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SHERMAN – The murder trial for a former Rockwall County father charged with killing his girlfriend, who previously lived with him in Rockwall County and was the mother of their young daughter, began Monday in the 15th District Court with Judge James P. Fallon presiding.

Gregory Shane Bailey, 31, was arrested Feb. 8 by Sherman Police after the body of Sarah Lindsey Swaim, 22, was discovered in a wooded section of rural Grayson County the day before.

According to police, Bailey reported that Swaim was missing Feb. 7 but evidence found inside her residence the next day provided probable cause to believe that Bailey had murdered her. After obtaining a warrant, detectives arrested him that same afternoon at his residence in Denison and he was booked into the jail on murder charges. He was indicted by a grand jury for murder in mid-April and has been behind bars in Grayson Co. jail since then on a $500,000 bond.

The couple lived in Rockwall County for about six months prior to May, 2011, when they moved to Bells TX in Grayson Co. and, after their eviction, to Sherman in January, 2012.

Bailey’s family released a statement shortly after his arrest defending him:

“We love and support Shane and have faith in his innocence. Shane and Sarah had a very good relationship. They were very happy. They have two beautiful children together. We have the utmost confidence in our law enforcement here and know they will soon find evidence that leads them to the person that really did this.”

But a statement by a former Rockwall/Hunt County CPS caseworker who worked with the family for one and a half years, Sarah Francis Depew, suggests otherwise.

She told TheRockwallNews.com recently that she was well-acquainted with Swaim and Bailey because she had been involved with them at least weekly between April 11, 2011 – when their two-month old daughter was removed from their home – and Dec. 6-11, 2012, when she then had trial with them in the 439th District Court of Rockwall Co. presided over by Judge David Rakow.

She is scheduled to testify in the murder trial this week and said she believes he is guilty.

At that time of the trial she said it was the opinion of CPS, CASA and the Attorney Ad Litem that their daughter should not be returned to their home due to concerns about domestic violence, unstable housing, criminal activity, parental interest  and non-compliance with the family service plan. She said they’d missed more than a third of their CPS visits without rescheduling with her.

She added that the child had been removed after Bailey and Swaim “were coming down off of cocaine and got in a physical fight, resulting in them striking the the two-month old little girl in the face.”

Depew explained that CPS did not seek permanent removal because their hope was that Swaim would soon leave Bailey and could become a more responsible mother.

But she said despite the objections of Depew, CASA caseworker Tish Verde and Guardian Ad Litem Ted Samsom, Judge Rakow ruled that the then one and a half-year-old girl be returned to her parents from the safety of her home of her maternal great-grandmother in Plano where she had lived since she was two months old.

After the December, 2012, trial, the child was returned to her parents on or around Jan. 13, 2013. Less than a month later, her mother was found dead and her father arrested for her mother’s murder. The child is now living safely with relatives.

Depew said none of the experts understood why Judge Rakow ruled against their expert testimonies and called his decision “baffling.” She said she believes that Judge Rakow and all judges should be better educated about domestic violence and child abuse.

“I am currently going through the trial transcripts and will be writing a letter to Judge Rakow asking that he commit to taking every single opportunity to learn more about domestic violence available to him,” she explained. “Some of his statements in trial make me very concerned about his understanding of the subject and his ability to make good rulings to protect the children of Rockwall County.”

By J.J. Smith

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GREENVILLE – The recently retired Program Director for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Rockwall and another Child Protective Services (CPS) employee who lives in Fate and works in Greenville were two of three people arrested and jailed yesterday on felony charges related to the investigation of 16-year-old Greenville High School student Alicia Moore, who was sexually assaulted before she was murdered and found dead in a trunk last November.

The former Program Director, Laura Marsh Ard, 60, of Rockwall, was charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence. According to her resume, she worked for Family and Protective Services for 32 years, retiring last March as Program Director CPS Investigations since 2005. Prior to that, her resume reads that she worked as CPS Risk Director for five years. She began her CPS career as a case worker in 1981 and became a Supervisor in 1991 for ab0ut nine years.

Hunt County CPS Investigative Supervisor Natalie Ausbie-Reynolds, 30, of Fate, was charged on three counts of official oppression and one count of tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at $40,000. According to CPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins, she has worked for CPS in that position since 2002.

CPS case worker Rebekah Lynn-Ross, 34, of Greenville, was charged on three counts of official oppression and two counts of tampering/fabricating official evidence. Her bond was set at $50,000.

All charges are third degree felonies, which are punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison and fine up to $10,000.

All three women have now been released from jail.

