Womack’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lufkin Police Department at 936-633-0356.
NACOGDOCHES — According to our news partner KETK, a Mexican man, residing in Nacogdoches, pleaded guilty to federal immigration and firearms violations on Tuesday. 25-year-old Joel Bustamante Moreno was detained for selling multiple firearms, including a 9mm pistol equipped with a Glock switch, a device that once fixed to a pistol can make it capable of firing automatically. Officials said Moreno fled the scene when officers attempted to arrest him, wrecked a vehicle and ran to a residence where he was later arrested. Moreno has previously been deported in 2019 and 2020.
He faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
Moreno’s case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program combining all levels of law enforcement and the communities to keep neighborhoods safer. Several parties are part of the investigation including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the Nacogdoches Police Department.
CANTON – A Van Zandt County contractor was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy that cost an electric company more than $2 million.
According to the U.S. Attorney Office’s of the Eastern District Court of Texas, James Derr, 55, was involved in a group conspiracy with Rebekah Mitchell and Brittany Burton that diverted electrical equipment for financial gain. Our news partner, KETK, reports that for five years, Derr, Mitchell, and Burton reportedly worked together to steal circuit breakers and resell them to various buyers. Derr worked as an electrical contractor with J&D Electric, and Mitchell worked for Schneider Electric in Athens. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Stephen F. Austin State University has been on alert since an anonymous threat was reportedly shared on social media, according to our news partner KETK.
“We have been made aware of the concerning message found over spring break on a bench near campus indicating something may happen on March 24,” Interim Provost Judy Abbott said. “The University Police Department has been taking action and increasing their presence on campus.”
The university recommends the following actions to ensure safety:
JEFFERSON – The Jefferson Police Department is searching for suspects involved in an attempted ATM burglary on Monday morning.
According to reports from our news partner, KETK, at around 2 a.m. police responded to an alarm call at East Texas Professional Credit Union located on East Broadway St. What they found was the aftermath of an attempted burglary at the ATM. Officials said the suspects used a stolen truck to access the ATM’s cash compartment but they were unsuccessful and no money was stolen. The suspects fled before officers arrived.
Officers are actively investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jefferson Police Department.
RUSK COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Service in putting the top 10 most wanted sex offenders in Texas behind bars.
Thaddeus C. Hodge has been wanted since 2023 for violating his parole after he was found guilty on two counts of indecency with a child in 2018. Hodge has also been wanted by Rusk County since August 2024, for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and for debit and credit card abuse.
Deputies found Hodge inside his home located at the south end of the county, and he was taken into custody.
TYLER – Tyler’s City Council approved two new Class A Burn Buildings for the Tyler Fire Department. Class A Burn Buildings are used to simulate realistic fire conditions such as smoke, fire and heat for training purposes.
According to our news partner, KETK, the city purchased these portable buildings for $129,713. There is currently one Class A Burn Building for the department. The building’s structure has a two-chamber design which mirrors actual fire scenarios .Additional buildings were needed in order to meet state requirements. Two or more Class A fires need to be ignited through their training and Tyler firefighters have had to travel out of the city to get that training.
The two new Burn Buildings will be added to the department’s current training facility located near Fair Park Drive.
LONGVIEW– A Longview middle school student was detained Tuesday morning after officers were alerted of a photo online showing the student with a firearm in a school restroom.
According to a report from our news partner, KETK, around 10:45 a.m. a Longview police school officer was made aware of an online photo of a student with a firearm in the Foster Middle School restroom. Officials said that the investigation revealed that the incident occurred on Monday during an after-school event.
The student was immediately detained and transported to Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center on third-degree felony, exhibition, use or threat of exhibition or use of firearms. Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a man accused of stealing over 1,500 pounds of copper wire was arrested by the Titus County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said that in late February, investigators became aware of a man selling unusual amounts of scrap copper several times a week. Investigators believed the copper was being stolen from a business in Mount Pleasant so they began to communicate with the business’s owners.
After weeks of monitoring the man, investigators received a tip on Saturday alerting them that the man was back at the business where they suspected he was taking the wire from. Officials responded to the tip and arrested the man who was identified as James David Robertson. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – J Star Ministries and Texans on Mission are preparing to bring relief and resources to tornado outbreak victims in the South and Midwest.
According to our news partner, KETK, East Texas organizations are doing what they do best gearing up to help people in need. On Wednesday, J Star Ministries will go to Cave City and Diaz, Ark. Patrick Johnson, the nonprofit’s founder, is asking for donations on his social media platform. Johnson is asking for financial donations and items, including water, non-perishables, dog food, cat food and other basic needs.
