Louisiana Man Arrested For Cattle Theft After Intense Multi-State Investigation
QUITMAN, Texas —A five-month investigation by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Brand Inspectors resulted in a Louisiana man being jailed on three felony cattle theft charges out of Texas.
TSCRA Special Rangers Larry Hand and Bo Fox were reportedly in Louisiana Tuesday as LDAF brand inspectors arrested Justin Glenn Thompson, 40, of Hineston, Louisiana. Thompson was subsequently booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail, where he remains while awaiting extradition to Texas, according to TSCRA.
Special Ranger Hand was first contacted in February 2019 by a Wood County rancher, who alleged that a Louisiana-based cattle feeding operation owed him more than $91,000. By April, LDAF Brand Commission Agent Jessie Bellard and Manager Scott Perry were fully involved, and the case had allegedly grown into an intense, multi-state financial crimes investigation.
The victim had reportedly sold and purchased cattle through Thompson in his capacity as an agent for Strain Feeders of Abita Springs, Louisiana. The investigators soon uncovered evidence alleging that Thompson was using his position at the company to divert cattle and funds for his own benefit. They also believe he falsified information at the company to earn additional compensation, according to a press release from TSCRA.
After months of untangling the details, the case was taken to a Wood County Grand Jury, who Aug. 28, 2019, handed down three indictments against Thompson. Those charges are:
- Theft of cattle less than $150,000, for the theft of 84 head of cattle.
- Theft of cattle less than $150,000, for the theft of 16 head of cattle.
- Theft of property more than $2,500 but less than $30,000, for more than $18,000 in cattle payment shortages.
Warrants were issued Sept. 3, and Thompson was arrested the same day due to concerns that he could pose a flight risk, the TSCR release stats.
If convicted, Thompson could face 22 years in prison, up to $30,000 in fines and restitution to the victim.
According to a news release by LDAF, this is not Thompson’s first brush with the law. At the time of his arrest, he was free on bond in another cattle theft case under investigation by LDAF in Allen Parish. Additional investigations in both Texas and Louisiana are ongoing, and more charges are likely, according to TSCRA.
“I cannot overstate how important the partnership between TSCRA and LDAF was in this investigation,” said Hand. “If not for their collaboration, we may not have been able to resolve the case and bring Thompson to justice.”
TSCRA credits and officers thanks to TSCRA Special Rangers Larry Hand and Bo Fox, LDAF Brand Commission Inspectors Scott Perry and Jessie Bellard, and Wood County District Attorney Angela Albers and her staff for their “tremendous contributions to the investigation and subsequent indictments.”
Caddo Mills Woman Arrested In Sulphur Springs On Controlled Substance Charge
A disturbance complaint on Church Street Thursday resulted in a 32-year-old Caddo Mills woman’s arrest on a controlled substance charge and on two misdemeanor warrants.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman was reportedly dispatched at 10:24 a.m. Sept. 5 to a disturbance in the 1400 block of Church Street. Upon arrival, the woman was contacted and a records check using her information showed her to be wanted for expired operator’s license and possession of drug paraphernalia; fees owed on the Sulphur Springs charges totaled $969.80, according to arrest reports.
The Caddo Mills woman was taken into custody at 12:31 p.m. Sept. 5 on both warrants. Child Protective Services was reportedly contacted because the woman had three children at the time of her arrest. CPS allegedly already has an active CPS case on her. She and her children were reportedly taken to the police department. When CPS personnel arrived, the children were released into the care of the agency, Hoffman alleged in arrest reports.
The woman, identified in arrest reports as 32-year-old Amber Nicole Newby of Caddo Mills, was transported to the county jail. A female jailer allegedly found a clear bag containing a crystal-like substance officials believed to be methamphetamine in Newby’s bra. Newby also had a bag with a leafy, green substance believed to be marijuana and a pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke marijuana on her as well, Hoffman alleged in arrest reports.
Newby remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning on the warrants as well as a controlled substance charge; bond was set at $5,000 on the possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Johanna Hicks: Three Upcoming Events Offered By Local Extension Office
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has several upcoming events. They include
- Cooking Well for Healthy Blood Pressure series will be held Monday, Sept. 9, and continue Thursday, Sept. 12, and conclude on Monday, September 16. All sessions will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office. A $20 fee, payable at the first session, will cover materials, recipes, and recipe sampling. Topics will include DASHing your way to good health (Dietary Approach to Stopping Hypertension), Virtual Grocery Store Tour, and Cooking with Herbs and Spices. Registration ends Monday. Call 903-885-3443 to register.
- Cooking Well with Diabetes is a 4-lesson series covering carbohydrate foods, making recipes with fat better for you, double-pleasure side dishes: reducing sodium and increasing fiber, and celebrating sensibly with diabetes. Sessions will be Sept. 16, 19, 23, and 26 at 6:00 p.m. A $25 fee, payable at the first session, covers materials, recipes, and recipe sampling. This series will begin at 6 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 West Houston St., Sulphur Springs. Registration for this series ends on Sept. 13. Contact Johanna Hicks at 903-885-3443 to sign up.