According to Hunt Co. Criminal District Attorney Noble Walker, the grand jury indictments were sealed pending the arraignments of the suspects. All he would say is the charges were in relation to the Alicia Moore case, but were not connected to her murder.

Alicia Moore went missing and her body was found stuffed in a trunk and left beside a rural Van Zandt County road Nov. 6, 2012. After a six-month investigation, police arrested and charged her great uncle, Michael Moore, for capital murder last May. His DNA was linked to her murder.

According to NBC5-TV News, during the Moore murder investigation, investigators with the State Inspector General’s office began looking into accusations that Moore’s CPS case was being mishandled. Officers with the IG’s office spent month’s looking into Moore’s CPS file and turned over findings in a report to the Hunt County District Attorney’s office last month. Hunt County examined the report and presented it to a grand jury, which returned the multi-count indictments.

It is not known at this time if anything in Moore’s investigative CPS file could have been used to possibly prevent her murder or aid in the murder investigation that dragged on until Michael Moore’s arrest in May 2013.

Alicia Moore’s family said they only dealt with CPS last summer after Alicia was sexually assaulted. They said CPS was never involved in her disappearance or murder in November.

According to the Greenville Herald-Banner, which broke the CPS workers arrest story, late last month Terry Dewayne Ramshire, 50, of Greenville, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The indictment stated Ramshire sexually assaulted an unidentified “Jane Doe” victim under 17 years old on multiple occasions between Dec. 10, 2010, and July 4, 2009.

Ramshire was also indicted twice in September, 2012, once for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, as well as for Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact, alleging he sexually assaulted Moore on multiple occasions in July, 2012. These indictments were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

There is no cofirmation yet if the arrests of the CPS workers are related to Ramshire’s arrest. More details to come.

By J.J. Smith

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SHERMAN – Former Rockwall County father Gregory Shane Bailey was found guilty Friday by a Grayson County jury of murdering 22-year-old Sarah Lindsey Swaim, his live-in girlfriend and the former Rockwall County mother of their now two-year-old daughter.

Bailey, 31, was then sentenced to life in prison, plus required to pay a $10,000 fine.

Bailey, Swaim and their two young children lived in Rockwall County for about six months prior to May, 2011, when they moved to Bells TX in Grayson Co. and, after their eviction, to Sherman in January, 2012.

Throughout the week-long trial, that brought out the heinous details of what prosecutors say was an abusive relationship that led to a brutal and savage murder, Swaim maintained his innocence.

But. according to KXII-TV News 12, he did change his account of what happened, from saying she went missing, to finding her lifeless body in the bedroom of their Sherman home. Then, with their 2-year-old daughter with him, he said he wrapped Swaim’s body in trash bags and carpet, and dumped her in a brush pile in Denison.

Bailey cried on the stand, saying, “I loved Sarah and I feel so terrible for taking her out there like that, but I did not kill her.”

In closing arguments, the prosecution discussed exactly what they say happened in the home on that night, saying, “Domestic violence is a dirty little secret that happens behind closed doors. Sarah Swaim died an ugly death and was treated like trash.”

According to the Sherman Herald Democrat newspaper, “during his statements to police, Bailey repeatedly said Ms. Swaim left their house at a trailer home park in Sherman after an evening of doing shots turned into an argument over finances. He said as his head hit the pillow, he heard the door slam and thought she was just going down the street.”

“Jurors also heard, Tuesday, from people who lived near the young couple at the park. Neighbors told stories of loud, profane arguments that erupted in the wee hours of the night and repeated calls to the police.”

“Cecelia Howe said she lived near the couple and used to occasionally speak to Ms. Swaim but didn’t know her well. What Howe did know, she said, was the couple’s relationship troubles.”

“You could hear him scream at her in the middle of the street,” Howe said. She said she once saw Bailey scream at the mother of his two youngest children in the middle of the street at 3 a.m.”

“I had had enough,” the woman told prosecutors and the jury. She said another time she looked outside to find out what all of the noise was about and saw that Bailey had Ms. Swaim by the hair and appeared to be attempting to drag her back into the house. Ms. Swaim, Howe said, was pregnant at the time.”

“I ran out and got in his face,” she said. Howe said Bailey backed down and went into the house, and Ms. Swaim walked away.”

“After that, Howe said, Ms. Swaim wouldn’t ‘even raise her head or look at me.’”

“Howe said she saw Ms. Swaim wearing black and blue bruises and a split lip.”

Members of Swaim’s family spoke after the trial and told News 12 they felt justice was served and Bailey got what he deserved for the man they said “sucked the spirit out of her.”

