Life in Prison for Pittman

TYLER (AP/STAFF) A Smith County jury has convicted and delivered a life sentence against a man accused of being part of an alleged swinger’s club that used children as performers. The panel decided within a half hour Thursday that Dennis Pittman, 47, will serve at least 15 years of his prison sentence before he becomes eligible for parole. Pittman had been found guilty earlier in the day of engaging in organized criminal activity. The jury deliberated about 1½ hours before convicting Pittman, who was the fourth of six defendants to be tried in the so-called Mineola child sex ring. Pittman’s defense will file a motion for a new trial. In June, an appeals court overturned convictions of two other men. New trials were ordered for Patrick “Booger Red” Kelly and Jamie Pittman.