Man Accused Of Threatening A Cumby Police Officer
Jailed Friday night was a 60-year-old man accused of threatening a Cumby Police officer, according to arrest and jail reports.
Cumby Police Officer Nicholas Geer responded at a Donelton Street address just before 10 p.m. May 29, 2020 at the request of Cumby Police Chief Paul Robertson. 60-year-old Kerry Dwayne Kinsey’s employment with North East Texas Power had been terminated and he was reported to still be in possession of a company truck, Geer noted in arrest reports.
Upon arrival, Geer reportedly turned on the emergency light on his patrol car and parked in front of the address. As he stepped out his vehicle and identified himself as an officer. Geer reported seeing a man unloading tools from the business truck in the driveway.
Geer alleged before he stepped on the property, the man told him to get off of his property or he would shoot him. The officer responded by detaining the man in hand restraints as a safety precaution, then frisked him for weapons but found none, Geer wrote in arrest reports.
The owner of North East Texas Power arrived at the Donelton Street location. While the owner talked with Kinsey about returning the company truck, Kinsey allegedly turned toward the officer and threatened to beat him, Geer alleged in arrest reports.
Kinsey was reportedly placed in the patrol car to wait while the power company owner picked up his son and returned so they could take possession of the company truck. Once the truck was recovered, the 60-year-old was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for terroristic threat against a peace office, a felony offense, Geer noted in arrest reports.
Kinsey, shown in arrest reports to reside at a Kaufman address, remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday morning, May 30, on the felony terroristic threat charge, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County, District Clerks’ Offices Will Reopen Monday, June 1
People Are Still Asked To Call County Clerk For Appointment Before Visiting
Both the County and District Clerks’ Offices will reopen to the public at 8 a.m. Monday, June 1, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reported Friday. Both offices have been closed the the public since Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom announced on March 23 that all county offices were temporarily closing to in-person visitors, except by appointment, due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Tables have been placed in front of counters in both offices to assist with social distancing until the ordered protective glass arrives and can be installed at each office. Those visiting the offices are asked to observe these measures.
While the front doors to the Hopkins County Clerk’s Office on Jefferson Street will be open beginning Monday, only a limited number of people will be allowed in the building at at time. To ensure this, business will be conducted at the County Clerk’s office by appointment only. Anyone who needs to visit the County Clerk’s Office next week is asked to call ahead to check for available times. The County Clerk’s Office may be reached at 438-4074.
The District Clerk’s Office in Hopkins County will also be reopening to the public on June 1. In addition to tables in front of counters, visitors will notice taping to assist with recommended distancing measures.
No appointments are necessary for the District Clerk’s Office, just show up. However, only a certain number of visitors will be allowed in the District Clerk’s Office at one time. In the event more arrive than space permits, individuals would be asked to wait their turn to enter the office.
The District Clerk’s Office will be open for passports. However, due to space limitations, access to the building will be limited. Those planning to visit should include only individuals required to file the case; any others with the petitioner/applicant not required for the filing process should plan to wait somewhere other than in the building.
7 Sentenced In District Court Thursday, May 28
Seven individuals were sentenced in district court hearings conducted Thursday afternoon, May 28, via Zoom video conferencing due to required COVID-19 measures in place. District Judge Eddie Northcutt was located in the 8th Judicial District Courtroom, the defendants at Hopkins County jail, defense attorneys at either the county jail or courtroom, and Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris and Court Reporter Jana Rushing at other locations.
Brian Derek Wilson, 33, of Kentucky was assessed a 4-year commitment as part of an agreement after pleading guilty to possessions of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He was also assessed a fine and fees.
He is to remain in Hopkins County jail until his transfer to state facility. Wilson received 180 days back credit for time served continuously following his arrest Nov. 30, 2019, on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, through the May 28 court proceeding.
Gonzalo Chairez-Navarro pled guilty to second-degree felony possession of 4 grams but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
As part of an agreement, the 24-year-old Dallas man received 10 years deferred adjudication, to be served on probation, after serving 60 days starting May 28 and ending July 27, in the county jail. He too was assessed on a lab fee, a $1,500 fine, court and attorney fees. If he meets all terms of the probated sentence, he would be eligible after a specified period to petition for an order of nondisclosure.
Rebecca Jane Tanner, 39, of Addison pled guilty to possession of less than 1 gram of Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
As part of an agreement she was sentenced to serve 10 months in a state jail, plus a fine, and court and attorney fees.