There were hugs and tears of joy as Swaim’s family left the courtroom for the last time.

“He deserves it, he does,” Swaim’s cousin Mary Mahoney said. “And like the day I knew she was missing, I said, ‘What did he do with her?’ I knew he did something.”

Mahoney says she reached out to Swaim about the abuse.

“Like I seen her and asked her where she got her bruises from and she said she told me that she got drunk and fell down. You can’t help somebody, because I’ve been in an abusive relationship, and you can’t help somebody that doesn’t want help,” Mahoney said.

“Very emotional. It’s been a very long week. Found out a lot of information that we hadn’t known over the last seven or eight months. Just now that it’s over, I’m rejoiced. These are tears of joy. Real tears of joy,” cousin Sunday Medlin said.

“I truly hope that he gets everything that he’s dished out throughout these relationships while he’s in prison, by people that are bigger and badder and more of a man than he is,” relative Chad Warner said.

A custody trial is set for today to decide who gets custody of their two children.

By J.J. Smith

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David Darryl Robert Thurbur (Buy Photo)

ROCKWALL – After a five-hour long police chase and standoff, a fugitive from justice in Florida and Arkansas was arrested early Friday morning in Terrell by Rockwall and Terrell Police and is currently in Rockwall County Jail.

According to Rockwall Police Sgt. Aaron McGrew, David Darryl Robert Thurbur, 42,was captured after Rockwall Police initiated a 15-minute pursuit of a stolen vehicle Thursday at about 11:17 pm south on State Highway 205 into Terrell where the chase ended.

The chase came to an end when he drove over spike strips and barricaded himself inside the vehicle with two stolen firearms. After stopping, the suspect held a handgun to his head, threatening suicide, but, after nearly five hours of negotiations, he voluntarily surrendered.

He has been charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Evading Arrest and Unlawful Use of a Vehicle.

Thurbur had been charged Sept. 13 with Felony Grand Larceny when he was accused of stealing a safe containing a “substantial amount of cash and valuable coins” from a Front Royal FL residence.

Detectives from the Front Royal Police Department tracked the fugitive to St. Petersburg, FL and Memphis TN, where the trail went cold until they were contacted by Rockwall Police.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – In a very tense, emotion-filled, packed Rockwall County court room yesterday, lined with heavily-armed law enforcement officers, former Hunt Co. Constable Anthony Dewayne Lewis pled guilty to murdering his ex-girlfriend and Rockwall mother of three children, Jessica Aguilar, and was sentenced by 439th District Court Judge David Rakow to 60 years in prison, plus another 15 years for Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon, to be served concurrently.

He was also sentenced to pay $10,000 fines for both charges.

According to Judge Rakow, Lewis accepted a plea bargain agreement – which was also accepted by the Aguilar family – to plead guilty and waive his right to a trial and an appeal to avoid going through a complete trial.

Appearing frail and shorter than his above photo, Lewis said he accepted the sentence, wiping tears from his eyes with a tissue several times during the sentencing. His voice broke and he cried once briefly as he confirmed that he understood he was waiving those rights.

Lewis, 48, shot Aguilar, 33, six times at close range in the parking lot of The Harbor entertainment district Feb.16 and then shot and wounded her companion, Francisco Dela Cruz, 40, three times before fleeing the scene. He and Aguilar had dated for several years until Aguilar broke up with him shortly before she was murdered.

Witnesses to the attack immediately called 911 and gave police a description of the shooter and his car. After Garland Police located the car, Lewis attempted to elude at least eight law enforcement agencies in a multi-county car chase. The pursuit ended in Hunt Co. when Lewis stopped his car and pointed a Kel Tec 9 mm semi-automatic pistol at officers. He was then shot multiple times, arrested and taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas where he survived his wounds.

Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney Kenda Culpepper, who was the chief prosecutor in the case, praised law enforcement for their investigation of the cases, as well as the bravery of witnesses at the scene who cooperated with the police.

“These people had the presence of mind to memorize the shooter’s license plate right after two people had been shot in front of them,” she said. “Another witness, a nurse, started CPR on the victims while the suspect was fleeing the scene. Rockwall Police continued CPR and personally took one of the victims to the hospital in their squad car. We need to be reminded that we are surrounded by heroes every day who put their lives on the line for others.”

Lewis was twice elected as Hunt County Precinct 2 Constable in 1996 and 2000, but defeated in his bid to regain the position in the May, 2012, Republican primary election. According to his campaign biography, he also worked for the Argyle Police Department, cities of Coppell and University Park Police and as a Dallas County SWAT paramedic.

