Wildcats Face Carrollton Creekview Friday at Rockwall High Gym
Carrollton Creekview, a fourth place team in a tough district, is next for the Wildcats’ basketball team in area competition. The teams will play at Rockwall High School at 7 p.m. Friday night.
The Wildcats won their bi-district game against North Forney, 55-50 Tuesday night. After the win, Wildcats Basketball Coach Cipoletta said he appreciated his guys for how they played and for the way they mentally prepared for the game. He added they did a good job of executing the game plan to limit what North Forney wanted to do. Coach Cipoletta also praised the Wildcats’ fans who traveled to the game in large numbers. He said the fans gave the team extra momentum when they needed it.
Coach Cipoletta said his players stepped up when they were needed. Freshman Michael Jefferson deflected a pass leading to a late steal and then hit clutch free throws at the end. Before the game, Coach Cipoletta showed his team a clip of a player hustling after a ball and he said they might have to sacrifice their bodies to get a loose ball. In the games final seconds, senior Ke’Ontae Dunn seem to slide ten feet across the floor to corral a loose ball to make Coach Cipoletta’s point happen.
The win also gave this Wildcats’ team the school record for wins in a season. The Wildcats are now 26-6 for the season.
Sixty-one Indictments Handed Down by February Grand Jury
Sixty-one indictments were handed down by a Hopkins County Grand Jury Tuesday afternoon, February 22, 2017. Most of the indictments were related to drug charges or charges associated with drugs. A few were not.
Nelson Mitchell Privette
Nelson Mitchell Privette, 20, was indicted on two counts Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon. A driver weaving in and out of traffic on State Highway 11E Wednesday night stopped his antics near the Highway 11E/FM 3019 intersection when his vehicle hit another head-on. The accident resulted in a man and wife being flown to an area hospital with fractured bones and other injuries, one vehicle on fire, and Privette being arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He admitted to the DPS Trooper that he was driving erratically.
Steven Dwayne Johnson, 50, was indicted for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. The child was under six years of age.
Robert Alan Hawkins, 51, was indicted for Obstruction or Retaliation. Threats against a member of the judicial system in Hopkins County landed Hawkins, of Dallas, in Hopkins County Jail charged with Obstruction or Retaliation. When threats were made the local judge contacted Lewis Tatum, Hopkins County Sheriff. Tatum called on the Texas Rangers and the U S Marshalls to locate Hawkins. He was found by the Rangers and Marshalls working on a construction site in Plano, where he was a carpenter’s helper.
Manuel Betello-Zapeda was indicted for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or more.
Jamie Kay Sartin Sobert, 48, was indicted for Theft of Property more than $2500 but less than $30,000 as was Jeffery Wayne Horton, 54. Tatum reported the recovery of 10 stolen saddles. The saddles were stolen in Hopkins County, the City of Sulphur Springs, Yantis, Cooksville, and near Buffalo, Texas. Based on previous experience with stolen saddles in the area, Tatum along with Bo Fox with the Sulphur Springs Police Department, and Tony Hurley, Special Ranger with the Southwest Cattlemen’s Association, began their search for a suspect that now lives in the Lubbock area. Monday, the woman and a male companion were stopped in that area. In their possession at that time were the 10 stolen saddles. Jamie Shobert and Jeffrey Wayne Horton of Mineola were arrested and warrants have been issued locally. At the time of their arrest, the pair was attempting to sell the saddles. The saddles were stolen from residences and some were stolen at a cutting-horse show at the Equine Center at the Civic Center. The saddles have been returned to the owner.
Jeffery Wayne Horton, 54, was indicted for Theft of Property more than $2500 but less than $30,000. He partnered with Sobert.
L. C. Outlaw, Jr was indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. A traffic stop on I-30 by Cumby Police for following too close led to the arrest of a husband and wife from Phoenix, Arizona. Following the stop, the Cumby officer utilized his K-9 officer around the vehicle and found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger floor board. A gun was located in the glove box. L C Outlaw, Jr, identified as a felon, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a felon. His wife was charged with possession of marijuana under 2 oz.
Justin Pendergraft, 33, was indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Pendergraft, Sumner, Texas was speeding on South Loop 301 when DPS Trooper King made the traffic stop. King noted that Pendergraft was noticeably shaking even though the temperature was 68. Trooper King also noted a knife just above Pendergraft’s head in the auto. Pendergraft was invited to step out of the auto and asked if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. With his head down, he replied, “Yes.” Trooper King found a black pistol between the driver’s seat and console, which he considered within easy grasp of Pendergraft, when in the vehicle, and in the passenger’s seat, he found methamphetamine. It was also found that Pendergraft had been previously convicted of more than one felony.
