Bad Seed … Destined to Kill
Transcription
Bad Seed … Destined to Kill
Wanted Fugitives Page 3 Sex Offenders Page 7 Subscribe to THE POLICE NEWS Page 6 ON THE SCENE with The Police News THE POLICE NEWS VOLUME I, NUMBER 2 Piney Woods Edition January 2008 Bad Seed … Destined to Kill DOG FIGHTING: The Harsh Truth By. Lt. Mark Timmers he Houston Humane Society in November of 2003 entered into a contractual agreement with Harris County Constable, Precinct 6 Victor Trevino’s department to investigate animal cruelty. Lieutenant Mark Timmers and Deputy Patrick Leone are the first By Breck Porter, The Police News T O n the afternoon of August 1, 1990, Homer Burson walked into Wilkins Dry Cleaners in Conroe, Texas, to pick up some cleaning. He waited at the counter, but no one approached to wait on him. He left then reentered with another customer. Finally, noticing that the cash register was open, Burson walked around the corner of the counter toward the back room of the store where he discovered Leta Wilkerson lying face up on the floor, her eyes open and her body covered with blood. Burson immediately notified the police and called for an ambulance. Wilkerson, who was employed at the cleaners as a clerk, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. She had been shot once in the face and three times in the back. Investigating officers found spent .25-caliber bullets and bullet casings lying on the floor near where the body was found. Officers also discovered blood on the front counter next to a pile of jeans with the name “McGinnis” written in the pockets. The telephone on the front counter had been left off the hook, objects were in disarray and about $140 was missing from the cash register. Additionally, police were informed that the 1985 silver-gray GMC minivan the victim had driven to work that day was missing. Two individuals picked seventeen year old Glen Charles McGinnis out of a photographic lineup, identifying him as the man they had seen at or near Wilkins Dry Cleaners around the time of the offense. Late that evening, police found Wilkerson’s minivan abandoned in the parking lot of a nearby shopping center. Between the two front seats of the van, they discovered Wilkerson’s Leta Ann Wilkerson, a mother of two, was shot in the head and back during a robbery in 1990. wallet, from which investigators lifted McGinnis’s fingerprint. The following morning, three employees of various businesses in the shopping center where the van was found picked McGinnis out of a photographic lineup as the man they had seen the afternoon before requesting assistance because his van was broken down. Early on the morning of August 2, 1990, police were dispatched to Williams Square Apartments, just two blocks from Wilkins Dry Cleaners, where McGinnis was thought to be residing with his aunt, Annette McGinnis. Police arrested McGinnis for the capital murder of Wilkerson, and transported him to the police station, where they discovered $105 in his possession. Later that morning, police returned to Annette McGinnis’s apartment to search for a .25-caliber weapon. Annette McGinnis told police continued on page 5 (Bad Seed) all been related factors in the investigation of animal cruelty cases. We all have recently seen some type of story related to dog fighting over the media, from neighborhood kids, to organized gangs, and even professional athletes. Pit bulls being trained to fight and kill in dog fights and the sad ending of these animals (198) Notice the heavy chains securing this dog (Photo courtesy Houston Humane Society) full time law enforcement officers to investigate animal cruelty in Harris County and throughout the state of Texas. The Houston Humane Society implemented the R.A.I.D.E.R (Rescue Animals in Danger Education Resources) program. On a daily basis these deputies investigate animal cruelty cases that involve domestic/companion animals, horses/livestock, wildlife, reptiles and exotic animals. Of the animal cruelty cases investigated the reasons have been because of neglect, abandonment, torture, abuse of animals in domestic violence cases, cock and dog fighting. Narcotics, weapons, stolen property and wanted individuals have usually ends in death. Why is this phenomenon coming to light now and what can be done to help end this senseless use of animals? Dog fighting was outlawed in the United States by 1976, and recent Texas legislature made it a felony to engage in dog fighting and spectators of dog fights don’t get off easily as well, Texas also made watching dog fights a class “A” misdemeanor. A reason why law enforcement is keeping a close eye on dog fighting is because it is a part of the cycle of violence. Usually where there is dog fighting there also is some sort of domestic abuse of family members continued on page 2 (Harsh Truth) A-1 BAIL BONDS — (936)-788-2245 got warrants? ///////////////////////// Les French • Mari van de Ven • Cambi Cartwright • Franki Amicone THE POLICE NEWS Police News Publishing Co. LLC P.O. Box 5879 Galveston, TX 77554 Breck Porter – Editor & Publisher editor@thepolicenews.net Advertising Sales/Distribution 409-632-0082 sales@thepolicenews.net Writers Breck Porter – Jes Garza Mark Timmers – Jamie Nash Graphic Artist/Editor/Art Director R.A. McPeak rmcpeak@comcast.net Printing Mirror Publishers, Inc msblick@mirrorpub.com The Police News is published monthly in Galveston Copyright 2007 All rights reserved Galveston News Office: 409-762-NEWS Business Office: 409-632-0042 Advertising/Distrubution: 409-632-0082 Nationwide Toll Free: 1-888-7888967 or other individuals, theft and burglaries to support the game or to use as bets for fights, use of and possession of drugs, and also weapons to use as protection from rival gangs or individuals. There are three criminal levels of dog fighting that law enforcement has established. The street level which includes gangs which are fighting for bragging rights, mid-level which are organized fights in neighborhoods and in the state, and the organized level which includes high profiled persons who have the monetary support to hold such events with other high money persons. Local law enforcement focuses on the street level of dog fighting because the quality of life of neighborhoods is in jeopardy. When neighbors see or hear of dog fighting in their community they are afraid of reporting it because of fear of retaliation from the dog fighters and the gang associated with these individuals. Family dogs are stolen just to be used to help pit bulls train for fights using them as bait. Also when street fighters don’t have the available money for fights, they steal property in order to fund their fights. And lastly, when pit bulls are no longer able to continue to fight and are one of the lucky ones that were Page The Police News Where to Find Us Wildwood Shooting Leaves One Dead, One Jailed The Police News, Piney Woods edition is available at locations in these cities: Conroe Magnolia Montgomery New Caney Porter Splendora The Woodlands Willis San Jacinto County Coldspring Shepherd Point Blank not killed during a fight or killed by their trainers, they are let loose in neighborhoods causing a dangerous nuisance for all citizens especially young children. These dogs are aggressive, prepared to fight and attack, and are dangerous when left unattended. The R.A.I.D.E.R. team is at the forefront of investigating, prosecuting