After the sentence was pronounced, Jessica Aguilar’s sister, brother and now 18-year-old daughter addressed Lewis, reading their victim impact statements. Culpepper also read a brief statement by Jessica’s father.

Jessica’s older sister, Isabel, said she wanted everyone to know how strong and independent Jessica was, particularly after her husband died from a tragic accident in 2004, leaving Jessica alone to raise their three young children. She mourned the loss of her sister and then stated she had no sympathy for Lewis and will never understand how he could take away their only surviving parent.

“I know you have no heart and knew it from the start that I met you,” she said. “I just hope and pray you will stay behind bars so you will never be able to do this again to someone elses family. I will leave everything in God’s hands and pray for change in the future.”

Daughter Araceli fought to hold back her tears throughout her statement, while chastising Lewis for all the pain and damage he has caused their family – especially to her nine-year-old sister – while calling Lewis “the biggest, hypocritical, fakest, pathetic person on earth.”

“I don’t know how anybody can even live with what you have done,” she said. “Nobody should ever call you a man because you’re far from that, just a human, a waste of life is what you are. You must be a disgrace to your family. I hope you will suffer forever with pain…”

She added despite all his constant criticism of her mother and all three children after he came into their lives, they will overcome and be successful in life.

Brother Santos reminded Lewis that he had taken numerous oaths throughout his life to serve and protect others and his crime not only affected their family but harmed the entire community.

“You took an oath to serve and protect. You bragged about carrying (a gun) to help save the day. You are the evil villain that disrespects and disobeys the same laws you are supposed to obey. You are disgraceful and deserve a slow and painful death,” he said.

Jessica’s father’s statement was brief but direct, stating that Lewis’ soul belongs to the Devil.

“I know for a fact you will suffer a slow death. Your soul belongs to the Devil. The Devil is waiting for you and he knows your time on earth will end soon. The Devil knows the minute and hour and the date that he will sign your death certificate.”

None of the 15 or so members of the Lewis family and friends who were in the courtroom chose to say anything publicly. A woman with white hair who later told TheRockwallNews.com that she was Lewis’ aunt, a sister of his mother, unsuccessfully attempted to speak to Isabel Aguilar as she left the courtroom.

She told this reporter in the hallway after the court emptied that she wanted to tell her how sorry she was for what Lewis did and say that both families are victims of his actions. Lewis’ mother then approached us and told her not to speak to the media.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – Four men were indicted by a Rockwall County grand jury Sept. 18 for the sexual assault of four Rockwall residents – two for sexual assaults of children.

William Michael Braswell of Royse City was indicted on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, first degree felonies allegedly committed July 10 and 14; and a second degree felony, Indecency With a Child Sexual Contact, allegedly committed June 1. His $200,000 bond was set Sept. 20 by 382nd District Court Judge Brett Hall. Arraignment was waived Sept. 26 and a hearing will be held Oct. 15 at 9 am.

Brandon Ramirez of Mesquite was indicted for Sexual Assault of a Child, a second degree felony, allegedly committed May 28. A $75,000 bond was set June 3 by 382nd District Court Judge Brett Hall. Arraignment is set for Oct. 10 at 1 pm.

Nicholas Dale Welch of Garland and Christian Perez-Gallegos of Rockwall were also indicted for Sexual Assault.

Welch served 90 days in the Rockwall County Jail in 2009, when he was fined $1,000 for Possession of a Controlled Substance. No other info was found in the Rockwall County Judicial records about his current charge.

A $50,000 bond for Perez-Gallegos was set Sept. 20 by 439th District Court Judge David Rakow for his second degree felony, allegedly committed June 19. His arraignment was originally set Sept. 26 but has been rescheduled for Oct. 17 at 1 pm. He has a lengthy misdemeanor record including marijuana possession, theft of property and criminal trespassing.

An additional 27 felony indictments were returned by the grand jury Sept. 18 against 23 more men and women. The charges include:

• Seven people charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Four people charged with Theft of Property/Burglary
• Three people charged with Driving While Intoxicated – one with a child in the vehicle
• One person charged with Injury to a Child, Elderly or Disabled Individual

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – An 18-year-old man from Rockwall and 25-year-old man from Garland were arrested Sunday by Rockwall Police and charged with Sexual Assault of a Child.

According to Police Sgt. Jeff Welch, police were called Sunday at 8:20 pm to the 400 block of Green Circle and found one suspect walking in the area and the other hiding nearby shortly after. Both are being held at the Rockwall County Detention Center on $50,000 bond. The case is under investigation by the Rockwall Police Criminal Investigation Department.

