Winnsboro Police Report for November 16-22
Winnsboro City Police were busy with five arrests, a minor accident, 197 calls for service, and 52 citations and 42 warnings issued during the seven day period of November 16-22.
Arrested Saturday for Assault Family/Household member with previous conviction and Interfere with emergency call with previous conviction, was Jason Bearden, 37, of Winnsboro.
Kayla Dean, 29, of Paris was arrested on two City of Mt Pleasant warrants Monday.
Kevin Woods, 32, of Lessburg was arrested Wednesday on three City of Winnsboro municipal warrants.
Jennifer Bryant, 42, of Winnsboro was arrested Thursday for Credit/Debit card abuse.
Larry Smith, 46, of Winnsboro was arrested Sunday on a Wood County warrant.
A minor two vehicle accident on Wednesday involved a Toyota van traveling southbound on Mill Street and a Chevrolet Silverado. The Toyota was about to turn into a private drive when the Silverado failed to control their speed and struck the van from behind. No injuries were reported.
County Applies to Make Voting Process Permanent
The Hopkins County Commissioners Court held a public hearing Monday morning on use of countywide precincts during the November 3 Constitutional Amendments Election. The court also gave County Clerk Debbie Shirley the okay to ask the Secretary of State’s Office to make the system permanent. Monday after the court meeting, Ms. Shirley said the vote centers that reduced the number of polling places from 21 to 14 providing voters the option to vote at a place nearby was successful. Communications from the rural schools used as polling places were pleased with the process.
Ms. Shirley will now submit information regarding the trial option seeking permanence. Paper ballots will be no longer used in the new system. Those 65 and over who vote by mail can receive a paper ballot. The electronic voting machines performed well and workers at the various sites thought all worked well.
Symphony League Auction Raised $12,500
The Sulphur Springs Symphony League had a successful auction Saturday night on KSST radio, Channel 18 TV on Suddenlink Cable and streaming live on ksstradio.com. Carol Bridges, the Treasurer for the Symphony League, said unofficially the auction raised $12,500. That was a little below the amount raised last year but many years have seen the event generate about $10,000. An official total will be coming later.
Shifts Available for Salvation Army Kettle Bell Ringers; Angel Trees to Provide Clothing for 385 Children
Tammy Flemens, Treasurer of Hopkins County Salvation Army
Tammy Flemens, Treasurer of Hopkins County Salvation Army, is looking for your help with the 2015 Angel Trees. There are 385 local children on the Christmastime clothing program, from newborn through age 18. If you can make purchases of clothing, coats, shoes or blankets these children need, please select names off the trees and purchase some or all of those needs listed. Deliver them unwrapped by Dec 10 to either of the tree locations, at VF Outlet and at the bank inside Walmart, during business hours. There are also shifts available for Salvation Army Kettle bell-ringers. For details, phone 903-951-0526 or see Salvation Army on Facebook.
Bullard Wins Saltillo Tournament; Lady Lions Suffer First Loss
Suicide Attempt of Inmate Charged with Capital Murder Thwarted
November 21, 2015 – A call from Hopkins County Jail brought EMS, Jail Administrators, and law enforcement officers to the cell of Cody Scott Shaw, 27. According to dispatch reports, Shaw attempted suicide Friday shortly after midnight.
Cody Scott Shaw
Shaw is one 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 the then, 26-year old 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.
In February of this year, KSST reported that Hopkins County will have to pick up the costs of attorneys for one of the two men indicted for the capital murder. In both cases, District Attorney Will Ramsey is expected to seek the death penalty. County Judge Robert Newsom said an insurance policy would pay for attorneys for Shaw. The policy will not cover co-defendant Patrick Wayne McMahan of Sulphur Springs. The cost could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hopkins County will have to pick up the costs of attorneys for McMahan. The cost could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The men were indicted December 8, 2014.
Second Effort by McKinney Man Resulted in His Arrest For Online Solitication of a Minor
Zain Jahangir, 29, of McKinney lost his way. Jahangir had arranged a meeting with who he thought to be an under 17-year old minor for sex. When he arrived in Sulphur Springs, he could not find the arranged location. A phone call made set a new location for the meeting at a convenience store on Main Street. He was waiting at the new location in the vehicle he had described when local law enforcement officers arrived and arrested him for online solicitation of a minor.
