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Several years ago, fearful that a capital murder case featuring the death penalty could bankrupt the county, the Hopkins County Commissioners Court invested in a program that would help defray costs. Now with a capital case with the death penalty being considered expected sometime in the next year, the Hopkins County Commissioners Court is seeking financial help through the program. County Judge Robert Newsom says it is an interlocal agreement between Hopkins County and Lubbock County. Any county can enter the agreement. Newsom said the program is like an insurance policy. The agreement cost the county just over $10,000 this year.
Locally, Hopkins County will have a capital murder trial that will include two defendants. The program will pay for only one defendant but that will save the county up to $300,000. The program will provide two court-appointed attorneys, an investigator, and other needs that are expensive. Newsom said the current capital murder trial should take place before the next budget year which begins in October, 2016.
Newsom said there is a small county near Hopkins that is facing difficulties due to a pending capital murder case. While a district judge, Newsom did hear a case several years ago that cost the county approximately $150,000.
In February of this year, KSST reported that Hopkins County will have to pick up the costs of attorneys for one of two men indicted for capital murder in what are expected to be a death penalty cases. County Judge Robert Newsom said an insurance policy would pay for attorneys for Cody Scott Shaw of Emory. The policy will not cover co-defendant Patrick Wayne McMahan of Sulphur Springs. The cost could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The men were indicted December 8. DA Will Ramsey has said he will seek the death penalty against both men. They are accused of murdering 66-year old Gary Maynard at his home.
In December, 2014, KSST reported that JP Yvonne King set bond at $2-million for each of two suspects arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the Saturday night slaying of 66-year old Gary Maynard. Maynard’s wife found him murdered in his bed at their County Road 2301 home. An investigation pointed toward two suspects who worked for Maynard’s tree service. Authorities arrested 31-year old Patrick Wayne McMahan at his Sulphur Springs’ home and 26-year old Cody Scott Shaw at his Emory home in Rains County. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum said both men admitted they were involved in the murder. Items stolen from Maynard’s home were also recovered.