Since the victim is a juvenile, Rockwall Police withhold the name of the alleged victim.

Since the young men have only been charged, and suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty, the policy of TheRockwallNews is to withhold the names of any sexual assault suspects unless and until they are indicted by a grand jury or prosecuted and found guilty.

By J.J. Smith

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TERRELL – Five people were murdered in Terrell overnight at four different locations.

Suspect Charles Everett Brownlow Jr. was arrested following a car chase at about 1:30 am by Terrell Police, Kaufman County Sheriff’s deputies and State troopers, after Brownlow crashed his car on College Mound Rd. and fled into a wooded area south of U.S. 80.

The dead were listed as Brownlow’s mother, his aunt, a unidentified man and woman who lived on Eulalia Street, plus a convenience store clerk at Ali’s Market, Luis Leal.

Gunshots were also reported at a house in the 800 block of N. Francis St., which police believe is where Brownlow’s girlfriend lives, but no one was injured there.

Terrell Police Chief Jody Lay updated the media early Tuesday morning.

“We’re all in a state of shock, you have a tendency to think, ‘How can that happen here?’” he said. “This is a country community, a rural community, people are real close and this is going to have a really big impact on us.”

The investigation began after police were called to a house in the 400 block of Tyler St. in Terrell. There police found Brownlow’s aunt dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

About 30 minutes later, a Terrell firefighter saw smoke coming from a house in the 300 block of Stalling St. Authorities said it was a clear case of arson. After police investigated, they found the body of Brownlow’s mother, who had also been shot. Police said they believe this is where Brownlow had been living. A 2002 white Ford Focus was also missing.

At about 10 pm another call was received by p0lice regarding the shooting at the home on N. Francis St., believed to be Brownlow’s girlfriend.

At  about 10:30 pm police then found acouple dead on the 800 block of Eulalia St. An unharmed three-year-old child was also discovered in bed in the home.

Shortly after, Lay said Brownlow apparently traveled to Ali’s Market on US Hwy 80 in the 700 block of W. Moore Ave. and shot and killed Leal after officers spotted the white Ford. Police believe he was randomly targeted by the alleged shooter.

The suspect then led police on a high-speed chase by car back toward the neighborhood where it all started and through several more neighborhoods until Brownlow crashed the car through a fence off College Mound and jumped out of the vehicle. He then fled into a wooded area, but was eventually caught about 1:30 am after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and their helicopter searched for the suspect using infrared cameras.

The Terrell Police Department, Kaufman Co. Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Service and the Texas Rangers are all investigating.

According to NBC5-TV News reporter Scott Gordon, Brownlow has a record for theft, burglary, drugs, assaulting a relative and felony with a gun.

By J.J. Smith

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Justin Sanders (Texarkana Gazette photo)

TEXARKANA – The trial of a young Texarkana man, related to the death of a Texarkana police officer, was moved to Rockwall last week after Texarkana judge Bobby Lockhart granted a defense request to move the trial citing extensive media publicity.

Justin Sanders, 21, will now be tried in March in Rockwall on a charge of aggravated assault of a police officer.

According to investigators, police officer William Sprague was outside his patrol car responding to a disturbance at a park when he was struck June 14 by a car driven by a fleeing Sanders. The 30-year-old officer died the next day. Police later arrested Sanders, who faces life in prison if convicted.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – A Rockwall County jury took less than an hour yesterday to find a Rockwall man guilty of the felony charge of stalking a 16-year-old girl and sentenced him to six years in the state penitentiary.

Although James Hamm, 46, had no previous felony record and was eligible for probation, Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney Kenda Culpepper said the jury made the decision based upon the seriousness of the case and multiple previous contacts with police.

Jurors heard testimony that the defendant followed the girl on multiple occasions while she was walking home from school.

“At one point her tried to lure her into a car,” Culpepper said.

The jury also heard testimony about other young victims that the defendant had approached in a similar manner.

Rockwall police officer J. Donaldson testified that he and other officers were able to connect several unrelated “stranger on stranger” incidents in which the defendant was involved and quickly arranged an arrest warrant against him.

Lead prosecutor Damita Sangermano, who in closing arguments described Hamm as a “predator,” noted that the victim’s mother has credited Officer Donaldson with possibly saving her young daughter’s life. Sangermano also praised the police department’s quick actions to get the defendant off the street before he could traumatize any other young women.

“Officers are vested in their communities and do a good job of going the extra mile,” said Culpepper. “It is one  reason why Rockwall County is such a great place to live. This should be a wake-up call to parents, however, to further educate their children about the dangers of interacting with strangers.”