Tanner received 89 days credit toward her sentence for time served in Hopkins County jail since her arrest on March 1. She will remain in Hopkins County jail until her transfer to TDCJ to serve the remaining time on her sentence.
The sentence is to be served concurrently with any additional time she may be sentenced to serve elsewhere, and time in any other facility. She has a pending case in Lavaca County to revoke her probation on two felony charges, including assault on a public servant.
Cameron Bain, 26, of Pickton was assessed a 15-month sentence. He admitted to violating terms of probation, which he was on for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
He was given 291 days of back credit for time served in custody, and will continue to serve time in Hopkins County jail until he can be transferred to another facility.
The 15-month sentence is to be served concurrently with any additional time he might be assessed. Bain currently has a pending case in Rockwall.
Amanda Lanell Shanks, 31, of Sulphur Springs faced six charges: two first-degree felony manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges, a second-degree felony manufacture or deliver of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, a third-degree felony prohibited substance or item in a correctional or civic community facility charge, aa third-degree felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair charge, and a second-degree felony possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
As part of an agreement for pleading guilty, Shanks received a 25-year-prison sentenced for the second-degree felony charge. Additional charges were dismissed. She has a prior Tarrant County conviction, for which she reportedly had probation revoked and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. A prior conviction enhances a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony.
She is to continue serving her sentence in Hopkins County jail until her transfer to Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She has remained in Hopkins County jail since her arrest May 12, 2019. She will receive 383 days worth of back credit on her sentence for the time she has been in custody. She also was assessed a $180 lab fee, $500 fine, and court and attorney fees.
Nicholas Chase Ochoa, who is also known as Chase Nicholas Ochoa, received 5-years deferred adjudication for a second-degree felony burglary of a habitation charge. The sentence is to be served on probation.
He also was assessed a $1,000 fine, restitution, court and attorney fees, to be paid out over the 5 years. If he completes the terms of the sentence, he could within the specified term afterward petition for an order of non-disclosure so the charge won’t appear on his record.
Dante Lamar Crosby, 29, of Sulphur Springs was in custody since his arrest Oct. 22, 2019, and faced 4 Hopkins County charges: three second-degree felony manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone offenses and one third-degree felony possession of 1 gram or less of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone offense.
As part of an agreement, Crosby the drug-free zone enhancement was dropped and three of the cases were dropped. However, the charge was enhanced from a potential sentence of 2-20 years to 25-99 years or life in prison due to two third-degree felony charges in other counties, a Delta County deadly conduct charge and a Hunt county possession of controlled substance charge. He was assessed a 25 year prison sentence, lab, court and attorney fees on that charge, and the other three which he admitted guilt to were dismissed.
Crosby will receive 220 days of back time credited to his sentence for the time he has remained in custody. He is to remain in Hopkins County jail until his transfer to another facility.
Sulphur Springs Man Accused Of Choking, Hitting Wife
May 29, 2020 – Sulphur Springs Police Thursday morning arrested a 35-year-old Sulphur Springs man accused of choking, and hitting his wife with his fists and a belt, according to police reports.
Bryan Jermaine Bell and the wife are reported to be separated and reside at different residences.
Bell allegedly around Monday, May 25, during an altercation at his spouse’s residence choked the 35-year-old Sulphur Springs woman. He also is accused of hitting her with a belt and with his fists, and tossing her out an open window, police detectives reported.
Emergency Medical Services reportedly transported the woman to the hospital to be checked out. She had observable scratches, lacerations, bruising and swelling alleged to be the result of the altercation, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs police detectives, following an investigation into the allegations, sought and obtained a warrant for Bell’s arrest for assault of a family or household member that impeded breathing or circulation.
SSPD Officer Sean Hoffman, after being made aware of the warrant, responded in the area of Bell’s residence in an attempt to locate the man. Hoffman reported seeing the man leaving his residence in a silver car and initiated a traffic stop Thursday, May 28. Bell was taken into custody on the felony warrant at 11:19 a.m. May 28, according to arrest reports.
Bell remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, May 29. Bond on the third-degree assault charge was set at $250,000, according to jail reports.
The arrest isn’t the first time Bell has been jailed locally assault or violence charges, according to jail records. The 35-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s most recent was Dec. 1, 2017 on a Dallas warrant for aggravated assault/strangulation, jail records stated.