“The typical basic needs such as water, Gatorade, tarps, first aid kits, toilet paper, paper towel, nonperishable food items, chips, snacks, drinks and first aid kits,” founder of J Star Ministries, Patrick Johnson, said. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA– According to our news partner KETK, four men were arrested on Friday after investigators conducted a sting operation targeting individuals attempting to solicit sex with a minor or prostitute in Texarkana. According to Texarkana Police Department, for several days investigators ran a sting operation to target people attempting to solicit sex and as a result, arrested four men.
Officials said that Gregory Alane Frame, 45 of Wake Village and Derek Dean Thomas, 33 of Henderson, were communicating with an undercover officer posing as an underage girl and then showed up at a location expecting to meet her. Frame was arrested for online solicitation of a minor sexual conduct and Thomas was arrested for online solicitation of a minor sexual conduct and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Texarkana PD said Cameron Lamont Dotson, 21 of Texarkana, was arrested for online solicitation of prostitution while Robert Hopkins, 37 of Texarkana, was arrested for online solicitation of prostitution and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. All four men are currently being held in the Bowie County Jail.
PALESTINE – An East Texas State legislator is pushing for a bill that would support veterans who are facing Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) according to our news partner KETK.
East Texas State Representative Cody Harris of Palestine has proposed HB 3717 which would provide $50 million in private and public funding for research into ibogaine-assisted therapy. The therapy focuses on working with veterans who are suffering from (OUD) or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) along with other neurological and mental health conditions. Harris spoke about how the bill could transform the lives of many veterans across the state by giving them a second chance through recovery from addiction.
“This bill puts Texas at the forefront of medical innovation and personal freedom by cutting through federal red tape and supporting life-saving research that could give our veterans and countless others a second chance. We can’t afford to wait —Texas must lead the way,” Harris said.
Click here to learn more about HB 3717 through the Texas Legislature online.
SMITH COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, three people were recently arrested in connection to an East Texas undercover prostitution victim recovery operation. Documents obtained by KETK show that a special agent with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigative Division in Tyler is part of an ongoing multi-agency operation tasked with identifying and recovering victims of human trafficking.
The special agent reported in an arrest affidavit that an undercover officer solicited a prostitute through an online advertisement containing a phone number. As a part of the ongoing operation, a meeting was set up for an hour of sexual services, records show. An unreported hotel address and room number were sent and when the suspected prostitute showed up they were met by law enforcement and taken to a Texas DPS office to be questioned, according to an arrest affidavit.
A message asking about why the suspected prostitute wasn’t answering their phone was then received by the undercover officer and an arrest document described how a nearby surveillance team noticed the driver of a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix talking to a bystander. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Longview man was sentenced to 100 years in prison after being found guilty for multiple counts of sexual abuse to a child.
According to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office, on Thursday Justin Eugene Howard was sentenced to 80 years for aggravated sexual assault of a child to run consecutively with a 20 year sentence for sexual assault of a child followed by 10 years of probation for indecency with a child by sexual contact.
Officials said that Howard’s convictions come from his continuous sexual abuse of a girl that began back in 2008, when the child was 6-years-old and it continued through 2020. The testimony at trial showed that Howard committed several sexual offenses against the child from 2008 to 2020. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to reports from our news partner, KETK, an East Texas representative filed a bill in late February meant to protect children from sexually explicit material in public libraries.
State Representative Daniel Alders filed House Bill 3225 on Feb. 24, which would require public municipal libraries to restrict accessibility to sexually explicit material for minors.
“As radicals continue to target our children with obscene content tucked away in our children’s reading material, it’s high time for Texas lawmakers to take a stand and ensure our public libraries take the necessary steps to protect our children,” Alders said. Read the rest of this entry »
MALAKOFF — Malakoff Independent School District held a special board meeting Wednesday as the Board of Trustees named Dr. PJ Winters the lone finalist for their new superintendent.
According to our news partner, KETK, Dr. Winters brings over 20 years of experience in education to the job. He was a teacher for over five years working at Lukfata Public Schools and Marshall ISD. Then, he became an assistant principal for Jefferson ISD for over three years.
Winters became a principal at Big Sandy High School for a year before returning to Jefferson ISD, where he was also a principal for two and a half years. Afterwards, he started working at the university level and became a professor. At East Baptist University he spent over eight years working as an associate professor and later as the director of music education programs. On June 2022, Winters joined Malakoff ISD becoming director of elementary curriculum.
Winters will be staying with Malakoff ISD as the new Superintendent. The Malakoff ISD Board of Trustees voted him as the lone finalist 7-0. Once the required 21-day waiting period is over, he will formally take over the role.
HENDERSON COUNTY – According to reports from our news partner, KETK, a sting operation in Henderson County has led to the arrest of a man who was attempting to solicit a minor.
During the sting operation on Monday, an officer utilized an online dating messaging platform to target individuals who were seeking to have sexual relationships with minors. The officer created an undercover persona, portraying himself as a 15-year-old girl living in Henderson County. The officer’s profile on the website received direct messages from an account with the username “Rob.” During their conversations on the platform, the user believed that the officer was a minor living in East Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
TERREL — A Wills Point teenager was killed during a car crash in Terrell on Tuesday.