and educating law enforcement about dog fighting. The Houston Humane Society’s involvement in This dog was rescued after suffering severe injuries in a fight. (Photo’s courtesy Houston Humane Society) these cases has been costly with one case estimated at $130,000 for seizure of 300 pit bulls in Liberty County from a known dog fighter and breeder who was killed during a home invasion. Another recent case involved the theft of property which was intended as gambling items for a neighborhood dog fight, 'Cause noboby sits In the engineer's lap. ❞ Montgomery County FUGITIVES WANTED Montgomery County don't wander ❝ Trains All over the map If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call Montgomery County Crime Stoppers 1-800-STOP (7867) The Police News Visit us on the Web www.thepolicenews.net We’re Online! Justo Martinez, 38, (pictured) was charged with the murder of Juan Acosta Palacios and booked into the Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Investigators say Martinez shot Palacios in the head during a party at Martinez’ Wildwood subdivision home near Conroe. Both men are believed to be illegal immigrants. (thepolicenews.net) but Precinct 6 deputies arrested the thieves before they could get to the dog fight and the fight location was identified. The investigation of this case continued and in another incident, Precinct 6 deputies arrested several individuals for narcotics in which a home video was seized that graphically depicted pit bulls fighting and the neighborhood fighting location was once again identified. This confiscated video was used to identify five adults and a juvenile for which arrest warrants were issued based on dog fighting charges. So we know that dog fighting has been around for years, but because of the high profile cases seen recent- WWW.ThePoliceNews.net Calixto, Nicolas Faustino White/Male DOB: 09/15/1981 Height: 5’00” Weight: 140 lbs. Hair: Black Eyes: Brown 2856 Beasley, Conroe Aggravated Assault Warrant #990905580 Davis, Barbara Jean White/Female DOB: 09/09/1978 Height: 5’07” Weight: 199 lbs. Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue Address Unavailable Fail Register as a Sex Offender Warrant #060201196 Lowden, Joel Andrew White/Male DOB: 08/05/1970 Height: 6’02” Weight: 170 lbs. Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue 3220 Redwood, Bedford, Tx Fail to Register as a Sex Offender X2 Sexual Assault of a Child Ortega, Carlos Alberto White/Male DOB: 09/27/1978 Height: 5’05” Weight: 130 lbs. Hair: Black Eyes: Brown 303 Magnolia, Conroe, Tx Sexual Assault of a Child Warrant #981201366 Hebert, Robert John White/Male DOB: 03/05/1977 Height: 6’00” Weight: 255 lbs. Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown 24300 Glory, Porter, Tx Aggv. Sexual Assault Child (3 counts) Lowden, Johnna Diane White/Female DOB: 11/11/1972 Height: 5’06” Weight: 125 lbs. Hair: Blond Eyes: Green CR 472 Lot 34 POB 175, Bangs, Tx Fail to Register as a Sex Offender Sexual Assault of a Child Singh, Gagandeep White/Male DOB: 06/27/1988 Height: 5’10” Weight: 190 lbs. Hair: Black Eyes: Brown 12015 Piney Bend, Tomball, Tx Aggravated Sexual Assault X2 Aggravated Kidnapping X2 Aggravated Robbery X2 Samples, Shawn Scot White/Male DOB: 03/14/1965 Height: 5’10” Weight: 160 lbs. Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue 23423 Hwy 59 N No 306, Kingwood, Tx Warrant: Bond Forfeiture X3 Engaging in Organized Crime THE POLICE NEWS Late breaking local police news ly more is being done about it locally and throughout the United States. As citizens we should report any type of dog fighting to our local authorities because there are tools available now to help put these criminals behind bars and start to curb this type of crime in our neighborhoods and make our communities much safer for all. Mark Timmers is a Lieutenant with the Harris County Constables Officer, Precinct Six; Supervisor of Animal Cruelty Investigations for the Houston Humane Society, and regular contributor to THE POLICE NEWS. When Cops Retire When a good man leaves the “job” and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he [she] knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his frame. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is. These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from the life. You are only escaping the “job” and we are merely allowing you to leave “active” duty. So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that “Blessed are the Peacekeepers for they shall be called children of God,” and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known. Humor THE GETAWAY! A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: Police in Oakland, CA spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting, “Please come out and give yourself up.” Coffee & Donuts An American Tradition 1031 North Loop 336, Conroe 15243 Hwy 105 W, Montgomery Andy Chang, Owner The Police News Page From the Editor Several years ago, police related television programs swept the country. Now they have a network dedicated to showing Breck Porter only police related events. Everyone has watched an episode or two of America’s Most Wanted, NYPD Blue, CSI, Forensic Files, Cops, The Closer, or World’s Craziest Police Chases. We are all fascinated with police actions and events. Let us introduce you to The Police News. We are a monthly publication providing in-depth reports on cold case files from local law enforcement agencies. We publish grand jury indictments, photo’s and information about fugitive criminals from your area, as well as photographs and addresses of registered sex offenders in your neighborhood. The Police News has been serving the public on the Texas Gulf Coast since 2004. Our paper and popular website (thepolicenews.net) are experiencing phenomenal growth because we provide a needed and valuable service to the public and to law enforcement. Before we began this endeavor, we talked with top law enforcement officials to gather information and to plan the best way to keep the public informed. They agree with our mission to provide this important public information. It is through our cooperation with law enforcement, and their support of our mission, that we are able to bring you information you need to know. Look for us the first of each month in newsstands, at supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores and businesses in your neighborhood. 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Box 5879 Galveston, TX 77554 Call: 409-762-6397 or Call Toll-Free: 1-888-788-8967 Or subscribe online at: www.thepolicenews.net To Pay by Phone Call 409-752-6397 > He Murdered the Hand That Fed Him A Texas Cocktail Awaits Ronnie Hyde By Breck Porter While 40-year old Ronnie Hugh Hyde was out of the pen on parole for trying to kill a man in Cherokee County, Texas, he beat a man to death with a claw hammer in Bedias, Texas. The man had befriended him and given him work around his home to earn some pocket change. Ronnie Hugh Hyde In March, 1990 he was arrested after he and another creep kidnapped a 33year old man from his home at gun point, bound him with duct tape, forced him into the trunk of his own car, and pushed the car into the Nueces River. The car didn’t sink all the way and the man escaped. Hyde got 20-years in the joint for that but by 1994 he was out on parole. Four years later he burglarized the home of a 72-year old man in Bedias, Texas in Grimes County, and murdered him while he was lying in bed by beating him in the head at least sixteen times with a claw hammer. There was no evidence the victim resisted or that he was even awake when the assault began. Idiot Hyde later told a couple of his buddies that he went to the victims home to get some money and while he was there he hit the old man with a hammer. However, in a confession to police he said the old man attacked him and he grabbed that hammer and hit him in self defense. He didn’t remember hitting him 15 of the 16 times, only once, he said. At the punishment phase of his murder trial prosecutors presented evidence that Hyde had previously been convicted of attempted murder, assaulting a former girlfriend, assaulting a man in front of his child, and for possession of a weapon while he was in the pen. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to a Texas Cocktail. Hyde has been sitting on death row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas since May, 2000. He is now 49-years old. On a website someone has put up for him, he complains that his older sister and brother no longer come to see him and that he has never seen his three grand kids. He needs friends, he says. The last friend he had, he murdered. The Long, Long Trip to Salty’s Bar Whatever Happened to Mike and D.C.? Darrell Calhoun and Michael Beaudoin were last seen in Conroe, Texas on July 14, 1992. They were co-workers at an automobile repair shop in south Montgomery, Texas. The two men left The Woodlands together in a primergray 1979 Chevrolet Suburban with Texas license plates numbered 6554RC. The car had two black doors, and was pulling a small blue box-type trailer with a silver top and Texas license plates numbered 786-BMN. The Suburban and trailer have not been recovered. Calhoun and Beaudoin were supposed to meet two unidentified men at Salty’s Bar north of Conroe on FM 1484, but they never arrived there. They were reported missing by their wives two days later. Foul play is suspected in the men’s cases. Their cases may be drug-related. Beaudoin and Calhoun’s disappearances remain unsolved. Michael Keith Beaudoin Born: July 4, 1961 5’11, 165 pounds White male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Beaudoin has a scar near his left eye. Some agencies may spell his last name “Beaudon.” Clothing/Jewelry Description: A pink short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans. Darrell Calhoun Born: August 28, 1956 5’6, 160 pounds White male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Calhoun may have a moustache, beard or a goatee. Scar on his left knee. He may go by his initials, D. C. Clothing/Jewelry Description: A blue buttoned shirt and blue jeans or blue jean shorts. continued from page 1 (Bad Seed) that her nephew had been living with her in the apartment since July 27, 1990. She also told police that she owned a .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol; however, when she discovered that the gun was not where she had left it, she agreed to let police search the apartment. Police found a .25-caliber Raven semi-automatic pistol in a laundry hamper in the hall closet. The aunt identified the gun as her own, but stated that she did not know how it had gotten in the laundry hamper. Firearms examiner Russell Johnson testified at trial that shell casings recovered from the scene and bullets recovered from both the victim’s body and the scene had been fired from Annette McGinnis’s gun. Almost two months after the offense, Annette McGinnis contacted police to inform them she had found a set of keys in her apartment. The keys were later identified as the keys of Leta Wilkerson. In addition, when asked at trial about the jeans found at the cleaners, Annette McGinnis identified them as hers, but testified that she had not taken the jeans to the cleaners. Rather, the jeans had previously been stored away in a closet in her apartment because she did not wear them anymore. On October 8, 1990, McGinnis was indicted in Montgomery County, Texas, for the capital murder of Leta Wilkerson while in the course of committing and attempting to commit the offense of robbery, which occurred on August 1, 1990. He was tried before a jury upon a plea of not guilty, and on July 23, 1992, the jury found him guilty of the capital offense. On July 30, 1992, in accordance with state law, the trial court assessed McGinnis’s punishment as death. McGinnis appealed his conviction and sentence to the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, which affirmed on December 14, 1994, and denied rehearing on March 1, 1995. McGinnis then filed a petition for writ of certiorari to United States Supreme Court, which was denied on October 2, 1995. McGinnis next filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the convicting court on May 7, 1996. On July 12, 1996, the trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that relief be denied. The Court of Criminal Appeals denied relief based on the trial court’s findings and conclusions in an order dated August 28, 1996. On January 3, 1997, McGinnis filed in federal district court a petition for writ of habeas corpus. On February 2, 1998, the federal district court Glen Charles McGinnis issued a memorandum opinion and entered final judgment denying relief. After denying a post-judgment motion on April 7, 1998, the federal district court granted McGinnis permission to appeal one issue. On July 20, 1999, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, after full briefing and oral argument from the parties, affirmed the district court’s denial of habeas corpus relief. The court of appeals denied McGinnis’s petition for rehearing on August 25, 1999, and the Supreme Court denied certiorari review on January 18, 2000. Also on January 18, 2000, the Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed a second application for state writ of habeas corpus filed by McGinnis as an abuse of the writ.At the punishment phase of trial, the State presented evidence of McGinnis’s prior criminal history. On July 30, 1986, after several minor offenses culminating in criminal trespass, McGinnis, then 13 years old, was adjudicated delinquent and placed on juvenile probation by the 314th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. The court entered an order modifying the conditions of his probation on April 16, 1987, based on a finding that McGinnis had violated his probation by leaving court-ordered placement. Then on September 3, 1987, the court revoked McGinnis’s probation and committed him to the institutional division of the Texas Youth Commission after McGinnis was found guilty of burglary of a vehicle. McGinnis was sent to Gainesville State School. He was paroled on January 22, 1988. At about 12:30 a.m. on August 28, 1988, Carole Speight left a club in Houston, got in her minivan, and pulled out into the street. After going about a block, Speight heard a voice from the rear of the van say “This is a stick up.” Speight turned around in the car, saw a man in the back seat of her van, and started screaming. The man shot at her, shattering the front driver’s side window. Finally, Speight was able to slow down, jump out of the moving vehicle, and run away. The man drove away in her van. Speight was unable to positively identify McGinnis