Indicted on three counts of Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 in a Drug Free Zone was Glenn Anthony Epps, 37. Epps and his wife, Tiffany, were arrested at the Child Protective Services Office in Sulphur Springs regarding two felony warrants for injury to a child. Epps and her husband were involved in a lengthy investigation by the Special Crimes Unit and CPS Agents regarding the sale and use of cocaine from their residence, 525 South Locust Street in Sulphur Springs. During the completion of the case the two youngest kids of nine living in the home tested positive for cocaine. Warrants were issued for both the mother and the father. The first arrest of the pair occurred on November 23 at their residence. During the search at that time by the Special Crimes Unit, a rectangular mirror containing a quantity of suspected crack cocaine weighing over 1-gram was in plain sight on top of the inside AC unit. Another clear bag containing over 1-gram of suspected crack cocaine was observed on the end table next to the bed. The Epps’ residence was within 1000 feet of a daycare center, a drug free zone, enhancing the charges. Child Protective Services was also involved in the arrest. There were nine (9) children living in the residence and present during the possession and delivery of the controlled substance.
Tiffany Nicole Epps, 29, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams. Both Tiffany Epps and her husband, Glenn, were indicted in January of this year for two counts each of Injury to a Child.
Anthony Bernard Sanders was indicted for Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 under 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone.
Lajerrius Exaviyon Jackson was indicted for Evading Arrest Detention with Previous Conviction and for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 4-gram but less than 200-grams.
Arthur Willis Spain was indicted for Tamper/Fabricate Evidence with Intent to Impair and also for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram.
Linnea Colynn Brown, 33, was indicted for Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair. Brown removed methamphetamine from her person in a holding cell and prepared the meth in a line (see story here). A sister inmate tore a piece of paper and made a make-shift straw. Both inmates used the straw.
Calise Maurice Frazier, 23, was indicted for Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair and also indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram. Frazier was one of two Paris men were arrested in a traffic stop that occurred on Church Street just south of Loop 301. The traffic stop resulted in a positive field test for DWI and an open container was found in the vehicle. Along with the open container was promethazine, a marijuana cigar, and a torn baggy used for packaging narcotics. During the process of the arrest, a white rock-like substance that field tested to be cocaine as also found.
Quadrea Quinton Dillard, 23, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram. Dillard was arrested with Frazier on Loop 301.
Larry Tyrone Goodson, 46, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone. He was walking on the wrong side of the street in the 300 block of Beckham Street and that drew the attention of Sulphur Springs police. The officer stopped and noted that Goodson threw an item of contraband on the ground. The contraband was suspected cocaine. As the officer began the arrest, Goodson resisted arrest. After a short foot pursuit, Goodson was in custody.
Darla Denette Rittenour, 47 was indicted Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone. Sulphur Springs Police were called to a reported burglary in a room at Royal Inn on South Broadway in Sulphur Springs. There they found a Greenville woman alone in the room. In plain view was less than 1-gram of methamphetamine. Rittenour was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone, a Felony 3.
Monique Devries, 35, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 less than 28-grams in a Drug Free Zone. An Arkansas man had escaped from the McGehee Police Department in that state. He was living at the residence also occupied by Devries of Sulphur Springs. During the arrest of the escapee, in plain view on the night stand in the bedroom was a prescription pill bottle containing several pills later identified as a controlled substance, penalty group 3, weighing approximately 20-grams.
Molly Michelle Collier, 27, was indicted for Possession of Marijuana more than 4 oz. but less than 5 pounds. A man and woman from Fort Worth were arrested in Hopkins County on I-30 Wednesday after marijuana, a large amount of cash and some cannabis oil were found in the vehicle they were in. A DPS trooper stopped a vehicle for speeding at the 135 mile marker of I-30 just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. In an arrest report, the trooper said he detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to discovery of some 2 pounds of marijuana, over $2500 in cash and 6 grams of cannabis oil. 30-year old Daniel Scott Pagano of Fort Worth was charged with possession of marijuana over 4 grams, money laundering and possession of a controlled substance over 4 grams.
Daniel Scott Pagano, 30, was indicted for Possession of Marijuana more than 4 oz. but less than 5 pounds.
Rodney Jerome Clayton, 45, was indicted for Possession of Marijuana more than 4 oz. but less than 5 pounds. Following a traffic stop, Clayton was nervous when speaking with the officer. Given consent to search the Chevrolet pickup, the officer found a clear plastic bag of green leafy substance believed to be marijuana under the hood of the vehicle. The stop was made within 1000 feet of the Early Childhood Learning Center, a Drug Free Zone.