Justice of the Peace B. J Teer set bond at $75,000.
Man Lied to Family for Ride to Sulphur Springs Where He Was Arrested for Online Solicitation of a Minor
Lyndon Kyle Sillings, 26, of Oak Cliff was arrested by local law enforcement including the Crimes Against Children division and charged with online solicitation of a minor. Sillings had been communicating with someone he thought was under 17 and arranged a meeting in Sulphur Springs. Unable to provide his own transportation, he was transported to Sulphur Springs by his step-mother and step-brother who thought they were bringing him here to meet family they did not know.
The step-mother and step-brother became involved in the arresting procedure but were released when their story was confirmed by a confession by Sillings. The family members returned to Oak Cliff where they would explain the happenings of the day to Sillings’ wife.
Justice of the Peace B. J Teer set bond at $75,000.
Brunch With Santa Claus at Children’s Museum
northeast texas children’s museum
Santa Claus is coming to town and will be making an early stop at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum for the annual Brunch with Santa. This year’s brunch will be on Saturday, December 5 from 9:30 to 11:30. Commerce Little Angels will provide a pancake breakfast.
This year’s Santa Claus was actually found sitting on a bench at the Children’s Museum during the summer months. “One of our staff came to me and said that Santa was at the Children’s Museum. I went to see for myself and Santa was here! The man identified himself as Santa Claus and said he would be excited to make another appearance on December 5,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director for the Children’s Museum.
“This is my favorite event of the year. It is exciting for us to see the children so happy with the excitement of Christmas,” continued Sharline Freeman.
In addition to the Brunch sponsored by the Commerce Little Angels, several Christmas crafts will be offered for the children. “I am looking forward to my first Brunch with Santa, and I have been working on Rudolph and Christmas tree crafts. Children may also write a letter to Santa and mail it at the Children’s Museum,” said Elana Barton, Director of Development at the Children’s Museum. Children will also have the opportunity to play throughout the Children’s Museum. New exhibits include an indoor Pirate Ship and a Race Track.
“It is a great way to begin the Christmas season. I always enjoy helping the children write their letters to Santa”, said Kathleen Hooten, President of the Board of Directors.
So get your cameras ready, bring your wish list and say “hello” to jolly, old Saint Nick at the Brunch with Santa on Saturday, December 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. Tickets for the event are $7.00 per person; tickets are $10.00 at the door on the day of the event. For more information, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at (903) 886-6055.
Arrest Made in Franklin County Bank Robbery
Sheriff Ricky Jones is pleased to announce a suspect has been arrested in connection the Armed Bank Robbery of the Lake Cypress Spring Branch of the First National Bank of Mount Vernon. In a multi-agency effort with the Bowie, Red River, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Bank Robbery Suspect Bobby Wayne Lance was taken into custody at approximately 4:00 P.M on Friday November 20, 2015. Suspect Lance was transported to the Red River County Jail and booked in for Aggravated Robbery without incident and is expected to be transported to Franklin County Jail early next week.
Sheriff Jones stated Suspect Lance was also a suspect in an Armed Robbery in Bowie County, TX on Saturday November 14, 2015 which occurred at Carter Store and RV Park located on FM 990 just South of IH-30 in Bowie County. Sheriff Jones stated that after learning of this incident and reviewing video from both the Bowie County Armed Robbery and Franklin County Armed Robbery “we felt we were dealing with same suspect. With these leads we began working together with assistance from the Texas Rangers and FBI.”
On November 20, 2015 Red River County Sheriff’s Office received a tip of the name and location of the Suspect in the Armed Robberies. Members from Bowie County and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices, and FBI met in DeKalb, TX, then moved to Avery, Texas meeting with the representatives from the other mentioned agencies and formulated an apprehension plan for the Suspect. At approximately 4:00 PM officers descended on Suspect’s residence located at 165 North Austin Street, Avery, TX and were able to take him into custody without incident. Sheriff Jones added, that He, as well as Sheriff James Prince of Bowie County and Sheriff Jimmy Caldwell of Red River County all understood the importance of getting the suspect located and into custody both to prevent the inevitable escalation of violence of this type of criminal and to provide peace of mind to the victims of the armed robberies who were traumatized by the events and the safety of the public in general.