as the gunman who stole her van. However, McGinnis was seen driving the van on September 4, 1988, when he was involved in a minor traffic collision. At the scene of the accident, McGinnis offered as identification a credit card with the name Carole Speight, claiming that it was his mother’s credit card. When police eventually recovered the van in Missouri City, Texas, on September 7, 1988, McGinnis was driving. When the arresting officer asked McGinnis for identification, he presented three credit cards with Carole Speight’s name on them, claiming they were his mother’s credit cards. On September 28, 1988, McGinnis was charged with felony theft and misdemeanor assault. He was classified as a “repeat offender,” his parole was revoked, and he was sent back to Gainesville State School. McGinnis was paroled again on March 28, 1989. On April 15, 1989, McGinnis was apprehended driving a stolen vehicle in Houston. The steering column of the vehicle had been broken, and a pair of needle-nosed pliers found in the front floorboard of the car had apparently been used to start and turn off the vehicle as there were no keys to the vehicle. McGinnis was charged with the felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and on April 26, 1989, his parole was revoked. He was reclassified as a “chronic serious offender” and was sent to Crockett State School. McGinnis was released from Crockett State School in February of 1990. On the afternoon of May 3, 1990, Tara Applegate left her car unlocked and took her keys with her into a fiveand-dime store in Conroe, Texas, near Wilkins Dry Cleaners. Minutes later, she left the store, got into her car, and started the ignition. She turned around and saw McGinnis crouched down in the floorboard of the back seat of her car. Applegate tried to open the door and get out of her car but she got tangled in the seat belt. Finally, she was able to untangle herself and get out of the car. McGinnis then put the car in reverse with the door still open. He started backing up with Applegate running along beside the car, caught in the open door. Applegate fell underneath the car, and McGinnis ran over her foot and drove away. McGinnis pled guilty and received deferred adjudication for the theft of Applegate’s vehicle. McGinnis was released on adult probation on July 27, 1990, and was directed to report immediately to the Montgomery County Probation Department. He never reported. Five days after his release, McGinnis murdered Leta Wilkerson. Martin Rocha, McGinnis’s juvenile parole officer, testified that McGinnis repeatedly failed to fulfill his parole obligations. Rocha contacted McGinnis’s father at one point to see whether it would be possible for McGinnis to live with him after he was released. McGinnis’s father told Rocha that McGinnis could come live with him if he was willing to comply with certain rules. Rocha contacted McGinnis and relayed that information to him. Rocha testified that McGinnis never made a serious attempt to change his behavior while under his supervision regardless of the opportunities Rocha and others afforded him. Rocha further testified that, in his opinion, McGinnis is a threat to society. On 25 January 2000 Glen McGinnis was executed in Texas shortly after 6pm local time. Death penalty opponents denounced his execution as a blatant violation of international law, which prohibits the use of the death penalty against child offenders. McGinnis gave no final statement before being given a lethal injection. In an interview he said that he did not want to use the abuse and abandonment that marked his childhood to make excuses for his crime, although he wondered what would have been if he had not lived on the streets for most of his teenage years Death penalty opponents complained that McGinnis came from a troubled background from which the state of Texas should have protected him when he was young. His mother was a drug abuser and he was raped and beaten as a child. McGinnis became the 6th condemned inmate to be put to death that year in Texas, and the 205th overall since the state resumed capital punishment on Dec. 7, 1982. He also became the 11th condemned inmate to be put to death in 2000 in the USA and the 609th overall since the USA resumed executions on Jan. 17, 1977. The information for this story came from the files of the Texas Attorney General and other sources. Cautious rider ❝ To her reckless dear Lets have less bull And more steer ❞ The Police News Visit us on the Web www.thepolicenews.net The Police News Page Santa Claus Wore Blue This Christmas By Jamie Nash, Police News Contributor CONROE - Santa Claus wasn’t wearing red this year when he visited a special group of children in Montgomery County. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, county employees and businesses joined forces with the Blue Knights of Texas, Chapter XXXIII a law enforcement motorcycle club, to launch the first Blue Santa Program in the county’s history. The Blue Knights is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles. In the spring of 1974, several officers from the Bangor, Maine area met and formed a small, local motorcycle club. The rest, as they say, is history. Soon, Blue Knight chapters were being formed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and beyond. With the addition of Canada, and later Australia, the Blue Knights became an international organization. Ray Wilkins, a Panorama Village police detective, and a group of area lawmen and women, applied for and received the charter for Blue Knights, Chapter XXXIII about three years ago. They now have members from Montgomery and several surrounding counties. Operation Blue Santa began with the Austin, Texas Police Department in 1972 when two patrol officers realized that some families on their beat would not have gifts for their children at Christmas. What began with gifts for a few children on their beat from the back of a patrol car, became a massive effort in partnership with businesses in their community, the Texas National Guard, the Austin Fire Department, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Austin Energy Company. Ray Wilkins began to develop the Blue Santa program last summer along with CPS investigator Terry Lee. Unfortunately Lee will not see her efforts come to fruition. Last July 14th, her boyfriend, John Marshall Dodd, attacked her in the kitchen of her home, doused her with gasoline then set her on fire. She died at the hospital at the early age of 44. Before that tragedy, she and Wilkins were making progress. They had recruited Mike “Boxcar” Thomas, president of Los Carnales, another law enforcement motorcycle club to join with them. Other groups were planning to join but the sudden death of Terry Lee dashed those plans for awhile. Fortunately, Jeff Baldys, also a CPS worker volunteered to complete the project on Lee’s behalf. The Blue Santa program began to move forwarded again and this year it is being dedicated in memory of Terry Lee. The goal of the Blue Santa program in Montgomery County is to encourage positive interaction between law enforcement and children, while making Christmas brighter for the children and their families. This year, 25 children who have encountered some kind of difficulty within a family structured environment, their parents and siblings were the guests at the Incredible Pizza Company in