According to our news partner, KETK, the Terrell Police Department received a 911 call at around 2:49 a.m. in regards to a crash detection notification from a cell phone in the area of State Highway 205 and Colquitt Road. When officers arrived, they found an orange 2020 Chevrolet Equinox that had struck a traffic light pole on the right side of the roadway.
The passenger of the vehicle, 19-year-old Bryson Malachi Barnes of Wills Point, was pronounced dead at the scene, Terrell PD said. The driver, Preston David Grosvenor-Reed, 18 of Royse City, was taken to a hospital for minor injuries. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Congressman Nathaniel Moran, who represents Tyler in the U.S. House of Representatives, has been appointed to the House Committee on Ethics by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The committee has jurisdiction over the House Code of Official Conduct within the house, and is tasked with upholding integrity and accountability in Congress. According to reports from our news partner, KETK, Congressman Moran has been selected as one of the five Republicans to serve on the the bipartisan, ten-member panel.
“It is my honor to appoint Congressman Nathaniel Moran to the House Ethics Committee,” said Johnson. “His impeccable character, commitment to upholding the highest standards of Congress, and his unwavering dedication to public service make him perfectly suited for this role. I have full confidence that he will serve with integrity as we work to improve the American people’s trust in Congress.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue is strongly advising residents to not burn anything while outdoors on Friday, citing high winds and low moisture as potential fire dangers.
“Due to multiple fire danger triggers predicted on Friday, March 14, 2025, Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue is strongly advising residents of Smith County to help eliminate ignition sources by not conducting outdoor burning and ensuring that all previous controlled burns are out cold,” Hogue said. “Smith County will experience very low humidity, low surface fuel moisture, and winds of 15-20 mph with gust up to 35 mph which results in unusual and dangerous fire weather conditions throughout the day on Friday. The most effective way to extinguish a fire is to prevent it.”
Hogue’s statement comes after several recent fires have popped up all across East Texas including in Smith County, Cherokee County, Rusk County and Gregg County.
CANTON – According to our news partner KETK, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection to the theft of a vehicle that was reported stolen on Monday.
Deputies took a report of a stolen vehicle, and during an investigation, officials were able to identify the suspect as Mark A. Thomas of Wills Point and tied him to an address in Van Zandt County.
Mugshot of Mark Aaron Thomas Jr., courtesy of Van Zandt County Jail records. The sheriff’s office said: “A short time later, [deputies] saw Thomas drive by in the stolen vehicle and along with additional deputies, stopped the vehicle.”
Thomas was arrested for theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000 and an aggravated assault warrant. During a search of the vehicle deputies reportedly found suspected methamphetamines leading to Thomas also getting charged for possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance, according to the sheriff’s office.
UPDATE: According to our news partner KETK, the Diboll Police department have found Brynn Maxwell.
DIBOLL – The Diboll Police Department is seeking help locating a missing woman who is believed to be in danger. Brynn Maxwell was reported missing on March 7 and is believed to be with her boyfriend Anthony Cathcart, who police say had court orders to stay away from her. “Brynn is believed to be in danger and we are actively trying to locate her to ensure she is okay,” the police department said.
Longview company lays off 68 employees due to extensive facility issues
Anyone with any potential information regarding Maxwell is asked to contact Diboll PD and speak with either Lt. Reid or Assistant Chief Hopper at 936-829-5586.
TYLER – TJC police are searching for an individual after a student reported being a victim of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, the victim alerted police on Thursday at 1:10 p.m., two days after the incident occurred. He said he had been approached while at the library near the quiet room. The suspect asked to speak with him in a quiet room.
“The student and the suspect went into the quiet room where they talked,” TJC PD said. “After a period of time, the student went to leave and the suspect pulled a knife from a front pocket, held it to the student’s neck area and said, ‘We are not finished talking.’” Read the rest of this entry »
SULPHUR SPRINGS – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Sulphur Springs Police Department has arrested a man in connection to a Wednesday shooting on Putman Street.
Arrest reports show that Sulphur Springs police officers responded to reports of shots fired on Putman Street at around 2:59 p.m. on Wednesday. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who was shot in the leg and began applying medical aid. Witnesses at the scene identified the suspect, and one witness told officers that the person had taken their car and left the scene. Officers discovered a possible location for the suspect on Beckham Street. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Longview Police Department said the officer who was injured in the Saturday incident has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK, a Longview police officer was injured on Saturday night while responding to a vehicle burglary. The Longview Police Department said officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Lincoln Drive at around 11:22 p.m. to a vehicle burglary in progress.
As police searched the area, they located the burglarized vehicle and the suspect was found inside a second vehicle on Kenwood Drive. Read the rest of this entry »