News Stories

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 Edition

Sentence handed down in 2008 murder

CROCKETT – A Houston County jury handed down a 99-year sentence in the September 2008 first degree murder of 34-year-old Steven McCullough.

The jury deliberated about nine hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 23-24 before reaching the verdict that would send 22-year-old Courtney Benton to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The case was prosecuted by Houston County District Attorney Donna Gordon Kaspar. Benton will be eligible for parole in 30 years. Mrs. Kaspar said Benton pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 16, the first day of the trial, which left the jury of seven women and five men to assess punishment.

McCullough was shot to death with a .22 caliber firearm in the early morning hours of Sept. 17, 2008. According to reports at the time, Crockett Police Department received a 911 call about 2:10 a.m. reporting a man not moving in a vehicle that was parked on stokes Street near the intersection of Pease Street.

When CPD officers arrived on the scene they reportedly found McCullough unresponsive in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Clyde black pronounced McCullough dead at the scene and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause.

Early voting in Primary Election ends

CROCKETT – Early voting in the upcoming Tuesday, March 2 Primary Election ended at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Early voting began on Monday, Feb. 16 and was held in the basement of the Houston County Courthouse.

According to Houston County Clerk Bridget Lamb, as of Friday morning, Feb. 26, 116 Democrats and 720 Republicans had cast their ballots during early voting.

The most contested race in the primary election is the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace position with a total of five candidates vying for the job.

Both Republicans and Democrats face the opponents for each office in their own party during the primary election. Either the primary election, or any ancillary run-off elections will determine which single Republican candidate will face which single Democratic candidate and any Independent candidates for each of the positions that will be ultimately decided in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 General Election.

Sheriff's office hosts DNA training

CROCKETT – The Houston County Sheriff’s Office hosted a DNA collection and Local DNA Indexing System training session on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

The training was co-hosted by the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC). Instructors from DNA:SI Labs in Burlington, NC included Joseph Whitt who is director of law enforcement services and Randy Emerson, director of sales and marketing.

Among the local law enforcement agencies represented in the four-hour class were HCSO, Crockett Police Department and Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Class instructors shared information on the latest technology available regarding DNA collection and processing.

Crash claims former Grapeland coach

GRAPELAND - A Grapeland Independent School District former coach and teacher, Scott Owens of Joaquin, 48, was killed in a head on collision Thursday, Feb. 23 around 2 a.m. about three miles north of Beckville. Owens was pronounced dead at 3 a.m. on Thursday morning at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. He was traveling south on Hwy 149 in a Honda UAX when he reportedly crossed over into the northbound lane striking head on with Paula Diaz, 46, of Tatum’s vehicle.

Diaz was reported to be in critical condition with internal injuries at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Also in the vehicle with Ms. Diaz was Adela Ortiz, 52, of Tatum who was reported to be in critical condition in ETMC – Tyler as of Thursday afternoon and Carmen Diaz, 52 of Tatum was reportedly in good condition with fractured ribs at ETMC in Carthage. All of the victims were wearing seat belts according the Department of Public Safety of Tatum. Owens graduated from Joaquin ISD and returned six years ago and served as the girl’s basketball coach for Joaquin High School. His parents were also Joaquin ISD educators in the past.

Owens, coached and taught at GISD from 1987 up until six years ago when he returned to Joaquin. In a phone interview lifelong friend Felicia Meador, Grapeland junior and high school teacher, “Said Mr. Owens was an outgoing person and a phenomenal coach and teacher. “Everyone loved him for his out pouring of caring and passion for school and after school activities. “He thrived on competition from sports and loved mentoring the students and always gave everything he set out to do 110 percent.”

Owens taught everything from football, basketball, junior high science, high school volleyball and more. “He will be greatly missed and it is so hard when a tragedy hits this close to home.” Said Ms. Meador. Funeral arrangements have not been made as of press time on Friday, Feb. 26.

Veterans present program to youth group

The American Legion Post 134 Commander Oma Arnold, and Sergeant of Arms James Jellum and VFW Post 4377 member R.W. Dallas present a flag and military history program to the Boys and Girls Club of Crockett on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

New law affects 18- to 24-year-old driver license applicants

HOUSTON COUNTY - Starting March 1, 2010, driver license applicants between the ages of 18 and 24 must complete an approved driver education course and a driving skills test to become a licensed driver in Texas. Applicants must submit a certificate proving that they successfully completed a driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency.

Senate Bill 1317, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature in 2009, created this requirement and authorized the development of a six-hour adult driver education course to meet the needs of this group of drivers. Applicants who present proof of successful completion of the approved course will not be required to submit to the written highway signs and traffic laws test required under section 521.161 of the Texas Transportation Code, but must still pass the driving skills examination.

A driving safety course or drug and alcohol driving awareness program are not acceptable as driver education courses for this requirement. A list of approved courses can be found at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/drive/activede.html.

This change in the law does not affect applicants ages 15 to 17, who are still required to complete a driver education course to be licensed.

ETMC presents donation to PWFAA

ETMC Crockett Administrator Terry Cutler presents Piney Woods Fine Arts Association Treasurer Deborah Blackwell a donation of $10,000 to support the arts in the community.

Mrs. Blackwell said the funds would be used for various programs including arts and education.

AG files charges against ATV dealer

DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Wednesday, Feb. 24 filed an enforcement action against a Dallas-area all-terrain vehicle (ATVs), moped, Go-Kart and scooter dealership. According to the state’s enforcement action, Frontier Imports Inc., dba ATVDiscounter.com, and several individual defendants violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).

Foremost among these, the defendants promised vehicles that customers personally selected – and which the dealer claimed were in stock. However, customers who ordered by phone or via Internet received vehicles they did not select for purchase and often received the vehicles months after the promised delivery date. Some never received vehicles they purchased. Other customers received vehicles that were less costly than the vehicles they paid for, but the company refused to provide refunds or exchanges.

In other cases, customers received damaged or mud-caked vehicles with mileage on the odometers. Customers often had trouble starting vehicles, and when they were actually able to start the vehicles, they malfunctioned after being driven 100 miles or less.

In addition to obvious damage to mirrors and lights, customers complained about leaking fuel lines and defective brakes. Other customers had accidents resulting in minor injuries from throttles that froze in the open position. Finally, defendants promised the vehicles were “street legal,” but customers failed to receive a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, making it impossible to register them with the state.

Other named defendants in this legal action are ATVDiscounter.com of Dallas, LLC, Sheri Lynn Barling, Glenn Mark Barling and Nathan Barling.

Because the defendants are charged with violating the DTPA, the state is seeking penalties of up to $20,000 per violation of that law, plus attorneys’ fees.

Restitution to harmed customers is also requested under this court action. Texans who believe they have been deceived by similar fraudulent business practices may call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 252-8011 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.