Conroe. There, they saw all sorts of police and fire equipment and vehicles. They will be allowed to actually get inside police cars and fire trucks, and sit on a police motorcycle. And inside the restaurant visited and talked with Blue Santa and his elves. The children were amazed to see and talk with unformed police officers and firefighters and bikers dressed in leather, wearing the colors of their various organizations. Every child got to sit on Santa’s lap and have a keepsake photo made. Santa and his elves presented each child with toys valued at $100. Each child also received a $5 Incredible Pizza Company game card and every family member got free passes to play glow in the dark miniature golf. Making this big event possible along with Kim Valdez of Incredible Pizza is Ed and Janette Blackburne, owners of TPM Manufacturing Company, The Cycle Shack and TLC Cleaners. Persons or businesses wishing to contribute financially to the program throughout the year may make out checks or money orders to: Blue Knights – Blue Santa Mail to: First Bank of Conroe Attn: Toby White 11399 Hwy 105 East Conroe, Tx 77303 Visit The Blue Knights website: www.blueknightstx33.org Page The Police Police News News The ThePolice Police News News Page WHO IS WINNING? Guest Commentary by Jes Garza R emember the phrase “rule of law”? It is apparent to this writer that too many individuals have forgotten or have decided that the rule of law is not pertinent to some of our statutes/laws and therefore, they do not have a duty to follow the rule of law. Sadly, the persons who adopt this thought pattern are found at all levels of our social, economic and political groups. I will illustrate with a couple of examples. This first example is of a real incident that occurred in Harris County about eighteen months ago. An individual was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail on a Child Support Capias (originating in Harris County) for failure to pay court-ordered child support to the mother of his child. Keep in mind that the Capias is a civil paper for contempt of court, not a criminal warrant, filed against the defendant. So the defendant is in jail because he failed to pay the child support that was ordered by one of the Harris County District Courts. Does this indicate that the defendant has a tendency to think that the rule of law is not applicable to him? But wait, there’s more. This person while in the County Jail decided to “come clean” about his illegal status. What does he know about our justice system? The chances are that he knows more than the average person because of previous experiences in the system. As soon as he advised the jail supervisors of his illegal status, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took custody of him and scheduled a deportation hearing for him. It turned out that he is a native of a Central American country, and he was in fact deported. The Child Support Capias (civil paper) was trumped by Federal Immigration Law. I’m thinking he was probably ready to go back to his native country to visit with the old folks at home. And the child support for his child? That’s not his concern, and it appears that he probably never will be held accountable for his responsibility to his child. The agency holding the Capias (warrant) paper upon learning what had happened to the defendant contacted the Attorney General’s Office for instructions/clearance to return the paper as non-executable to the court that had issued the paper. The Child Support Division employee of Page The Police News the Attorney General’s Office tried to persuade the agency to keep the paper as an active open warrant/Capias. Their reasoning was that they had expectations that the defendant would be returning to our country during the end-of-year holiday season. What? At that point this writer contacted a supervisor at the AG’s Office and pointed out that even if the defendant came back and was re-arrested on the outstanding Capias, he would again use the Federal Immigration “card” to avoid his accountability and responsibility under our laws to pay the child support. The supervisor agreed and the paper was returned to the issuing court. The mother of the child is now on her own to provide total support for her child, and perhaps she’ll tap into the state welfare system – it’s only tax dollars, right? Do you see how the lawless-minded folks use our defective system to put themselves above the law? First they break into our country for the reasons that most of us know about. Then they use identities that may or may not be their true identities. Can you say identity theft? Surely there’s nothing serious or sinister about that, or is there? You might ask someone who has endured the violation-shock of having their names and personal information stolen to “cover” an illegal alien’s criminal conduct. There have been and there probably will continue to be police officers that have engaged in serious misconduct, violations of the law and general breaches of the public trust. Not all of these incidents are made public, but those at the higher organizational levels and the internal affairs investigators are well aware of these violations and unacceptable conduct by police officers. Why do officers engage in their misconduct? Do they believe that their misconduct will go unnoticed? Do they think that they are so secure and untouchable by prosecutors and the justice system that they belong to? I doubt that the errant officers seriously believe that they are above the law. I can understand why some high-ranking law enforcement officers sometimes begin to think that they are beyond reproach and above suspicion of any type of wrong-doing. When police officers rise to the management level of law enforcement or the criminal justice system, the temptations can be formidable. Helping a close friend or a family member by bending the rules or outright violating the penal code or the code of criminal procedure, can sometimes be an irresistible force. This can only happen if the person in power or with great authority chooses to abandon their ethics or compromise their public trust. We know from history that persons with power and authority in law enforcement and in other career fields have indeed succumbed to the tests that have presented themselves. We should have pity on those poor souls for their failures, but nevertheless, they must still be held accountable for their actions or omissions (of their duties). The citizens that elect them or appoint them have every legitimate expectation that those in leadership will conduct themselves in an exemplary manner and resist the temptations whenever they materialize. Recently, a local citizen became aware that two individuals were in the process of committing a daytime felony crime (Burglary of a Habitation) at his nextdoor neighbor’s home. He went out to stop the culprits and the result was that he fatally shot both perpetrators who still had the fruits of their crime in their hands. The suspects happened to be persons of color and the citizen, who attempted the felony apprehension, is an Anglo person. Their ethnicities shouldn’t be an issue. But as most of us know, in our currently politically correct society, the ethnicity of the person standing for law and order must be accented in order to get maximum media mileage for the political activists. Additionally, the