By J.J. Smith

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Matthew Alan Simmons

ROCKWALL – A Rockwall County jury sentenced a Clarksville GA man to six years in prison yesterday for exposing himself to a 12-year-old girl in the toy section of the Walmart Supercenter Feb. 15.

The same jury convicted Matthew Alan Simmons, 27, Wednesday of the third degree felony charge of Indecency with a Child by Exposure in less than an hour of deliberations.

He could have received a maximum sentence of 10 years and was also eligible for probation.

According to a news release from Rockwall Co. Criminal District Attorney Kenda Culpepper, jurors heard testimony that when the defendant attempted to get the child to touch him, she refused, left and subsequently told her grandfather who was in another part of the store. Upon her report, Walmart employees immediately locked down the store and police later located the defendant by identifying him on surveillance tapes.

Prosecutors brought a detective from Habersham County GA into court to present evidence that Simmons is currently facing charges for possessing child pornography in Georgia. The defendant – who was out on bond for that case at the time of the Rockwall offense – will face extradition and a later trial in Georgia.

Lead prosecutor Ashley Anderson praised the courage of the victim.

“She was smart enough to refuse his advances and was brave enough to cooperate with police,” she said.

“This is further evidence of the need to educate your children about predators,” said Culpepper. “It is important that kids know how to react in these situations. In addition, if something does happen, they need to feel comfortable immediately reporting it to a trusted adult.”

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ROCKWALL – A Rockwall County Grand Jury indicted 22 people on 25 counts Nov. 13, including Denver City man Paul Trevino, who is charged with Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle and Driving While Intoxicated, Third or More, involving a crash which caused the death of Donald Ellis of Fate Aug. 24.

Ellis, 38, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Trevino, 31, when the vehicle left the roadway in the 1000 block of John King Blvd. and rolled over.

Jhonny Perez-Hernandez was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of an elderly/disabled person and for sexual abuse of Child Continuous, Victim Under 14 years of age.

Christopher Lee Stampfer was indicted for Sexual Assault, allegedly committed in Rowlett.

All three men were indicted in the 439th District Court of Judge David Rakow and remain in the Rockwall County jail, after bonds were set.

Additional indictments returned in the 439th District Court include:

• Stephen Walter Cox- Driving While Intoxicated, Third or More
• Preston Olynn Jones – Driving While Intoxicated, Third or More
• Damorian Dente Robertson – Unlawful Possession of Firearm By Felon
• Robert Lee Schmidt II – Driving While Intoxicated With Child Under 15 Years of Age

Indictments returned in the 382nd District Court of Judge Brett Hall:

• Jose M. Frail-Bautista – Driving While Intoxicated With Child Under 15 Years of Age
• Yancie Dixie Flint – Tamper /Fabricate Physical Evidence
• Richard Carlton Groom – Driving While Intoxicate, Third Or More
• Marcus Dwayne Harrell – Theft of Property, Less Than $1,500, Two or More Previous Convictions
• Raymond Kinchen III – Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence
• James Phillips – Possession of Marijuana, More Than 50 Pounds, Less Than 2,000 Pounds
• Robert Glenn Vernon – Insurance Fraud, More Than $20,000, Less Than $100,000
• Kourton Leo Williams – Organized Retail Theft

From Staff Reports

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Moises Lopez

ROCKWALL – A Rockwall man was indicted for the second degree felony of intoxication manslaughter Dec. 18 by a Rockwall County grand jury in connection with a head-on vehicle crash Sept. 21 that killed 33-year-old LaDonna Carr of Plano.

Moises Lopez, 32, an illegal immigrant without a valid driver’s license, was among 22 defendants who were indicted after they were arrested and charged with 23 different felonies. The names of 19 were released by the District Clerk’s office and appear below. Three suspects have not yet been arrested.

According to the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Lopez’s vehicle crossed the center stripe and crashed into Carr’s vehicle about 2:30 pm Sept. 21 on S. FM 548 near Howell Rd., southwest of SH 276, in Royse City.

His arraignment is set for Jan. 2 at 1 pm in the 382nd District Court of Judge Brett Hall. He is currently in the Rockwall County Jail. His bond was set for $100,000.

