Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
CENTER – Christopher Lemoine, 40, was booked into Shelby County Jail after being arrested Tuesday afternoon on an inappropriate relationship with an educator and student charge. He remains jailed on a $250,000 bond. The Center Police Department announced an investigation is ongoing.
On Tuesday, thousands of Texans hit the polls to voice their opinions on several propositions that could change the Texas Constitution forever.
The Livingston Police Department and our news partner KETK have reported that an East Texas woman is suspected of shooting and killing her 8-year-old son before killing herself on Saturday. The bodies of the woman and an 8-year-old boy, both of whom appeared to have been shot once, were discovered in a parked car along U.S. Highway 59 South, according to the officers.
The Lufkin Police Department notified Livingston Police Department on Saturday that a woman was with a minor and had expressed suicidal thoughts. Officers in Livingston started looking for two possible vehicles after receiving descriptions from Lufkin Police Department. One of the cars was on the shoulder of the 800 block on U.S. Highway 59 South at approximately 10:47 p.m. Officers found the deceased Adelia Garcia Torres, 27, and her son, 8, inside the car when they got close. The public is not currently in danger, according to the Livingston Police Department.
HARRISON COUNTY, Texas – Christopher Hunter Rosenthal, 31 of Tatum, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. The Harrison County Sheriffs Office and our news partner KETK reports that Rosenthal was first arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography on Feb. 5 of 2024. A reported video showed Rosenthal sexually assaulting children ages three, five and seven. Rosenthal was sentenced after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography.
GREGG COUNTY, Texas – Flags are being lowered to half-staff across Gregg County to honor Precinct 4 Commissioner Danny Craig Sr. who passed away on Wednesday. Our news partners at KETK report that Craig Sr. served for decades both at his church as a pastor and in the community. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on all Gregg County buildings and facilities until Nov. 16 to honor the life of Craig Sr.
HARRISON COUNTY, Texas – Harrison County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Pato found marijuana concealed inside vacuum-sealed bags during a traffic stop on Interstate 20 Wednesday. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office made the request for the K-9, and about six pounds of marijuana concealed inside vacuum-sealed bags were later found after a search. The driver of the vehicle was later arrested.
SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY, Texas – Jasper County Game Warden Justin Charles Eddins was arrested on Tuesday for the charge of making a false statement to obtain credit in the provision of certain services. Our news partners at KETK report that Eddins allegedly made an intentionally false statement to Southside Bank using another person’s name and credit to try to obtain loans. The value of the amount of credit he was trying to gain “was $150,000 or more but less than $300,000.” Eddins was released after posting a $50,000 bond. He’s mostly known for appearing on the TV show Lone Star Law.
HENDERSON COUNTY – 35-year-old Chaz Taelor White was found guilty of murder for the the killing of Alexis Garoutte that took place on April 21, 2023. Henderson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a possible shooting on Sailfish Drive in Mabank. Garroutte was then found dead in the home slumped in the passenger seat of a black Dodge Ram. While with investigators, White reportedly gave six different stories. He eventually confessed to firing an AK-47 towards the Dodge Ram that was located at a nearby house. It was also revealed that White gave the weapon to his wife to get rid of it. White continued to confess, stating to authorities he used and dealt drugs, including methamphetamine. Henderson County 392nd District Court Judge Scott McKee handed down the life sentence. The judge also heard that White had “SS” lightning bolt tattoos, which are commonly linked to white supremacist prison gangs. After the murder, White tattooed a gun on the side of his head, as well as a bullet alongside his wife’s name.
UPSHUR COUNTY – Texas Governor Gregg Abbott needed less than a month to secure a replacement for the retired Billy Byrd, as Billy Wallace of Gladewater will now be serving as the Upshur Criminal District Attorney. Our news partners at KETK report that he currently holds the title of first assistant for the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. Wallace will start his tenure as district attorney on Nov. 1, and his term will end on Dec. 31, 2026, or upon the election of a duly appointed successor.
HARRISON COUNTY, Texas – For the second time in a month, Ricky Hampton, whose stage name is Finess2tymes, has been arrested in East Texas on drug charges. According to Harrison County Jail records and our news partners at KETK, the rapper on Mondy was hit with eight different charges: possession of marijuana, tampering or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair, prohibited substance/item in correctional facility, four counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a dangerous drug. He was released from the county jail on Tuesday after posting a bond, which was set at $119,000.
HAWKINS – Hawkins ISD is asking voters to approve a $0.03 increase to the district’s maintenance & operations tax rate in their proposed Voter-Approval Tax Ratification Election, also known as VATRE. Our news partners at KETK report that VATRE is a local school funding election that asks voters whether to authorize the school district to access the maintenance and operations tax rate. $0.03 tax increase would account for $100 of taxable property value. Any property owner who lives in Hawkins ISD would pay 3 cents more per $100 of property value. This change is projected to generate $600,000 in funding for Hawkins’ district operations.
LUFKIN – Our news partners at KETK report that the Lufkin Police Department are investigating a Saturday shooting at a dance club. Authorities say two adults are currently at large after they reportedly shot a teenager. Responding officers found a teenager laying in the parking lot near the entrance of the club. The shooting allegedly began after an altercation near a truck in the parking lot. The shooter was then reportedly seen getting back into his truck and leaving. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Lufkin PD.
SMITH COUNTY, Texas – Smith County election officials want to remind residents that Monday, October 20, is the first day to early vote in the November 4 Constitutional Amendment and Joint Election, as well as several city and school elections throughout the county.
The county has plenty of resources for voters. This includes an interactive map to find your nearest voting location, a list of ID’s you can use, as well as a full list of locations and their hours for both early voting and November election day. All of which can be found on the county’s website.
SMITH COUNTY – New information following a fatal crash in Smith County on Wednesday morning. According to an arrest affidavit and our news partner KETK, the crash took place on FM 2015 south of FM 16 involving a white F250 and another vehicle. The driver of the F-250, Jeremiah Munoz, 31, drove into the southbound lane and collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Brandi Carter.
Once deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, they observed the truck facing south and the vehicle driven by Carter in a ditch. When deputies approached Carter’s vehicle, they found her dead beside her car, according to the arrest affidavit.
As deputies spoke with Munoz, they allegedly detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. When asked if he had been drinking, Munoz stated that it was his birthday and he had had a couple of beers. Munoz then agreed to take a sobriety test, which he was unable to pass. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas – Our news partners at KETK report that Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd announced on Tuesday that he will be retiring from his position at the end of October. Byrd sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, stating that after serving as the Upshur County district attorney for the past 18 years and serving as a prosecutor in the state of Texas for the last 24 years, he will be retiring from his role on Oct. 31. Byrd’s first assistant, Barry Wallace, will assume duties as district attorney until Gov. Abbott makes an appointment or someone is elected next year.