proper focus of the criminal act must be shifted from the felony crime by the perpetrators to the differences of ethnicity of those involved in this tragic incident. I say tragic because the dead suspects very likely believed that the law would protect them from such a fatal end. In my opinion, for far too long and after too many miscarriages of justice, the criminal justice system has indeed protected the criminals over the victims of some outrageous and barbaric violent acts by some really dangerous and anti-social people. I have these questions for you. Who is winning? Who gets the benefits of the justice system? Who is held accountable for their illegal actions? Who pays the consequences for their anti-social or illegal behavior? When a criminal suspect/defendant is allowed to walk free and avoids the consequences of their criminal or unethical acts due to a technicality, who wins? What are the messages that are being sent to the law-abiding public and the criminal element in our society? Did you know that more and more citizens who are witnesses to crimes, serious crimes, are more and more reluctant to stand up and testify in court in order for justice to be served? Can you guess why? Let me suggest that they are increasingly under threats of harm and even death by the associates of the crooks so that effective prosecution does not go forward. All of you should remember that the crooks have learned over the history of our criminal justice system in America that they should never leave a witness alive to testify against them in a court of law. If you question my suggestion, then you should do some research and look into the kidnappings along the Texas-Mexico border since 2004. Most likely the Mexican and/or Colombian drug cartels are the main criminal organizations responsible for these abductions. If there have been any witnesses to these crimes, how many witnesses do you think will stand up and come forward to be identified as witnesses in a police report? And if there is a brave soul or two that do so, what is their life expectancy prior to the actual courtroom trial? Who is winning? Jes Garza is a retired Houston Police Officer now serving as a Captain in the Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office. He is a regular contributor to The Police News. • Metal Building Erection Carlos W. Melgar – Owner • Property Clearing Over 13 Years in • Concrete Slabs Business in Conroe • Drilling Truck Service • “General Contractor” 1004 N. 8th St. • Conroe, TX Se Habla Español • Turnkey Jobs • Foundation Piers Commercial • Underground Systems Fax: 936-756-2438 Only • Driveways Cell: 936-697-0816 • Electrical Equipment & “Give us a blueprint of your Machinery Service 936-756-4587 dream, we’ll hand you the key” E-Mail: MelgarConstruction@yahoo.com SEX OFFENDERS — Montgomery County Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to register with Law Enforcement in the city in which they reside These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local Law Enforcement Agencies. If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other then the one shown, please Call 936-538-3222 — More Sex Offenders listed online at: thepolicenews.net ADAIR, ERIC WAYNE White Male DOB 03/28/1977 14 N. Castle Green Cr., The Woodlands, Tx Indency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 6 Risk Level: MODERATE (Discharged TDCJ) Montgomery County Sheriff BAKER, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL alias: Alex Mortensen, Picante, Quick, Red White Male DOB 01/24/1974 200 Easy St #9, Willis, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child Victim: Female Age 12 Risk Level: HIGH (Paroled) Montgomery County Sheriff BERGEN, PHILIP ANTHONY White Male DOB 02/10/1977 3500 Tanglebrush Dr #158, The Woodlands, Tx Sexual Assault Child Victim: Female Age 16 Risk Level: HIGH (Paroled) Montgomery County Sheriff CORBETT, JOHN JAMES White Male DOB 06/26/1987 13819 Coaltown Rd., Willis, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 12 Rsik Level: MODERATE Montgomery County Sheriff GOLDSMITH, HOLLY ANN White Female DOB 07/28/1981 20681 Pin Oak, New Caney, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child (2 cnts) Victims: Male Ages 11 & 12 Risk Level: MODERATE (Discharged TDCJ) Montgomery County Sheriff HILL, BILLY ADDISON White Male DOB 07/25/1956 17008 Grove Circle, New Caney, Tx Sexual Asslt Child - Female 16 Burglary w/Intent - Female Age 73 Indy w/Child Sex Contact - Female 14 Risk Level: HIGH (Discharged TDCJ) Montgomery County Sheriff MCCOLLUM, JOHN PAUL White Male DOB 11/21/1952 15908 Bryan Ln. Willis, Tx Aggravated Kidnapping w/Intent Victim: Male Age 3 Risk Level: NOT AVAILABLE (Paroled) Montgomery County Sheriff PORATH, TIMOTHY White Male DOB 09/21/1972 10413 Tree Ridge Pl., The Woodlands Possession/Promtion Child Porn Victim: Male Age 15 Risk Level: MODERATE (Paroled) Montgomery County Sheriff SMALLEY, ARTHUR LOUIS III White Male DOB 01/21/1948 86 Willowood Cr. The Woodlands, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Exposure Victim: Female Age 6 Risk Level: MODERATE Montgomery County Sheriff THONIG, RALPH White Male DOB 06/21/1965 29626 Dundee Dr. Magnolia, Tx Sexual AssaultVictim: Female Age 16 Risk Level: MODERATE (Discharged TDC) Montgomery County Sheriff TOPE, AUDLY RAY White Male DOB 11/24/1973 16815 W. Alderson, Montgomery, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 11 Risk Level: HIGH (Paroled) Montgomery County Sheriff Grimes County Body Still Unidentified The victim depicted in this composite sketch was located by a worker with the Texas Highway Department in Grimes County on October 29, 1981. She was found on F.M. 244, just south of Iola near Bull Creek Bridge. The body was inside a large plastic bag, which also contained a type of rag commonly used by mechanics. An investigation was launched by the Grimes County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Rangers, but the identity of the girl was never established and no local children were reported missing about that same time. Authorities theorize that the girl likely was physically abused and eventually killed. She possibly had dropped out of school. Considering the condition of the body, the killer or killers may have stored the body in a cool, dry place – possibly a closet – where it decomposed over several years. The killer probably needed to get rid of the body, then placed it in a bag and dumped it on the side of the road in 1981. White/Hispanic Female Estimated age: 13 - 19 years old Estimated Date of Death: 1 - 5 years (1976 - 1980) Cause of Death: Blunt trauma to the head. Approximate Height and Weight: 5’1” - 5’5”. Distinguishing Characteristics: Red or auburn hair. There was evidence of prior abuse as several ribs had been broken but were healed. Clothing: She was found wearing only a pair of pink panties and a coin ring with the year “1904” engraved on it. Fingerprints: Not Available Dentals: Available; she had extensive dental work with about 14 fillings. DNA Available incomplete sample VALLE, PATRICK White Male DOB 07/31/2006 26706 North Marek, Magnolia, Tx Indecency w/Child Sexual Contact 2 cts Victims: Females Ages 5 & 7 Risk Level: MODERATE (Paroled) Montgomery County Sheriff this case please contact: Grimes County District Attorney’s Office Investigator Travis Higginbotham Investigator Todd Green 936-873-2137 