Tommy Glen Camp was indicted for Possession of Marijuana more than 4 oz but less than 5 pounds.
Jerrod Ross McElhaney, 31, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 400-grams. McElhaney of Texarkana, was arrested on I-30 just before 1 a.m. Friday after three bundles of cocaine more than or equal to 400-grams were found in the car he was driving. Corporal Todd Evans with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office stopped a driver for a traffic violation at the 126 mile marker eastbound. The man had no ID but he did produce proof of insurance. An arrest report indicated the man seemed nervous and his account of his trip was suspicious. The man offered that he was on probation for a drug offense and he gave consent for a search of his car. Officers found three bundles of cocaine along with some baggies, a pipe often used for drug smoking, a rock of crack cocaine and some marijuana. The man’s vehicle was impounded by the Sheriff’s Office.
Rachel Dawn Gregory, 33, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 4-grams but less than 200 grams. At 9:43 p.m. on I-30 at the 131 mile marker, DPS Trooper Hale made a traffic stop for an equipment violation. He found more than just a problem with the vehicle. Gregory of Talco, TX provided a false name and date of birth. She was placed under arrest for Failure to Identify Fugitive Intent to Give False Information. On her way to Hopkins County Jail, she stated to the trooper that she believed she had methamphetamine on her person. At the jail, a search found 15.3-grams of crystal methamphetamine, a clear plastic baggie containing less than 2 oz. of marijuana and a syringe on her person.
Karen Deborah Adkins, 40, was one of two women stopped by a Hopkins County deputy on Posey Ln at Wal Mart. There the officer located an item in the vehicle that field tested for methamphetamine. She admitted having meth and removed it from her person. The meth weighed 1.10 grams. She is on parole.
Roy Freeman Burkham, 59, was nervous during a traffic stop and that led officers to perform a pat down search. During the search Burkham gave the deputy permission to search his pockets. There they found several clear plastic baggies that contained a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine. As deputies searched the vehicle, they found a clear syringe that contained methamphetamine. During the Miranda warning, Burkham stated that all the contraband belonged to him.
Individually indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams were:
Charles Wayne Spence, 58, was one of three arrested in a traffic stop after midnight on State Highway 11E at FM 269 in Pickton.
Alice Anne Blunt, 32, was found at a local truck stop sitting in a pickup truck and moving her jaw uncontrollably with sores on her face attracted attention to a possible need. Noting a green pouch and what appeared to be a syringe in the driver’s seat, the officer sought consent to search the vehicle. She told the officer that she used the syringe to shoot up methamphetamine. In his search he found two syringes in the green pouch along with a clear baggie of crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Eduardo Austin Torres, 17, (two counts) was arrested in a traffic stop Monday at 10:45 p.m. Torres was a passenger in the auto. When the 2008 GMC was stopped, the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana and noticed Torres holding a small black bag against the floorboard with his foot. Torres was also carrying in his left pocket acigarette box containing several pill capsules containing suspected methamphetamine weighing 2.31-grams. The black bag contained a small wax paper with marijuana wax weighting approximately 1.7-grams. Also several suspected Alprozolam, Clonazepam, and Hydrocodone pills, along with a jar of green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was also located. Torres claimed ownership to all the narcotics.
Robert John Henson, 26 (two counts) was indicted.
Individually indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram:
Irene Maldonado, 25, (two counts) refused to give her address to the Hopkins County Deputy that stopped her at the 135 mile marker on I-30 eastbound. She did not have a driver’s license but did have state issued ID and is a US citizen. She also refused emergency contact information. However, drug paraphernalia was in plain view in the 2002 Ford Focus she was driving and .29-gram of methamphetamine was found. At Hopkins County jail the jail staff located .44-gram of black tar heroin on her person.
Jeremy Morgan Davis, 27, was in the auto with Maldonaldo.
Donald Shane Douglas, 52, was found to have under 1-gram of methamphetamine in the back of a cellphone case. After being read his rights, Douglas claimed possession of the meth. The cellphone number was identified as belonging to Douglas.
Waylon Wade Underwood, 38, of Cumby was stopped for a minor traffic and seemed to be nervous to the observant Cumby police officer. Underwood was asked to exit the auto and during a pat down for a weapon, a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine fell from his left boot. A clear plastic baggy with a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine was found in his right front pants pocket.
Also indicted for less than 1-gram: Ryan O’Neal Smith; Tiffany Dawn Boykin; David Jason Creech; and Clayton Ryan Hanson.
Alliance Bank Robber Captured in Arizona
The man who robbed Sulphur Springs Alliance Bank has been captured in Arizona according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders. At this time Sanders has little information available other than the man has confessed to the local robbery and several others.