Other indictments returned in the 382nd District Court:

• Anthony Richard Cervantes – two indictments for possession of controlled substances, less than one gram
• Michael Scott Baciocco, Michael Ray Campbell and Daniel Garza – possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram
• Aanibal Ramferi Lopez-Paxtor – manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, less than one gram
• Sharon Kay Johnson – fraud/use possess identifying information
• Kendall Allen Valencia – engaging in organized criminal activity

Indictments returned in the 439th District Court of Judge David Rakow:

• Steven E. Cooley – sex abuse of child continuous, victim under 14
• Dedria Lamont McCullough – theft of property, less than $1,500, two or more convictions
• Anthony Santiago Torres – driving while intoxicated, third or more
• Jeffery Jayvont Driskell – manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, in drug-free zone
• Noah Kenneth Brown – possession of a controlled substance, less than 28 grams, in a drug-free zone
• Azael Lopez – manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, more than 4  grams, less than 200 grams
• Jeremy Michael Sam – possession of a controlled substance, more than one gram, less than four grams
• Stormy Leann Gray, Richard Edgar Miller, Craig Lee Ragan and Darrell Logan Rogers – possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram

By J.J. Smith

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Steven E. Cooley

ROCKWALL – A Royse City man was indicted Dec. 15 by a Rockwall Co. grand jury for Sex Abuse of Child Continuous, Victim under 14.

Steven Earl Cooley, 46, was arrested by the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office Sept. 26 and charged with the first degree felony. He is currently in the Rockwall County Jail awaiting his arraignment Jan. 14 at 9 am in the 439th District Court of Judge David Rakow. Bond was set Dec. 3 for $100,000.

According to online records, he worked at Pelican Real Estate and First Oklahoma Realty after serving in the US Navy. He is listed by the Rockwall Co. Appraisal District as owning a home in Alexander Ranch subdivision north of SH 276, just east of FM 548 near Blackland.

Cooley was one of 19 defendants whose names were recently released by the Rockwall Co. District Clerk’s office and appear below. Three suspects have not yet been arrested.

Other indictments returned in the 439th District Court:

• Dedria Lamont McCullough – theft of property, less than $1,500, two or more convictions
• Anthony Santiago Torres – driving while intoxicated, third or more
• Jeffery Jayvont Driskell – manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, in drug-free zone
• Noah Kenneth Brown – possession of a controlled substance, less than 28 grams, in a drug-free zone
• Azael Lopez – manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, more than 4  grams, less than 200 grams
• Jeremy Michael Sam – possession of a controlled substance, more than one gram, less than four grams
• Stormy Leann Gray, Richard Edgar Miller, Craig Lee Ragan and Darrell Logan Rogers – possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram

Other indictments returned in the 382nd District Court of Judge Brett Hall:

• Moises Lopez – intoxication manslaughter
• Anthony Richard Cervantes – two indictments for possession of controlled substances, less than one gram
• Michael Scott Baciocco, Michael Ray Campbell and Daniel Garza – possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram
• Aanibal Ramferi Lopez-Paxtor – manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, less than one gram
• Sharon Kay Johnson – fraud/use possess identifying information
• Kendall Allen Valencia – engaging in organized criminal activity

By J.J. Smith

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Dallas County Jail Photo

DALLAS – A 23-year-old Garland man was arrested for intoxication assault Friday morning in connection with the 13-vehicle traffic accident that caused the eight-lane, I-30 bridge over Lake Ray Hubbard to be closed most of the day.

Christopher Anthony Sosa was hospitalized briefly after the crash and then charged and booked into Dallas County jail, according to a police spokesman. It is still not clear whether Sosa actually caused the vehicle pile-up.

Police say he was speeding along I-30 at about 3:30 am when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with an 18-wheeler. The semi jackknifed and destroyed about 500 feet of the concrete barrier which separates both lanes of traffic. Sosa’s vehicle crossed over three eastbound lanes before crashing into another barrier, the report read.

Other drivers told police they were driving through dense fog and had to swerve to avoid broken concrete.

Six 18-wheelers and seven other vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash. It took nearly 12 hours to reopen some eastbound lanes of the bridge to traffic. Hazardous materials teams were called in to clean up fuel and oil spills.

TXDOT crews began installing a new concrete median Friday morning.

A Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman said eight persons were transported to Baylor Medical Center but none had life-threatening injuries.

All lanes of I-30 were finally reopened about 8 pm Friday.

At about 10:30 am a second accident related to the traffic jam shut down both sides of I-30 near FM548 in Royse City, said a Texas Department of Transportation spokesman.

Crews worked for hours to turn two overturned semis upright and repair damaged freeway barriers. All westbound lanes in Royse City were closed until Saturday afternoon.

There were no reports of injuries at the second crash site.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – The Rockwall Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify three theft suspects.