936-873-2151 NCIC Number: U-820002911 If you have any information about The Police News Page SEX OFFENDERS — San Jacinto County Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to register with Law Enforcement in the city in which they reside These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local Law Enforcement Agencies. If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other then the one shown, please Call San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office 936-4367 — More Sex Offenders listed online at: thepolicenews.net HARDY,JOAN SUSANN Alias: Joan Compton White Female DOB 08/26/1968 1230 Cherry Creek South, Shepherd, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child Victim: Female Age 11 Risk Level: MODERATE JONES, ROBERT WAYNE White Male DOB 02/02/1963 125 Valley Dr. Coldspring, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 8 Risk Level: MODERATE (Ex-Convict) MILLIKEN, GREGORY JOSEPH White Male DOB 09/22/1975 781 Marie St. Shepherd, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 15 Risk Level: HIGH (Ex-Convict) SILVA, CHRISTOPHER ALLEN White Male DOB 03/17/1981 #61 Carrier, Shepherd, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child Victim: Male Age 6 Risk Level: MODERATE (Ex-Convict) SIMMONS, BILLY DWAYNE White Male DOB 09/25/1963 #30 Willow Rd. Shepherd, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 5 Risk Level: MODERATE (Ex-Convict) SNOOK, ROY LYNN alias: Roy L. Fox White Male DOB 10/20/1959 10790 Hwy 156, Coldspring, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Victim: Female Age 22 Risk Level: MODERATE (Ex-Convict) TENNEY, GERALD CLIFFORD White Male DOB 08/22/1937 1060 Hunters Hill, Oakhurst, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child Victim: Female Age 6 Risk Level: NOT AVAILABLE WARNER, DANIEL SHANE White Male DOB 07/12/1986 #60 Dogwood, Shepherd, Tx Sexual Asslt Child Victim: Female Age 14 Risk Level: MODERATE (Ex-Convict) WHEELER, SIDNEY EARL White Male DOB 04/04/1942 #60 Davey Ln. Coldspring,Tx Aggravated Sexual A ssault Victim: Female Age 19 Risk Level: HIGH (Ex-Convict) ANDERSON, AMMON BEVERLY White Male DOB 11/14/2005 1550 S. Byrd, Shepherd, Tx Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child Victim: Female Age 9 Risk Level: MODERATE San Jacinto County Sheriff DUNN, ARTHUR PAUL White Male DOB 08/28/1055 350 Hwy 150, Coldspring, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Risk Level: MODERATE San Jacinto County Sheriff LEE, SCOTT ALLEN White Male DOB 09/02/1966 170 Campfire Cr. Coldspring, Tx Indecency w/Child - Sexual Contact Victim: Female Age 11 Risk Level: MODERATE San Jacinto County Sheriff The Police News is available in these Conroe area locations: Valero Food Mart Hwy 242 & Glenhaven Amato’s Grocery FM 1488 & Carriage Hills C-Store Stephen F Austin & Kidd Waffle House S. Loop 336 & IH 45 Citgo Food Mart South Frazier Eccono Foods Gladstell & Frazier Conroe Police Dept Gladstell Road Sheriff’s Office Criminal Justice Drive Shipley Donuts N Loop & Plantation Waffle House League Line Rd & IH 45 Pit Stop FM 3083 & Loop 336 North Page 10 The Police News Shell Station 110 East Louetta Exxon 21334 IH 45 Arutro’s Taqueria 1402 Spring Cypress Rd Conoco Rayford & Oak Hurst Thomas BBQ 25310 IH 45 Wolfies Restaurant 25550 IH 45 Taqueria Los Petates 25602 IH 45 Speedy Shop 25602 IH 45 Washteria 26724 IH 45 Food Basket 26844 IH 45 Casa Elena Mex Rest 26850 IH 45 Chevron 26900 IH 45 Chevron 19153 IH 45 & Taminia Snappy Mart 8556 Hwy 242 Citgo 9146 Hwy 242 Chevron Food Mart 10675 Diamond Shamrock Gleneagle @ Hwy 242 Shell 801 Hwy 242 @ IH 45 Citgo 15517 IH 45 Conoco 1000 Frazier Visit our website: www.thepolicenews.net for more locations in Montgomery County The Slow, Tortureous Death of Baby Styron And The Father Who Murdered Him O n Oct. 23, 1993, Ronford Lee Styron punched his 11month-old son, Lee Hollace Styron, at least three times in the head and face, causing him to black out and act abnormally thereafter. Styron did not take the infant to the hospital until the child’s condition worsened three days later. The infant died as a result of subdural hemorrhaging due to trauma to the head. Any one of the three blows could have caused the death. The fatal injuries were the culmination of a long pattern of abusive behavior directed at the 11-month-old victim, including punching him in the face, dunking him in ice water, squeezing him hard enough to break his ribs, and shaking him hard enough to cause retinal hemorrhages. The victim’s older injuries included at least 10 broken bones. Styron also stuffed tape into the child’s mouth to quiet him and palmed the child’s head like a basketball, thus dangling the child like a puppet. Styron demonstrated little concern for the condition of the infant either before or during his final hospitalization. When told by police that Lee Hollace was not expected to live, Styron showed no remorse or sign of being upset. Styron was the child’s primary caregiver. Living conditions in his home were filthy and his other baby was not in good condition at the time of the victim’s death. His abusive treatment of the victim was motivated by his anger at his wife for allegedly having an affair and by his expressed opinion that the victim was not his biological child. Styron was indicted on Dec. 1, 1993, in the 253rd Judicial District Court of Liberty County, Texas, for the capital offense of murdering Lee Hollace Styron, a child less than six years of age on the day of his murder. Styron pled not guilty, but on Oct. 24, 1994, a jury found him guilty of the capital offense. On Oct. 27, 1994, following a separate punishment hearing, the jury sentenced him to death. He was the first person to be convicted under a revised Texas statute that made the killing of a child under the age of six a capital offense. Styron’s lawyer argued that his sentence was unconstitutional because the state had not proven an intent to kill his son. Prosecutors pointed to Styron’s pattern of past conduct and the child’s old injuries as evidence of his intent. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his conviction and sentence in October 1996. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were Lee Styron denied. Styron’s documented criminal history reflected that he had been in trouble with the law several times prior to the murder of baby Styron that ended in his sentence of death. On April 18, 1991, Styron was convicted and sentenced to one year of probation for carrying a weapon by the County Criminal Court at Law of Harris County, Texas. On June 8, 1999, Styron was convicted and sentenced to one year of probation for assault by the County Criminal Court at Law of Harris County, Texas. He had a reputation for being a schoolyard bully and for provoking fights with classmates beginning in the seventh grade where at least one of his victims had required medical attention and where one of his attacks resulted in his expulsion from school. Styron was discharged from the military for punching his sergeant. He had problems with authority figures in his civilian employment and physically threatened several people while on the job. Styron had a reputation in his neighborhood for being overly aggressive. Neighbors reported that he participated in a violent street riot, that he had been observed taking out his anger on his car, firing a gun at