Car Driver Casts Drug Paraphernalia Under Deputies Truck
A man and woman from Arkansas were arrested early Monday morning in Hopkins County on drug related charges. Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Michael Russell stopped the driver of a Ford Mustang for a traffic violation at around 2:15 a.m. Monday at the 135 mile marker of eastbound I-30. An arrest report indicated Sgt. Russell detected the smell of marijuana coming from inside the car. During a search, a passenger in the car was found to...
Charged With Arson in December, Morris Now Faces Burglary, Drug, and Tampering Charges
James Michael Morris, 31, of Sulphur Springs was arrested Monday morning at 1:40 a.m. by Hopkins County Deputy Todd Evans when Evans noted a defective license plate on the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Morris was driving on County Road 3528 at FM 67. Morris was wanted on a warrant for burglary of a building, a case that was under investigation by the Sheriff’s office following Morris arrest for arson on Thursday, December 22, 2016. As Evans...
District Attorney Ramsay Notes Busy 2016
District Attorney Will Ramsey and staff have concluded a busy 2016. Ramsey noted three major cases in Hopkins County and three in Franklin County that resulted in convictions for murder and one for organized crime. In January of 2016, an 8th Judicial District Court a Hopkins County jury set the punishment for Stanton Wayne Yates, 30, at four life sentences in state prison and one 20 year prison sentence with a $10,000 fine. The...
Sulphur Springs Man Charged With Arson
A 31-year old Sulphur Springs man has been charged with setting a vehicle on fire after falling a couple of months behind in car payments. The man turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office Thursday. James Michael Morris Junior, also known as Bubba, was charged with arson before Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings, who set bond for Morris at $20,000. The car fire occurred on December 12. The incident was investigated by Hopkins...
Two Plea Bargain Agreements Made Monday in District Court
Two individuals took plea bargain agreements in District Courts in Hopkins County Monday. In 62nd District Court at the Hopkins County Courthouse Monday, Kenneth Ray Vaughn, 61, plead to 14 years for Obstruction/Retaliation. Judge Will Biard heard the plea. Vaughn was arrested on a January Sunday evening this year for Obstruction or Retaliation when Sheriff Deputy Sergeant Wade Sheets responded to a disturbance call at a residence on...
“Updated” Durant Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child Pornography
Monday morning in Eighth Judicial District Court, Dathan Artemus Durant, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Possession of Child Pornography, a Felony 2. Durant was charged in June, 2014. He, along with another Cumby man, was arrested in a child pornography sting operation. The two cases were not related. Durant’s case was developed through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force....
Redo for Raza
In a unique twist, Mohammad Shabeeh Raza will face a second trial in Eighth Judicial District Court for online solicitation of a minor. Monday afternoon Raza was found guilty of the charge made following his arrest in December 2015 at a Sulphur Springs convenience store. On Monday, Raza had been remanded to the custody of the Sheriff and would have entered the sentencing phase of the trail December 6th. Instead, the District...
“Update” Raza Found Guilty of Online Solicitation
Mohammad Shabeeh Raza was found guilty of online solicitation of a minor Monday afternoon following a morning trial before Eighth Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt. Northcutt remanded Raza into the custody of the Sheriff until the sentencing phase of the trial begins December 6 at 1:30 p.m. according to Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris. However, a short time later those plans are on hold as the court deals with an issue...
Persistence Foils Attempt to Evade Arrest
A credible Crime Stopper tip led Hopkins County Deputies to a residence on State Highway 11E Wednesday. The Sheriff’s office was seeking William David McPherson, 39, for Violation of Probation Burglary of a Habitation with Intend to commit other felony—that’s a Felony 1—and for Violation of Parole Assault Family Violence Impede Breath/Circulation—a Felony 3. When they knocked on the door of the residence, no one answered. However,...
Violation of Probation Returns Vaughn to Jail
As a Hopkins County Deputy drove County Road 2331, he observed a white van and the passenger inside the van. He stopped the vehicle knowing that the passenger, Kenneth Ray Vaughn, 61, of Como, was wanted on Hopkins County warrants. A strong odor of alcoholic beverage from the vehicle created a probable cause search. Vaughn was arrested on warrants for DWI 3rd or more and a warrant for obstruction or retaliation. He is in Hopkins...