Bell was also jailed on an assault causes bodily injury charge on Aug. 21, 2003; and on assault causes bodily injury — family violence charges on July 10, 2006, Sept. 28, 2014, and June 29, 2015, according to Hopkins County jail records. He was sentenced Dec. 19, 2007, to 7 years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an injury to a child, elderly or disabled person charge, according to jail records.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Sulphur Springs ISD Tax Office To Reopen Monday
The Sulphur Springs ISD Tax Office will be open to the public beginning Monday, June 1, 2020. SSISD Tax Office hours for the summer are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday.
Taxpayers will need to enter through door #2 at the southwest corner of the front of the SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
HCSO: Van Man Arrested On Controlled Substance Charge
A41-year-old Van man was arrested on a controlled substance charge, after methamphetamine was found in his possession during a FM 71 traffic stop, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Lavender reported the man first caught his attention when he failed to stop the GMC Sierra he was driving at the FM 71/State Highway 154 intersection May 27. So, Lavender initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, identified in arrest reports as Michael Thomas Ringgold.
When Ringgold refused the deputy’s request to search the truck, Lavender called for the on-call canine to conduct a free air sniff around the vehicle for contraband, the deputy noted in arrest reports. The trained police K-9 allegedly gave a positive alert on the truck, giving Lavender cause to search it.
Lavender alleged finding a glass pipe that appeared to have been used to smoke methamphetamine, with a small amount of suspected meth still in the bowl of the pipe during the search. Consequently, the 41-year-old Van man was arrested at 10:25 a.m. May 27 and jailed a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Ringgold was released from Hopkins County jail Thursday, May 28. Bond on the felony charge was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
19 SSISD Personnel Changes Approved By School Board
During a special noon meeting Thursday, 19 SSISD personnel changes were approved by the school board. Overall, the Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees approved one retirement, four resignations, 12 new personnel and two inter-district job swaps. These changes will impact 8 different district campuses.
Five of the personnel decisions will impact the faculty at Barbara Bush Primary. Kristin McKinney has resigned her position as a kindergarten teacher. Sarah Miles was approved as a new kindergarten math and science teacher. Also approved as new staff at Bush Primary were Kaitlyn Chapman as a first grade 1 math and science teacher, Katy Gifford as a special education aide and Sarah Ingle as a first grade English language arts and reading (ELAR) teacher.
Five personnel matters also were approved for Sulphur Springs Elementary. Resigning are fourth grade teacher Chandra Arvie and physical education (PE) teacher Layne Ashmore. Approved by the school board to join the fourth grade faculty at SSES were Sherry Baugh and Cain Langhoff. Baugh will teach ELAR while Langhoff teaches ELAR and social studies.
Moving from a fourth grade class room at SSES to an 8th grade class at Sulphur Springs Middle School will be math teacher Natosha Burns. Jinjer Postlethwait resigned as an SSMS special education teacher. Approved as a technology specialist at Middle School was Johnathan Stevenson.
Brittany Hicks will continue teaching ELAR classes at Bowie Primary, but will move from a third grade classroom to a first grade classroom. Brenda Wies Grade has been approved to join the faculty to fill a third grade ELAR teaching opening at Bowie Primary.
Recommendations for two new teachers at Sulphur Springs High School were also approved by the trustees at the May 28 school board meeting. Lou Gebel was approved as the new auto tech and construction teacher, and Taylor Thompson as the new animal science agriculture teacher.
Also approved as recommended to trustees Thursday were Christina Shadix as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) intern in the Special Services department and Janice Pickles as a Head Start 4 teacher at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center.
Retiring from the SSISD Maintenance Department is Curtis Peoples, a maintenance worker.
Three Sentenced In District Court This Week
May 28, 2020 – Three people, Timmy Dean Scott, Veronica Diane Swinney and Jeffery Marcus Sackett, were sentenced in 8th Judicial District Court hearings May 26-27, 2020.
Veronica Diane Swinney, who is also known by Veronica Duvall and Veronica Diane Swinney-Duvall, pled guilty May 27 to fraudulent use or possession of 50 or more items of identifying information.
The penalty for a first-degree felony offense ranges from 5 to 99 years or life in prison, and can include an optional fine of up to $10,000. As part of an agreement, the 29-year-old Houston woman received a 15-year prison sentence, a $500 fine, and will be required to pay a court fee and attorneys fee. She has remained in custody since her arrest on Christmas Eve 2019, by Sulphur Springs Police officers.
The Houston woman was one of three individuals in a vehicle in which more than 200 pieces of identifying information belonging to others were allegedly found during a traffic stop around 8:30 a.m. Dec. 24, 2019. All three vehicle occupants allegedly refused to talk about the items when asked about them. The trio was arrested for fraudulent possession of the IDs.