Sulphur Springs Police, the FBI, Texas Rangers, and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office along with other agencies in areas where he committed robberies had been seeking the white male that left the Southtown Branch of Alliance Bank on foot but had a car parked nearby. The local robbery was committed in the branch lobby.
The Texas Bankers Foundation (TBF) that administers a Robbery Rewards program to prevent and discourage robberies and other crimes against Texas banks and their employees had offered a reward along with other funds. The program provides funds for rewards, thereby assisting law enforcement agencies in obtaining information to assist in the arrest and conviction of perpetrators.
The man that robbed the Alliance Bank Southtown Branch Wednesday, November 3, 2016 is suspected to have robbed a bank in Longview in August and also a bank in Arizona, according to Chief Sanders.
The man left the local bank area on foot but had a white, four-door small sedan near-by according to video footage available to law enforcement. He committed the robbery in the lobby of the bank building that is located with entrance on South Broadway and an exit to Mockingbird. The Southtown Branch offers drive-thru, lobby, and ATM services to Alliance Bank customers.
The Southtown Branch was closed for the afternoon following the robbery but was opened the following day with business as usual. Alliance Bank President Tom Sellers said all law enforcement agencies responded quickly with expert help as the investigation and search began.
One Flown to Tyler Hospital Following Accident on FM 69 South
A two vehicle accident Wednesday morning on FM 69 South near Tanglewood Drive resulted in one individual being extricated from their vehicle and flown to CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler. The extent of injuries is unknown at this time according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office.
Wildcats Advance to Area; Set School Record for Wins In A Season
The Wildcats’ basketball team led from start to finish and defeated North Forney, 55-50 in a bi-district game at Lindale Tuesday night. The Wildcats were aided by some big plays down the stretch from freshman Michael Jefferson.
Late in the game, North Forney scored six straight points to cut the Wildcats lead to 52-50 with time running out. The Falcons had the ball. Jefferson was able to deflect a Falcon pass into the hands of teammate Victor Iwuakor. With just 6 seconds left, the Falcons fouled Jefferson and he sunk two free throws to make it a two possession game at 54-50. After a Wildcat steal, the Falcons fouled Jefferson again and he made one of two foul shots. Jefferson had 12 points. Keaston Willis led the the Wildcats with 19 points and senior Ke’Ontae Dunn added 14. North Forney’s leading scorer, senior Parrish Price, led all scorers with 20 points.
The Wildcats led 12-8 after the first quarter, 30-24 at the half and 43-38 after three quarters. Iwuakor had an awesome game blocking numerous shots around the basket. The 6-foot-8 post player also hit a three point shot, one of the Wildcats four in the game.
The victory set a new school record for wins in a season. The Wildcats are now 26-6.
They will play Carrollton Creekview in an Area game Friday at Rockwall, 7 p.m.
Wildcats Soccer Start Second Half of District With Win
The Wildcats’ soccer team upset one of the district’s best teams, Pine Tree, winning 1-0 at the SSHS Track Complex Tuesday night.
The Wildcats scored the game’s lone goal at around the 16:00 minute mark of the first half. Neither team could manage a goal after that. The Wildcats are hoping the win will be a part of a big second half surge in district play.
During the six game first half, the Wildcats could manager only one win, two shootout losses and 3 outright losses. Included was a 5-1 loss at Pine Tree on January 27. The Wildcats now have 2 wins, 2 shootout losses and 3 outright losses. Their season record is 9-4-3.
The Wildcats will travel to Marshall Friday night. Back on January 31 in Sulphur Springs, the Mavericks defeated the Wildcats 6-5 in a shootout after the game ended 3-3 after overtime.
Lady Pirates Single Goal Drops Lady Cats to 4-3 in District Play
The Pine Tree Lady Pirates scored a single second half goal and held on to defeat the Lady Cats’ soccer team, 1-0 at Pine Tree Tuesday night. The loss dropped the Lady Cats to 4-3 in district play. Their season record is 9-6-2
It was the Lady Cats second straight loss, both of them on the road.
The Lady Cats will play Marshall at the SSHS Track Complex Friday night. The Lady Cats won in Marshall, 6-0 on January 31.
Winnsboro Police Report February 13-19, 2017
Winnsboro Police made two arrests, investigated a minor accident, responded to 116 calls for service, and issued 27 citations and 25 warnings during the February 13-19 report period.
James Swann, 22 of Winnsboro, was arrested on February 17th for possession of a controlled substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram.
Damon Bell, 30 of Mt Pleasant was arrested on February 13th on a Titus County warrant.
In the 400 block of South Postoak, a minor two vehicle accident resulted in no injuries reported.