- Applications for the 2019 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show are now being accepted. This is for hand-made, hand-crafted items only. Dates of the Show & Sale are Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26, at the Sulphur Springs High School. Indoor spaces and covered outdoor spaces are available. Contact Johanna Hicks at 903-885-3443 for more information.
Newsom, Other County Officials From Across Texas ‘Focus On the Future’ At 2019 TAC Conference
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom was among more than 700 county officials, county staff and legislators from across the state attending the Sept. 4-6 for the Texas Association of Counties 2019 Legislative Conference in Austin.
The three-day event was a chance to discuss new legislation that affects counties and local taxpayers following the 86th legislative session.
“As a result of the last legislative session, Texas counties are facing some interesting new challenges,” said TAC Executive Director Susan M. Redford. “The Legislative Conference offered opportunities for county and state officials to share solutions to these challenges. As always, county leaders are committed to service and focused on the future.”
Topics of interest to counties and county operations at the conference included:
- Texas court structure: Members at all levels of the state’s judiciary, heavily funded and supported by counties, collaborated to create new policy.
- Disaster response: Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush shared how local communities will be better equipped with new procedures to handle major events in the post Hurricane Harvey era.
- Federal policy: County officials and state lawmakers discussed a wide range of federal policies affecting Texas counties, including those targeting infrastructure, disaster mitigation and recovery and county jail inmate health care.
- Voting in Texas: Officials discussed new voting requirements and how local governments will protect the integrity of elections.
- Transparency in setting tax rates: Taxing entities have new reporting and public notice requirements.
Keynote speaker Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, moderated a panel of legislators discussing, among other topics, health care and infrastructure. Panelists were Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas; Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo; Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin; and Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches.
Several county officials, legislators, professionals and state agency staff led discussions in various breakout sessions. Those presenters included Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar; Director, Texas Tech Mental Health Institute Keino McWhinney; Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt; Barbara Hervey, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Brazos County Justice of the Peace Rick Hill; Cass County Judge Becky Wilbanks; Administrative Director, Office of Court Administration David Slayton; Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria; Cooke County Judge Jason Brinkley; Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins; National Association of Counties CEO and Executive Director Matt Chase; Chambers County Clerk Heather Hawthorne; Staff Attorney of Elections Division, Secretary of State, Christina Adkins; Williamson County Elections Administrator Chris Davis; Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht; Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston; Brazoria County Tax Assessor-Collector Ro’Vin Garrett; Travis County Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler; Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont; Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick; Texas State Demographer Dr. Lloyd Potter; Robert T. Bass, attorney; Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales; DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler; Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy; and Pecos County Judge Joe Schuster.
TAC unites, supports and provides services to Texas counties so they can more effectively serve their local communities.
Lovejoy Football Coach Todd Ford Looking For Better Play From His Leopards Against The Wildcats Friday Night
By Don Julian, KSST Sports Director
The Wildcats Football Team plays the Lovejoy Leopards in Lucas Friday night, Sept. 6. The Leopards are coached by Todd Ford, who back in the 1990s led the Texas Longhorns to victory in a bowl game as their quarterback.
The Leopards are 0-1 this young season just like the Wildcats. Lovejoy lost a close one, 13-10 to Colleyville Heritage Saturday night in the Tom Landry Classic in Allen.
Concerning the opening loss, Coach Ford said he is proud of the way his players have responded this week after the opening week loss. He said they played with effort and played hard. But he said he did not think the Leopards played smart. He said he would have liked to say they protected the ball, tackled well, did not have a lot of penalties and just overall played a clean game, but he said that did not happen.
Coach Ford gave two possible reasons and they will sound familiar to Wildcats fans. Number one, it was the first game of the season, and number two, many of the young Leopards players were experiencing Friday Night Lights for the first time ever.
Coach Ford said it is his job as the leader to push the envelope and get the Leopards to improve, sooner rather than later. Just like the Wildcats, after a second non-district game Friday night, Lovejoy will begin district play the following Friday. Lovejoy is in a nine-team district that includes highly touted Frisco Reedy.
On offense the Leopards have a quarterback who can really run. But, Coach Ford said R.W. Rucker can also throw the ball very well. Rucker’s favorite receiver is Reid Westervelt.
Austin King is a powerful running back. The Leopards’ offensive and defensive lines are also large. Perhaps one of their best is Tyler Beidelman, a 295-pounder who plays both offensive tackle and defensive tackle. Running back King is also a middle linebacker for the Leopards on defense. Leopards’ defensive leaders, according to Coach Ford, include the aforementioned Beidelman and King, as well as free safety Quinn McDermott.
Coach Ford mentioned several Wildcats who have impressed him on tape this week. Included were quarterback Kaden Wallace, running backs Da’Korian “Chock” Sims and Caden Davis, defensive end Cameron Kaufert and outside linebacker Kylan Wade.
