Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
TYLER – A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, according to a news release from the office of the Acting U.S. Attorney, Jay R. Combs.
Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 28, was sentenced to seven life sentences by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on June 18, 2025. In 2023, Herndon was convicted by a jury of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children following a five-day trial before Judge Barker. Herndon remained in custody between the time of trial and sentencing.
“Victimizing children through commercial sex trafficking is reprehensible and will be prosecuted vigorously in East Texas,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “We will not stand by and watch the lives of young people ruined by predators like Herndon to satisfy the wanton interests of commercial sex customers. Herndon’s life sentence demonstrates our society’s intolerance for such callous disregard for others. I want to thank our many law enforcement partners for their diligent work on this case.”
“Sex trafficking is one of the most appalling crimes in our society, exploiting the most vulnerable among us. HSI remains committed to identifying traffickers, dismantling their criminal networks, and providing critical support to survivors,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Through our victim-centered investigations, we will spare no resource to protect communities and seek justice for those victimized by this modern-day slavery. “
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2019, Herndon engaged in trafficking multiple teenage girls for commercial sex acts. Herndon recruited the girls by social media, deceived them by promising riches, and placed them in hotels in the Tyler area. He then posted advertisements on sex trafficking websites showing explicit photos of the girls and offering commercial sex acts. Some of Herndon’s victims were as young as 13 years old. During trial, jurors heard testimony that Herndon used co-conspirators to continue to run his operation while he was in jail so that the victims could earn money to pay his bond.
Three of Herndon’s co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the offenses. Malcolm Kadeem Roberts, 29, of Tyler, was sentenced on November 16, 2023, to over 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Roberts was also sentenced to 75 years in state prison in Smith County District Court for aggravated sexual assault of a child charges in relation to one of the minor victims in this case. Tavarus D. Watkins, 29, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 16, 2023, for interstate transport of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Patrick Lamont Cross, Jr, 28, of Palestine, pleaded guilty on August 22, 2022, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Cross is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2025.
TYLER – Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 28, was sentenced to seven life sentences by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on Wednesday. In 2023, Herndon was convicted by a jury of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children following a five-day trial before Judge Barker. Herndon remained in custody between the time of trial and sentencing. Beginning in 2019, Herndon engaged in trafficking multiple teenage girls for commercial sex acts. Herndon recruited the girls by social media, deceived them by promising riches, and placed them in hotels in the Tyler area. Some of Herndon’s victims were as young as 13 years old. Three of Herndon’s co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the offenses.
MARSHALL — Our news partner KETK reports that one person is dead after a pickup truck and a motorcycle crash on Interstate 20 East and U.S. Highway 59 near Marshall on Wednesday around 4:30 a.m.
A preliminary investigation revealed that both vehicles were traveling east when the pickup truck struck the rear of the motorcycle. Officials said the motorcycle’s passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the motorcycle was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
At this time, DPS has not released the condition of the pickup driver, and no further details will be released by officials as the crash remains under investigation.
EUSTACE – Our news partner KETK reports that the SPCA of Texas was granted custody of 66 animals on June 11 after they were removed from a Eustace property due to alleged animal cruelty.
According to the non-profit organization, after an incomplete request for appeal at a civil custody hearing on June 11, the judge defaulted to the previous judgement which granted SPCA custody of 10 dogs and 56 cats experiencing animal neglect and cruelty.
These animals were removed from a metal building owned by Yelp for Help Animal Rescue ran by Haley Janelle Hull.
Hull was arrested on May 29 and charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals – neglect. She was booked into the Van Zandt County Detention Center where she was released the following day on a $10,000 bond. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center announced the 2025-26 “Big Names, Big Entertainment” season. Featuring Broadway hits, family-friendly programming and soaring artists, the season is packed with entertainment legends and legendary performances.
“I’m so excited by all that this season has to offer,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “We are honored to present such world class talent for East Texas audiences to enjoy. We want the Cowan Center to be widely utilized, so we’ve designed a season that has broad appeal.” Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN – A Lufkin man is behind bars after a shooting on Tuesday night on Percy Simond Street left one person injured, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
Around 7 p.m., Lufkin Police officers responded to a residence in the 100 block of Percy Simond Street.
When they arrived, 26-year-old Julious Griffin admitted to the officers that he shot the juvenile in the leg, but claimed self-defense.
Griffin has been booked in to the Angelina County Jail on the on the charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and deadly conduct.
The person that was injured was taken to a local hospital, but then later flown to an out-of-town facility. Their condition and identity have not been released as of this writing.
TYLER – A custodial death report from the Texas Attorney General’s office has released more information about a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in the Cascades earlier this month, according to our news partner KETK.
On June 5, members of the Tyler Police Department were dispatched to a home in the 3100 block of Cascades Court after receiving reports of a suspicious person on a property. According to the report, a homeowner stated that she was currently getting divorced from a man identified as John O’Kelly, and that he was given a court order restricting him from returning to the home.