The two pictured women were involved in a theft that occurred at In & Out Burger Dec. 24, 2013.

The man was involved in two thefts that occurred at the Wal-Mart Super Center in Rockwall Dec. 24, 2013 and Jan. 4, 2014.

Police say if you can help identify these subjects, contact Rockwall County Crime Stoppers at 972-771-8477. You may also text your tip to Rockwall County Crime Stoppers by entering keyword “Rockwall” plus your message and send it to 274637. You may remain anonymous.

By Staff

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ROCKWALL – Rockwall Police are seeking the public’s assistance identifying a suspect in multiple vehicle burglaries that occurred within the city limits during the evening hours of Jan. 11.

During the time the above surveillance photos were taken, he was driving an older red vehicle. The vehicle appears to be a late 90s or early 2000 model Ford Mustang.

If you can help identify this suspect or any other suspects, you are encouraged to contact Rockwall County Crime Stoppers at 972-771-8477. You may also text your tip to Rockwall County Crime Stoppers by entering keyword “Rockwall” plus your message and send it to 274637. You may remain anonymous.

By Paul Robbins

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Eric Williams

KAUFMAN – The capital murder trial against former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams for the slayings of Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, was moved to Rockwall County Friday by a Kaufman County judge.

Williams’ defense attorneys had requested the change in venue because they claimed he could not get a fair trial in Kaufman County due to the extensive media coverage of the case.

The change of venue hearing was held in the Kaufman County courthouse before Dallas County District Judge Michael Snipes, who was appointed to the cases after a Kaufman County judge recused himself.

The judge said at the hearing that he believed moving the cases is in the best interest of ensuring that Williams gets a fair trial.

Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood and District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley supported Snipes’ ruling, saying they felt he could have had a fair hearing in Kaufman County but have no problem with moving the case to Rockwall.

State prosecutors Toby Shook and ____  are seeking the death penalty against Williams, who is being held in the Kaufman County jail in lieu of $23 million bail.

Williams’ wife, Kim, also faces murder charges and is being held in lieu of $10 million bail. Prosecutors have not yet decided if they will seek the death penalty against her, whose case was not moved Friday to Rockwall.

Eric Williams’ trial is expected to start about Oct. 20, with the initial phase of jury selection to begin March 28. Judge Snipes said he hopes to have a jury selected from a large jury pool by Aug. 15.

A Kaufman County jury indicted Eric and Kim Williams in June. She filed for divorce the very same day and the divorce is pending.

Police say that the couple plotted to kill McLelland, his wife and McLelland’s top assistant, Mark Hasse, as retribution for their prosecution of Williams in a theft case which resulted in Williams losing his position, law license and health insurance.

McLelland, 63, and his wife, 65, were murdered in their Forney home over Easter weekend. Hasse, 57, was gunned down while walking from his car to the courthouse Jan. 31, 2013.

The case attracted national attention.

By J.J. Smith

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ROYSE CITY – A Royse City man critically wounded his wife and then killed himself with one gunshot to his head in the street in front of their house this morning.

Neighbors say that after Scott Arthur Croop, 39, and his wife, Kara Elizabeth Croop, were arguing inside their home in the 400 block of Cookston Ln. shortly before 9 am and then the argument continued outside. Cookston is located just south of I-30, between SH 548 and Circle Ln.

Croop then shot his wife several times. She was in critical condition when she was transported to Baylor Medical Center by Rockwall E.M.S., according to Royse City Police Chief Jeff Stapleton.

Kara Croop’s attorney, Lisa Baker Canterberry, told CBS11-TV News that the couple were separated, had filed for divorce last November and it was to be finalized next week. The couple shared an 11-year-old daughter, Alexandria, and Scott had recently tried to reconnect with her.  Scott was also set to retire from the military today, after recently returning from serving overseas in Bahrain.

At the time of the shooting, Alexandria was at school. Administrators and teachers at that campus were made aware of the situation and counselors were active there today.

Police say that no one else was involved and they are interviewing witnesses and neighbors to determine what may have led to this incident.

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COLLEGE STATION – A young Rockwall man was arrested yesterday and charged today with pulling a gun and threatening other drivers behind him who were trying to leave a parking garage.

Joshua David Stone, 23, is being held on charges of disorderly conduct by displaying a firearm and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

College Station police say Stone was in line to leave a parking garage when he stopped to look for an item, traffic backed up and other drivers began honking their horns. Stone then exited his vehicle, started arguing with other drivers and pointed a gun at them.

Nobody was hurt. Bond was set at $8,000.

From Staff Reports