Two teams hoping to get better sooner than later will be meeting Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Leopard Stadium on the Lovejoy High School Campus in Lucas.
PJC Associate Degree Nursing Students Receive Awards, Pins
Attendees at the Paris Junior College associate degree nursing awards and pinning ceremony held recently were welcomed to the ceremony with the news that it has been 50 years since the first group of nursing students graduated from PJC.
The Clinical Achievement Award, chosen by the faculty for the student who is willing to help their peers, has an excellent bedside manner and is very good in skills performance, was presented to Amy Watson.
The Academic Achievement Award for highest grade point average in all classes throughout the program went to Sabrina Wilson.
Sandra Dougherty (pictured below) was selected by her peers for the Student Choice Award as the student who best exemplifies the nursing profession.
Associate degree perfect attendance awards went to Randa Dennis, Mauricio Gamez, Krista Hallenberger, Monica Hawthorne, Mikaela Jacks, Allyson Norris, Vianna Ross, Holli-Von Sawyer, Cassi Snell, and Sabrina Wilson.
Area students receiving pins at the ceremony included:
Campbell: Sarah Kreft
Commerce: Melissa Cawthron
Cumby: Sandra Dougherty
Greenville: Carla Ingram, Megan Kaufman, Rosanna Marquez, Christina McDonald, Allyson Norris, Brandy Petrea, Gregory Stroder, Lynn Tran, Crissty Williams
Ladonia: Haley Lawhon
Point: Amber Hampton
Royse City: Krista Hallenberger
Saltillo: Yesenia Ochoa
Sulphur Springs: Allison Bledsoe, Jose Franco Jr., Mauricio Gamez, Mikaela Jacks, Megan Jones, Rachel Killgore, Mollye Lay, Lorie Martin, Darlynn Montgomery, Holli-Von Sawyer
Wolfe City: Sarah Brummett, Olivia Mexia
Hopkins County Republican Club Will Hold an Old Time Political Rally September 14th
Hopkins County Republican Club
Hopkins County Civic Center September 14, 2019 6:00 pm
OLD TIME POLITICAL RALLY **Hot Dogs ***Popcorn ***Cotton Candy AWARD WINNING HOMEMADE ICE CREAM !!
Speakers:
Steve Munisteri, State Republican Chair, 2010-2015, Trump Administration as Deputy Director of Office of Public Liaison, Sen. John Cornyn’s 2020 Re-Election Campaign……
Rafael Cruz, Cuban-American Protestant Preacher, Public Speaker & Father of Sen. Ted Cruz
Tickets are $5 per person or $10 for a family of five.
For Tickets: Please contact Beth Wisenbaker 903-348-1614
Melonie Findley 903-348-0648
Debbie Harris 903-348-3801
Angela Price 903-366-6629
Tickers needed to be bought ahead of time to get head count to purchase food. Money raised to fund Headquarters & local events.
Cornerstone Baptist Church Revival September 8-12
Cornerstone Baptist Church, located at 207 E. I-30 Service Road in Cumby, Texas, will hold a Revival Praise and Worship Event September 8th through the 12th. Praise and Worship will be held from 6:30 to 7:45PM each night. A fellowship meal will be served Sunday, September 8th, beginning at 5:15PM. Everyone is welcome.
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Evaluates Wakeland Game, Previews Lovejoy Defense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young called the Wildcats football game against Frisco Wakeland last Friday, Aug. 30, a tale of two halves. He compared it to a roller coaster.
In the first half, Coach Young said the Wildcats’ offense had an efficiency level of 47 to 49 percent, a little above the average for last year’s team. He said the offense made plays, quarterback Kaden Wallace made good decisions and there were a lot of contributors.
Coach Young said the running backs were explosive, receivers Chase Haney and Noe Ponce had some catches and Zach Tiemeyer had two catches including the play of the night, a 55-yard pass catch and run.
Coach Young said the roller coaster headed down in the second half. He said execution dropped some, but efficiency was down a whole lot. Penalties were the big reason. Coach Young called them foolish ones. He said all second half drives but one were stopped by penalties. Coach Young said the second half mistakes were the fixable kind.
He said he remains excited about where the offense is headed. Coach Young said the offensive line did really good for us. He cited Ryan Hammons, Chandler Leo, Giovanni Pizano and Alfredo Olavide. He said the offense has to continue to figure out what they have, improve execution and continue to take care of the football.
Concerning the Lovejoy defense, Coach Young said they held Colleyville Heritage to just 13 points last Saturday night. He called them the opposite of the team the Wildcats just played. He said Lovejoy is big and multiple up front, adding they fly around in the back. Coach Young called them a very good defense.
He said what really stands out for them is their size. He said they have 300-pound and 290 pound defensive tackles.
Coach Young said the Wildcats would have their hands full Friday night.
