Hopkins County Jury Sentences Alleged Gang Member To 20 Years In Prison On Firearm Charge
A Hopkins County Jury convicted a 29-year-old alleged gang member of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and sentenced him to the maximum allowable punishment on the charge Tuesday, local officials reported.
The trial of Mario Ladane Cozine, who listed a Commerce address at the time of his arrest in Hopkins County in 2018, began with jury selection and testimony Monday. The trial continued with closing arguments Tuesday morning, then the sentencing phase of the trial which ended with the jury sentencing Cozine Tuesday to 20 years in prison, the maximum punishment allowable for the offense.
The firearm charge stems from a State Highway 11 traffic stop by Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Rebekah Saathoff on Feb. 16, 2018. Cozine was reportedly the passenger in the vehicle. Saathoff, in 2018 arrest reports, reported a strong marijuana odor was detectable in the car. During a probable cause search, a loaded .45-caliber handgun was allegedly located under Cozine’s seat. After learning he was a convicted felon, he was arrested for being in possession of the firearm, Saathoff noted on arrest reports.
The maximum sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm was reportedly sought by prosecutors based on the defendant’s criminal history.
Prosecutors reportedly calling several witnesses during the sentencing phase of the trial to testify regarding “the defendant’s extensive, violent criminal history.”
“Mr. Cozine has an extensive criminal history that includes a trip to
the penitentiary for aggravated robbery, engaging in organized criminal
activity, and failure to stop and render aid. He also has other prior
convictions for offenses including failure to identify and unlawful carrying
of a weapon. Mr. Cozine is also currently on deferred adjudication probation out of Hunt County for the offense of assault family violence strangulation committed against one of the mothers of one of his children,” according to Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris.
Cozine bonded out of Hopkins County jail on Feb. 17, 2018, according to Hopkins County jail reports. Afterward, he allegedly went on the run from authorities, and “ended up in Mexico for a while until he was arrested by a DPS Trooper in Val Verde County in January of 2019,” the ADA alleged. The 29-year-old defendant allegedly assaulted the Val Verde County trooper as he was attempting to arrest him, according to the assistant district attorney.
Cozine has been in custody since January of 2019, serving a sentence for assaulting that trooper, according to Harris. Cozine was been in Hopkins County jail since Oct. 25, 2019, according to Hopkins County jail reports.
Several members of the Hopkins County Jail staff also testified to Cozine’s aggressive behavior while in custody awaiting trial on the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon charge, the ADA reported.
“We also called a gang expert from the Fort Worth Police Department, who was able to review photographs of the defendant’s tattoos, a jail telephone call made by the defendant, and the defendant’s clothing at the time of his arrest to prove that the defendant is a member of the Bloods criminal street gang,” Harris stated.
The jury sentenced Mr. Cozine to 20 years in the Institutional Division of Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the maximum sentence allowable under the law.
“The District Attorney’s Office is thankful that once again a Hopkins
County Jury has chosen to uphold the rule of law in this community. Thanks
to them, this defendant won’t have the opportunity to victimize anybody else for a long time,” Harris stated.
Meal A Day Needs Help On Wednesdays, Thursdays
Meal A Day is in desperate need of help on Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to Karon Weatherman, who serves as program director of the Senior Citizens Center, where the Meal A Day program is headquartered.
The program needs a Wednesday driver and a couple of cooks for Wednesday and Thursday. The route is in-town and should take only about an hour, if anyone is interested in donating their time to deliver meals prepared at the Senior Citizen Center. All cooks are welcome, but the center is most in need of someone who can help serve as a head cook, according to Weatherman.
To donate time to help prepare food or drive meals to shut ins, call Karon Weatherman at 903-885-1661 or email at [email protected].
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Runoff Expected Between Flynn, Slaton For District 2 State Representative
The Republican Texas Representative, District 2, election appears to be headed to a May runoff. Although incumbent Dan Flynn finished 9.24 percent ahead of Slaton and 14.18 percent head of Dwayne “Doc” Collins, none of the candidates received over 50 percent of the overall votes, according to the unofficial counts posted by the Secretary of State’s office.
Dan Flynn 
Bryan Slaton
Overall, Flynn received 14,044 votes or 44.47 percent for the three counties in District 2. Slaton finished with 11.127 votes or 35.23 percent of the overall votes cast. Collins receive 6,409 votes or 20.29 percent for the three counties.
Incumbent Dan Flynn came in just head of Bryan Slaton in Hopkins County, 2007 votes to 1978 votes, or 43.06 percent to 42.44 percent. Dwayne “Doc” Collins received 676 votes or 14.5 percent of ballots cast in Hopkins County.
Flynn had a bigger lead in Van Zandt County, receiving 6,260 votes or 43.31 percent. Collins edges ahead of Slaton in Van Zandt County with 4,183 votes, which amounted to 28.94 percent, to Slaton’s 4,011 votes or 27.75 percent.
In Hunt County, Flynn received 5,777 votes or 46.35 percent in Hunt County. Bryan Slaton finished with 5,138 votes or 41.22 percent for the three counties. Dwayne “Doc” Collins received 1,550 votes or 12.43 percent of the overall Republican votes in the three counties.
The winner of that election will face Democrat Bill Brannon in the General Election in November. Brannon did not draw a challenger for the Democratic Party nomination for District 2 State Representative. Brannon received 941 votes Tuesday, 266 in early voting, 121 absentee and 554 on Election Day.