The homeowner was out of the house at the time but told officers that O’Kelly had returned to the home and was seen on home security cameras assaulting her father. The report stated that one officer arrived on the scene, observed damage to the backdoor and began attempting to negotiate with O’Kelly to go outside the home. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A custodial death report from the Texas Attorney General’s office has released more information about a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in the Cascades earlier this month. According to our news partner KETK, on June 5, members of the Tyler Police Department were dispatched to a home in the 3100 block of Cascades Court after receiving reports of a suspicious person on a property.
According to the report, a homeowner stated that she was currently getting divorced from a man identified as John O’Kelly, and that he was given a court order restricting him from returning to the home.
The homeowner was out of the house at the time but told officers that O’Kelly had returned to the home and was seen on home security cameras assaulting her father. The report stated that one officer arrived on the scene, observed damage to the backdoor and began attempting to negotiate with O’Kelly to go outside the home. Read the rest of this entry »
HAWKINS — The Hawkins City Council voted to remove their last city police officer on Monday night but residents said they don’t agree with the council’s decision and are nervous to be left without coverage. According to our news partner KETK, many people have openly opposed the decision, including resident and former Hawkins city councilwoman Eleta Taylor.
“I am extremely disappointed in this council,” Taylor said. “That decision just opened us up so vulnerably because we’re not going to have no protection.”
She said several people have expressed their concern to her. After the council meeting ended Monday night, several people told KETK News that they are both scared and disappointed.
“Gut-wrenching fear for what is going to happen,” community member Amy Pack said. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: PALESTINE – According to the Palestine Police Department and our news partner KETK, Xavier Terrell Ealy was taken into custody without incident Tuesday night.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Palestine Police Department is currently searching for a man wanted in connection to the shooting of a 53-year-old on Monday, according to our news partner KETK.
Palestine officers were sent to an emergency room at around 7 p.m. on Monday in response to a report of a 53-year-old man had come in with gunshot wounds. Read the rest of this entry »
HOUSTON (AP) — A new execution date has been requested for Robert Roberson, a Palestine man who had been set last year to become the first person in the U.S. to be put to death for a murder conviction tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.
Monday’s request from the Texas Attorney General’s Office was the first time authorities had asked for a new execution date since Roberson received a stay in October. The execution’s delay followed a flurry of last-ditch legal challenges on the night of his scheduled lethal injection that were prompted by an unprecedented maneuver from a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers who say he is innocent and was sent to death row based on flawed science.
In its five-page motion, the Texas Attorney General’s Office said because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s top criminal court, has previously denied appeals in Roberson’s case, “the criteria for setting an execution have been met.” Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – A Troup man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday after running from the scene of a shooting that left one wounded in January, according to our news partner KETK. On January 7, officers responded to a call about a person suffering from a gunshot wound. While first responders were treating the victim, officers proceeded to the scene of the shooting, where they were informed that the suspect might still be inside the home.
Officials said that police quickly set up a perimeter around the home, and after multiple attempts to contact the suspect by phone and using loud speakers were unsuccessful, officers decided to enter the home. Upon entry, they discovered that the suspect had left the scene. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A 21-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years on Monday after a fatal shooting at a Longview convenience store in 2024, according to our news partner KETK. Around 3:40 a.m. on March 22, 2024, Longview police officers responded to a shooting at the EZ Mart on 700 Gilmer Road, where they found a man with a “life-threatening” gunshot wound.
Officials said Tykiron Garceil Mumphrey, 21 of Gladewater, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, while the victim was transported to a local hospital.
Mumphrey’s charge was later updated to murder after the victim died from the gunshot wound, but was dismissed in court after he took a plea deal. Mumphrey pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Monday, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
WINONA – According to a news release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, a Winona man has committed an armed robbery. Officers are currently on the scene where the robbery occurred at the Courtesy Mart, located in the 300 block of S. Main in Winona, at approximately 10:30 am. A suspect entered the store armed with a handgun and robbed the clerk of an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect fled on foot toward the adjacent liquor store. He is described as a black male, 5’8 to 5’9”, medium build, wearing a black mask, grey hoodie, and blue jeans.
Several law enforcement agencies are currently assisting the Sheriff’s Office. Currently, resources include the Smith County K-9 and a drone. This is an active investigation, and the suspect is still at large. Please avoid the area, if possible.
This suspect is armed and dangerous, do not approach if seen. If you have any information, please call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600 or 911 if urgent.
TYLER – According to a news release, Tyler City Councilman Stuart Hene officially declared his candidacy for Mayor of Tyler.
A native of Tyler and current District 1 Representative on the Tyler City Council, Councilman Hene brings a record of results and a vision for building on the city’s current momentum. His announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter in his service to the community he has long called home. Councilman Hene says that he is launching a campaign focused on continued growth, strong partnerships, and bold, forward-looking leadership. Read the rest of this entry »