Upon arrival at the jail Christmas Eve, however, the woman who’d identified herself as Veronica Duvall was discovered to have been known previously as 29-year-old Veronica Diane Sweeney, a woman wanted on a for violation of parole.
When asked Wednesday afternoon by 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt about the issue involving her name, it was explained that Swinney is her maiden name.
The 29-year-old Houston woman will receive credit for the time served in custody at Hopkins County jail since her arrest. She is to remain in Hopkins County jail until her transfer to Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Jeffery Marcus Sackett, 31, too appeared before 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt May 27, in a hearing conducted via a Zoom video conferencing from Hopkins County jail due to COVID-19 measures, on a second-degree felony aggravated assault of a family member with a deadly weapon.
As part of an agreement, Sackett plead guilty Wednesday afternoon to the lesser charge of assault of a family or household member. He will be required to serve 1 year in the county jail on the Class A misdemeanor charge. He also was assessed court and an attorney fees.
The 31-year-old Sulphur Springs man has remained in Hopkins County jail since his arrest on Dec. 8, 2019, at the rural residence he shares with his former stepfather. The pair allegedly argued over Sackett not moving out after being asked multiple times to do so. Sackett was accused of trying to stab, and cutting his former stepfather’s hand with a knife. Sackett was reported struck several times with a baseball bat, which the other man allegedly used to defend himself, Hopkins County Sheriff‘s deputies alleged in the December 2019 arrest reports.
Sackett will be given credit for the 172 days he had already served, and is to serve the remainder of his 1 year sentence at Hopkins County jail.
Timmy Dean Scott, 56, was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication probation on a November 28, 2019 possession 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
Scott will be required to spend 180 days in jail as a condition of probation, and he must complete a drug rehabilitation program as a condition of probation.
The 56-year-old Sulphur Springs man allegedly claimed suspected marijuana, methamphetamine, pills and drug paraphernalia found in the vehicle he was traveling in during a State Highway 19 traffic stop conducted by sheriff’s deputies early Thanksgiving morning, according to the November 2019 arrest reports.
2 Arkansas Men Arrested On I-30 In Hopkins County
Two Arkansas men were arrested on warrants following a traffic stop on Interstate 30, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Thomas Patterson reported stopping a Honda for not having a license plate light while traveling west on Interstate 30 near mile marker 127.
During the course of the stop, Patterson reported a semi-automatic pistol was found in a holster on the waist of 50-year-old Richard Lynn Hicks of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the deputy alleged in arrest reports. Hicks, the deputy learned, is currently on parole in Arkansas. Consequently, Hicks was taken into custody for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to arrest reports.
Hicks was transported to Hopkins County jail and booked on the firearm charge as well as Arkansas warrants. A records check showed Hicks to have one outstanding warrant from Arkansas Board of Parole for violation of parole. Two warrants from Jefferson County list two separate charges, aggravated assault and fleeing on foot, but the same warrant number for Hicks, according to arrest reports. Bond on the Jefferson County charges was set at $75,000 each. There was no bond on the parole charge, Patterson noted in arrest reports. Bond on the third-degree felony firearm charge was set at $25,000, according to jail reports.
The passenger in a car stopped Wednesday night, May 27, at the mile marker 127 for a traffic violation was found to be wanted on an Arkansas violation of parole charge. Dale Michael Loyer, also of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, too was taken into custody and transported to Hopkins County jail on the charge, according to arrest reports. The 38-year-old Arkansas man remained in Hopkins County jail May 28 on the parole warrant, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Hopkins County Cleanup Days Are May 29 & 30
The annual Hopkins County Cleanup Days be held this weekend. Rain or shine, the clean up will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 29, and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 30, at the four Hopkins County precinct barns.
The clean up days were originally planned for April, but due to start of the COVID-19 pandemic The Hopkins County Commissioners Court in late March opted to postpone the date. On May 11, as the state plan to reopen things got under way, the Commissioners Court set May 29 and 30 to allow county resident to haul unwanted household items that wouldn’t normally fit into a trash can to one of the four county precinct barns to dispose of it.
This clean up is only for Hopkins County residents, however, not commercial disposal. As is always the case, there are a few things that won’t be accepted. Among the hazardous materials and chemicals that will NOT be accepted are tires, shingles, hazardous waste, pesticides, paint and appliances containing freon. Items should also bring items during the designated clean up hours.
Residents may be asked to present a driver’s license, ID card or other document such as a utility bill that contains the person’s name and physical address, proving residence within Hopkins County.
