1 Arrested On US Marshals Indictment, 2 Others On Unrelated Felony Warrants
Local authorities made a number of warrant arrests on Tuesday, including at least three people sought on outstanding felony charges. Jason Craig Williams Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes and Sgt. Joe Scott arrested Jason Craig Williams, 32, of Sulphur Springs at his Houston Street residence at 1:45 p.m. June 25 on a US Marshals indictment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II substance, according to...
Hopkins County Deputies, SPCA Seize Approximately 50 Dogs, Find Approximately 50 Dead Dogs in Freezer at Northern Hopkins County Residence
Between 48 and 50 live dogs were found in a house and outbuildings and approximately 50 dead animals including litters, puppies, grown dogs and animal tissue stored in a freezer were found at a residence located just off FM 2285 north of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County, according to Hopkins County Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford. Animal cruelty charges are being filed Thursday against the home and animal owners. The...
Auction of Seized Cattle Underway Wednesday
According to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office the hundreds of head of cattle seized by the SPCA of Texas and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office December 4-6, 2017 are being sold at auction today, Wednesday, January 17th, according to the court order issued in a settlement reached in Justice of the Peace court and upheld in an appeal made by the owner of the cattle, George Lawrence Bergin, 61, to Hopkins County Court at Law. The cattle are...
Jury Takes Eight Minutes to Decide Custody of Cattle
It took eight minutes for a Hopkins County Court at Law six person jury to determine custody of the hundreds of head of malnourished cattle seized by Hopkins County Deputies and the SPCA of Texas on December 4-6, 2017. The cattle found on 2700 acres in the County will be sold at auction and not returned to George Lawrence Bergin, 61, of Sulphur Springs. Bergin is charged with Cruelty to Livestock-Fail to Provide, a state jail felony....
Appeal of Custody of Cattle Settlement Underway
An employee of the SPCA testified Monday morning in Hopkins County Court at Law that during his investigation, he observed cattle, owned by George Bergin of Sulphur Springs, on more than one location and each location looked the same. Testimony continues in the appeal of a settlement made in Justice of the Peace Court regarding the custody of several hundred head of cattle owned by Bergin. The appeal is being heard in the Justice of...
Bergin Does Not Appear; Attorney Files Motion Challenging Authority of Court in the Appeal of Cattle Custody
Although a motion has been filed with Hopkins County Court at Law challenging the authority of the court regarding an appeal of a settlement reached in a pre-court magistrates hearing regarding custody of hundreds of head of cattle, a jury is being picked Friday, January 5, 2018, in the second floor courtroom of the county courthouse and the appeal trial is expected to begin as soon as the jury is picked. The trial is expected to...
Bergin Appeals Settlement; Posts $245,000 Bond; Trial Begins January 4
An appeal of a settlement reached in a pre-court hearing involving the custody of hundreds of cattle seized by Hopkins County Law Enforcement and the SPCA of Texas and owned by George Lawrence Bergin, 61, of Sulphur Springs has been filed with the County Clerk’s office and will be heard by a jury in Hopkins County Court at Law January 4th according to local officials. Bergin was arrested December 4th and charged with Cruelty to...
Cattle Custody Hearing Moved to District Courtroom Wednesday
The custody hearing concerning the future of hundreds of head of cattle seized by the Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies and the SPCA of Texas will be held on Wednesday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the District Courtroom of the Hopkins County Courthouse. The hearing will only focus on the custody of the cattle and not any criminal charges against the owner of the cattle, George Lawrence Bergin, 61, of Sulphur Springs. Bergin was...
SPCA, Hopkins County Sheriff Seize Over 200 Head of Starving Cattle
(SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX); December 4, 2017–Today, the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office began seizing and taking custody of approximately 200-400 allegedly cruelly treated, starving head of cattle from six Hopkins County properties near Sulphur Springs, TX. Due to the number of cattle and the multiple locations, the animals’ removal will likely take through Wednesday, December 6. Today, more than 160 cattle were removed from...
Cat Abandoned in Park When Shelter Did Not Have Cage Large Enough to Contain; Cat Owner Charged
When the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter did not have a cage large enough for the black and white cat Denon Wolfgang Blasey, 25, sought to leave in their care, he took the cat to Coleman Park and left it there. Pictures of Blasey’s vehicle and a citizen’s report of the abandoned cat led to his arrest and Felony Charge of Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals: Fail to provide. Blasey had a moment of fame as the picture of the abandonment was...