it, kicking it, etc., and that he had made an unprovoked physical attack upon one of his neighbors which broke the man’s jaw. Styron had been arrested for an incident on the freeway in Houston in which he pointed a pistol at the passengers in another vehicle, and later started a fist fight with the driver on the side of the freeway. An unemployed laborer with a history of aggressive behavior he was finally executed May 16, 2002. He told family and friends that he loved them and was worried about them. “I’m going to go and be with my little boy and I’m going to have fun with him,” he said, smiling and looking at relatives, including his mother and grandmother, who watched through a window. “I know where I’m going. I want to see all of you there. You get your hearts right,” he said. He sputtered and gasped and stopped moving. He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m., seven minutes after the lethal dose began. Styron, from Dayton in Liberty County, acknowledged he punched the child once in the head but contended in lastday appeals to the courts that he didn’t intend to kill his son. He was the 12th Texas inmate put to death in 2002 year and second that month. The death of Lee Hollace Styron culminated what authorities said was repeated abuse and months of mistreatment that had left the baby with numerous broken bones and other injuries. “Except somebody who kills hundreds or thousands of people, I don’t see how you can get a more heinous offense,” said Steve Greene, who prosecuted Styron. “He basically tortured the child through most of his short life.” The child was one month shy of his first birthday when he died at Houston’s Texas Children’s Hospital, three days after he was brought into an emergency room in Liberty. When the child’s injuries did not match information presented to physicians treating By Breck Porter the comatose infant, authorities began investigating. It was just weeks after a then-new Texas law took effect that made accused killers of children under the age of 6 eligible for the death penalty. “We were going for the death penalty because a child is the most helpless person you can have, especially an 11-month-old baby,” Greene said. Testimony showed Styron stuffed the child’s mouth with tape to stop him from crying, palmed his head like a basketball, dunked him in ice water, squeezed his chest hard enough to break ribs and shook him so hard the retinas of his eyes hemorrhaged. “I won’t be forgetting him,” Greene said. “It was really a sad case.” Psychologists found Styron hostile, aggressive and a person who held grudges and had trouble with authority figures. Relatives told investigators they thought of reporting Styron to child protective officials but feared him. Although he had not been in prison before, he had been on probation twice for a weapons offense and assault. Greene said prosecutors had no evidence to tie Styron’s wife and the child’s mother to any of the abuse although the home conditions were described as filthy. “She just wasn’t a very attentive mother,” Greene said. “There was evidence both of them had been unfaithful at different times and he doubted the baby was really his, even though his family said the child looked a lot like him.” CAPTURED by area police and a police K-9. He found no Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki sandwiches in the Tommy Gage Hilton. Samuel Kahn after his capture (Police News photo by Scott Engle) Booking Mug Shot Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies say Samuel Kahn and his girlfriend robbed a Subway Sandwich Shop on FM-1485 then rammed a Sheriff’s cruiser that stopped him. Kahn took off on foot leaving his sweetie behind only to be captured The Police News Page 11 Everything is Primo in The Woodlands, Even The Pot By Jamie Nash – The Police News THE WOODLANDS- What began as concern for the welfare of a pair of Grogan’s Mill residents resulted in the arrest and the seizure of between $70,000 and $84,000 in hydroponics marijuana. County dispatchers received a call requesting that a deputy check on the couple who lived at 25 Kittiwake Court because the caller had seen no signs of life there for several days, despite a rented moving truck parked in front of the home. When the caller noticed the home’s front door open, she became concerned about foul play. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Phillip Cash, commander of the Special Investigations Unit said patrol deputies went to the home and detected the distinct and strong odor of marijuana. A search of the residence produced one of the two residence and 28 pounds of high quality indoor grown hydroponics marijuana, pipes, scales and $2,400 in currency. Cash said the weed is street valued at about $3 thousand a pound. Joshua Kuzmann, 24, was arrested and charged with third-degree felony possession of marijuana (greater than 5 lbs, less than 50 lbs), which is punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. His girlfriend was not home at the time, but Cash said her arrest was likely forthcoming. Cash said the weed was an extremely high level of THC that made the hydroponics so much more valuable than the typical Mexican outdoor grown variety. “They grow hydro plants indoors producing about 28 percent THC compared to only 3 to 7 percent for the average Mexican grown street variety,” Cash said. “Some was being used and some Joshua Kuzmann was in moving boxes.” Police records indicated Kuzmann had prior convictions for marijuana possession and evading arresting using a motor vehicle. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions instead of soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or Rockwool. A variety of techniques exist. MISSING Michelle Lois Prasek Missing since December 19, 1997 from Spring, Montgomery County, Texas. 12-year old Michelle Lois Prasek was last seen by her mother at 7:30 AM in their home in Spring, Texas on December 19, 1997. This was less than an hour before she was to leave home to get on a bus for school. Michelle may have been on the school premises that day, but she did not attend classes. The next day Michelle’s mother reported her missing to local authorities in Montgomery County, Texas. Investigators are treating her case as a criminal case and state that the mother and her live-in boyfriend have not been as cooperative as they would hope. Michelle had no prior history of running away and no trouble with the law or school. She was a good student academically. Michelle’s parents are divorced and, prior to her disappearance, she was looking forward to spending the Christmas holidays with her father in Kingsville, Texas. Michelle may have had a sleeping bag, a handmade patchwork quilt and her cat with her. She may have left the state. Foul play is suspected in Michelle’s disappearance. Date Of Birth: April 12, 1985 Age at Time of Disappearance: 12 years old Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5’3” (160 cm); 135 lbs (61 kg). Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Blonde hair; blue eyes. Marks, Scars: She has a birthmark on the palm of her hand. Clothing: Last seen wearing a tan tshirt with the initials CK, blue jeans, and Nike tennis shoes. If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Detective Chris Smith 936-760-5800 Case Number: 97-A016936 Left: Prasek, circa 1997 Right : Progressed to age 19 years