13-Year-Old Steals Gun in Caldwell; Shooting in Dime Box
Burleson County Tribune Caldwell police say a 13-year-old boy charged with felony unlawful possession of a firearm at Caldwell Junior High School stole the gun in one of two truck burglaries the night before in Caldwell.
He has now also been charged with felony theft of a firearm and two Class A misdemeanor counts of burglary of a motor vehicle. The boy remains in a juvenile detention facility pending a hearing in his case. Police are investigating two pickup truck burglaries on the night of May 9 on Temple and Fawn St. in which the 9 mm handgun and the contents of a wallet, including a driver’s license, were stolen.
The City of Somerville has submitted a $132,000 offer to purchase three lots along Ninth St., between State Hwy 36 and Ave. A, to allow relocation of the police department to a new building. The city plans to build a larger, more modern building for the police department. A new building is needed due to issues with flooding, mold, foundation settling, and sheetrock repairs with the current facility.
Lexington Leader
On May 22 at 11:53 p.m. the Lee County Sheriff‘s Department received a 911 call regarding a subject that had been shot. The wife of Christer Mathis, 30 of Dime Box, was inside her house when she heard gunshots and her husband yell for help. She ran outside and saw Mathis on the front porch bleeding. Mathis had arrived at the residence, parked his car, and began walking towards an abandoned property nearby. As he walked someone stepped out of the house and began shooting at him hitting him five or six times. Deputies arrived on the scene and found him alert and conscious but the shooter was no longer on the scene. His condition is unknown at this time and the investigation continues.
From multiple newspapers
The Texas General Land Office approved $6.4 million to the city of Lexington, $9.2 million to the cities of Caldwell and Snook, $13.4 million to the cities of Gonzales and Nixon, and $46 million to the cities of Sealy, Wallis, and San Felipe in flood mitigation projects to improve drainage and sewer infrastructure and emergency communication. These infrastructure projects will directly benefit residents in a predominantly low-to-moderate income area that has faced repetitive storm damage in 2015, 2016, and in 2017 with Hurricane Harvey.
Hallettsville Tribune-Herald
A Hallettsville Police Department Officer conducted a traffic stop in the 1400 block of E. Fourth St. for a traffic violation on May 14. After a roadside investigation, it was learned the driver who was a US citizen was transporting three illegal immigrants to the Houston area who had just recently crossed the border in the South Texas area. Hallettsville Police arrested the driver for smuggling of persons and the three illegal immigrants were turned over to the US Border Patrol.
Timorris Calhoun, 19-yearold of Houston, is facing multiple criminal charges after he reportedly attacked two girls who he had been staying with in Yoakum on May 22 and then took off in one of the girls’ car, leading Yoakum police and sheriff’s deputies on a several mile long chase all the way to Hallettsville where police awaited his arrival with spike strips ready. However, even after the spike strips were used he refused to give up. He drove around for 11 minutes on rims before bailing from the vehicle and running away. He was soon captured and was also discovered to have an outstanding warrant in Harris County for bail jumping/failure to appear.
Brenham Banner-Press
A Brenham man wanted by the authorities evaded capture on May 23 after a chase that included a vehicle and on foot. Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak reports that at 7 p.m., a Washington County Deputy observed an individual, believed to be 25-year-old Brenham resident Gamarcus DeWayne Sheppard, obtaining fuel at a gas station on S. Market St. in Brenham.
Deputy Eric Crosby was aware that Sheppard was wanted by Washington County authorities on recently issued felony arrest warrants. The warrants were associated with vehicle burglaries that occurred on Mother’s Day weekend in Washington County. An arrest warrant was also issued for credit card abuse due to his theft of a credit card from a vehicle burglary. The card was later used at a local convenience store. As Deputy Crosby approached Sheppard and his vehicle to confirm his identity, which he did, Sheppard entered his vehicle and fled.
Deputy Crosby, due to the weather and road conditions followed Sheppard, with emergency lighting and siren activated, hoping Sheppard would stop. Sheppard traveled to US 290 where he entered US 290 E and later turned onto Wonderhill Rd, where he eventually made it to SH 36 S. Still not stopping, Sheppard turned off of SH 36 S onto All Jersey Rd and eventually onto Pleasant Hill School Rd. At this point, Sheppard stopped his vehicle and fled arrest on foot. After a lengthy search of the area, Sheppard was not located and his vehicle was towed. Sheppard was released from the Washington County Jail on March 11 after he posted bond on six felony charges. Additional felony arrest warrants for evading arrest have been issued. Sheppard has an extensive criminal history in Washington County.
The Colorado Co. Citizen
Stacey Noska, 40, of New Ulm, received a prison sentence for the charges of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury (SBI) at the May 17 jury trial in Colorado County District Court. For count one of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, Noska received 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
For county two of intoxication assault with a vehicle SBI, she received a five-year sentence. The sentence stems from an Aug. 2018 vehicle accident that claimed the life of Sheridan resident, 64-year-old Kenneth Ray Jatziau. Jatziau was pronounced dead at the scene. Jatziau was headed north on FM 109 when the southbound 1999 Lexus SUV, driven by Noska, drifted into the oncoming lane, crashing into the 2012 Chevy Traverse occupied by the Jatziaus.
Columbus Banner-Press
On May 21 an Austin County jury gave Cesar Urbina, 38 of Industry, the maximum punishment for indecency with a child, life in prison for the crime that occurred in 2018. The jury also assessed a $10,000 fine. Testimony showed that Urbina had sexual contact with an 11-yearold girl at a party near Shelby. First Assistant District Attorney Brandy Robinson also presented witnesses who said Urbina had improperly touched a six-yearold girl on a separate occasion. Urbina had been to prison before for felony drugs and bail jumping.