Beadle Edges Ahead Of Humphries In Election for Constable 2 With 51.45 Percent Of Overall Votes
The only opposed county-level election in Hopkins County, for Constable 2, was close, but when the final unofficial tallies came in Tuesday night, John Brian Beadle had edged ahead of Charles Humphries with 51.45 percent of the Republican ballots cast in in the March 3 Party Primary.
When the early voting totals were in, only 28 votes separated the two Precinct 2 Constable candidates, with Humphries receiving 469 early votes and 23 absentee to Beadle’s 501 early votes and 19 absentee votes.
That margin increased to 68 votes when the final tallies (which won’t be official in any election until canvassed) were in, with Beadle receiving 1,204 votes to Humphries 1,136 votes. That was enough for Beadle to finish with 51.45 percent of the overall votes to Humphries 48.55 percent.
There was no Democratic candidate for Precinct 2 Constable for the Republican winner, Beadle, to face in the General Election in November.
Wildcats Basketball Team Plays Lancaster Close But Their Season Ends With Regional Quarterfinal Loss
The #10 ranked Wildcats Basketball Team kept hanging around close to #1 ranked Lancaster, but never could get into the lead ending up with a 44-38 loss in a regional quarterfinal game at Rockwall Heath Tuesday night, March 3.
The only Wildcats lead was 2-0 as Cameron Kahn scored the game’s first basket. Lancaster led 11-5 after the first quarter. The Wildcats trimmed a point off the lead at the half but still trailed 26-21
The Tigers increased their lead to 7 points, 38-31 after three quarters. The Wildcats outscored the Tigers by one point in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough. The Wildcats got close in the fourth quarter but could not close the gap.
Senior Grayson McClure led the Wildcats with 9 points with 3 three-point baskets. Senior Day Day Hall and junior Lamodrick Johnson both scored 8 points. Senior Cameron Kahn had 6 points. Junior Boo Wilkerson got 5 points. Sophomore Justin Haire scored 2 points.
Lancaster’s stellar guards led the Tigers in scoring with TCU commit Mike Miles scoring 15 points and Wade Taylor adding 13 points.
Lancaster advances to the Regional Tournament at the Culwell Center in Garland on Friday and Saturday.
The Wildcats season ends with a 28-9 record, the third most wins for a Clark Cipoletta-coached Sulphur Springs team. Making it to the Regional Quarterfinal ties the second best finish for Coach Cipoletta, surpassed only by the trip to the State Tournament last season. The Wildcats also lost in the regional quarterfinal game two years ago to Prosper in triple overtime.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Lady Cats Soccer Team Shuts Out Lindale On The Road To Go 5-2 In District Play
The Lady Cats Soccer Team improved their district record to 5-2 after a 4-0 shutout of Lindale at Lindale Tuesday night, March 3.
Haley Robinson got a three goal hat trick for the Lady Cats as she scored the Lady Cats first three goals. Janine Yamaguichi assisted on the first two goals and Rebekah Stanley on the third. Stanley scored the Lady Cats’ fourth goal on a rebound.
The Lady Cats improved their season record to 9-8-1. The Lady Cats play Mount Pleasant next at Gerald Prim Stadium Friday night. In the first round of district play, the Lady Tigers got a win over the Lady Cats in Mount Pleasant on February 18.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Edgewood Rallies With Lots Of Runs Late To Overtake The North Hopkins Baseball Team Tuesday
The North Hopkins Baseball Team got off to a good start in a game at Edgewood Tuesday, March 3. The Panthers went out in front with 2 runs in the top of the third and 1 run in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
It lasted until the bottom of the fifth when Edgewood scored 4 times to go ahead 4-3 after 5 innings. A 7 run Edgewood bottom of the sixth pushed the lead to 11-3, which was how it ended. Edgewood outhit the Panthers 11 to 4. The Panthers had the game’s only error.
Panthers starter Kevin Clement got no decision pitching 4 innings allowing 4 hits and 3 runs while striking out 6 and walking 2. Brycen Gillespie took the loss coming in in relief, pitching 1 inning giving up 6 hits and 7 runs while striking out 1 and walking 2. Tate Myers worked the final inning on the mound allowing a hit and a run.
Myers, Jessie Rivera, Geoffrey Stewart and Karson Jenkins all got hits for the Panthers. Rivera’s hit was a triple. Myers, Clement and Rivera all drove in runs. Runs were scored by Myers, Stewart and Robert Perry. The Panthers got 7 walks.
Hospital Auction on Hold
The proposed online auction to sell the abandoned ‘Old Hospital’ in Mount Vernon, TX is on hold. Franklin County Judge Scott Lee believes a new solution may be possible.
“It would be great if a private company would come in and get that building back on the tax base,” said Judge Scott, “The need for a full service hospital is just not here. What we really need is an urgent care facility.” In the past, CHRISTUS considered providing such care in Mount Vernon.
Emergency service is currently provided by Hopkins County EMS. Franklin County and Judge Lee feel the arrangement is mutually beneficial. “We contracted with another county before Hopkins County, but Hopkins County is a better fit,” stated Judge Lee.
Recent media exposure about the building, provided by CBS 60 minutes arrival on Thursday March 5th, 2020, has sparked new interest in the site. Mount Vernon ISD was approached in the past about taking over the property. At that time a firm ‘no’ was given. Judge Lee feels the ISD may now be interested. No details on that proposed deal are available.
“We are a small community, and the best case would be getting this property back on the tax rolls, but Franklin County is ready to work with anyone to get his taken care of,” Judge Lee stated.
Before the building is torn down, several hundred thousand dollars of asbestos cleanup will need to be preformed.
