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December 17, 2025 - A Shelby County Grand Jury delivered 27 indictments, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2025 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.
Colby Eli Lister was indicted for capital murder, capital felony. The indictment alleges, on September 13, 2025, while acting alone or as a party Lister intentionally caused the death of Jamichael Phillips by shooting him. The indictment further alleges, Lister was then and there in the course of committing or attempting to commit the offense of robbery of Phillips. (123rd Judicial District Court) (Related article: Fourth Suspect in Custody for Shooting Incident on CR 2235 (Update))
Deterion Juvone Alexander was indicted for capital murder, capital felony. The indictment alleges, on September 13, 2025, while acting alone or as a party Alexander intentionally caused the death of Jamichael Phillips by shooting him. The indictment further alleges, Alexander was then and there in the course of committing or attempting to commit the offense of robbery of Phillips. (123rd Judicial District Court) (Related article: Fourth Suspect in Custody for Shooting Incident on CR 2235 (Update))
Rico Tyjuan Rose was indicted for capital murder, capital felony. The indictment alleges, on September 13, 2025, while acting alone or as a party Rose intentionally caused the death of Jamichael Phillips by shooting him. The indictment further alleges, Rose was then and there in the course of committing or attempting to commit the offense of robbery of Phillips. (123rd Judicial District Court) (Related article: Fourth Suspect in Custody for Shooting Incident on CR 2235 (Update))
Alijah Nicholson was indicted for capital murder, capital felony. The indictment alleges, on September 13, 2025, while acting alone or as a party Nicholson intentionally caused the death of Jamichael Phillips by shooting him. The indictment further alleges, Nicholson was then and there in the course of committing or attempting to commit the offense of robbery of Phillips. (123rd Judicial District Court) (Related article: Fourth Suspect in Custody for Shooting Incident on CR 2235 (Update))
Christopher James Gregory was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 26, 2025, Gregory recklessly caused bodily injury to Kelsey Hanks by striking her in the head, and Gregory did then and there exhibit a baseball bat which is a deadly weapon during the assault. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Brad Smith was indicted for assault by choking, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, Smith recklessly caused bodily injury to Dusty Davis, a member of Smith's family or household as described in the Texas Family Code by intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Davis by applying pressure to the throat or neck of Davis. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Michael James Andrews was indicted for assault by choking, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, Andrews recklessly caused bodily injury to Ashley Brackman, a person with whom Andrews had or once had a dating relationship as described by the Texas Family Code, by intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Brackman by adding pressure to the throat or neck of Brackman. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Prince Earl was indicted for theft of a firearm, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on September 28, 2025, Earl took a firearm from Deirdre Taylor, the owner, without the effective consent of Taylor. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Jesse Snider Liker was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 4, 2025, Liker used a vehicle to intentionally flee Center police Officer Robert Hudnall, a person Liker knew was a peace officer attempting to lawfully arrest or detain him. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Ayona Danae Wilson was indicted for theft of property >=$2,500<$30K, stater jail felony. The indictment alleges, on July 7, 2025, Wilson took pet medication, calculators, gaming controllers, storage totes, shoe insoles and other merchandise of the value of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 from Walmart without consent. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Jin Jacklick was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on August 15, 2025, Jacklick entered a habitation without consent of Karla Vargas, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of cash belonging to Vargas. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Joe Daniel Adams was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony - punishment enhancement: habitual 25 years to life. The indictment alleges, on May 8, 2025, Adams entered a habitation without consent of Jonathan Brooks, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of guns. The indictment further shows in relation to enhancements that Adams was convicted on April 5, 2017 for assault on a public servant in Harrison County and on January 15, 2020, for driving while intoxicated 3rd or more in Hopkins County. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Joe Daniel Adams was indicted for unlawful possession firearm by felon, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 8, 2025, Adams possessed a firearm after previously being convicted of possession of a controlled substance on March 25, 2018, in Panola County and after the fifth anniversary of his release from supervision under community supervision, or parole, or mandatory supervision following conviction of the felony. The indictment further alleges the possession of the firearm occurred on FM 947 in Shelby County, which was a location other than the premises at which Adams lived. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Riki D'shain Dutton was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 18, 2025, Dutton entered a habitation with intent to commit theft, and without the consent of Sharon Hoop Martinez, the owner. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Marsh Glenn Odom was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony - punishment enhancement: habitual 25 years to life. The indictment alleges, on June 13, 2025, Odom entered a habitation without the consent of Terena Nechelle Wyrick, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of weed eaters. The indictment further shows in relation to enhancements that Odom was convicted on November 5, 2009, for burglary of a habitation in Nacogdoches County and convicted on August 24, 2023, for burglary of a habitation in Shelby County. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Marsh Glenn Odom, Jr. was indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony - punishment enhancement: 2nd degree. The indictment alleges, on September 25, 2025, Odom entered a building or a portion of a building without the consent of Joseph Phillip Hennigan, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of money bags and change. The indictment further shows in relation to enhancements that Odom was convicted on November 5, 2009, for burglary of a habitation in Nacogdoches County and convicted on August 24, 2023, for burglary of a habitation in Shelby County. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Tiffany Lynn Gabriel was indicted for credit card or debit card abuse of the elderly, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 3, 2021, Gabriel took a Discover card from Jane Andrews Smith, the owner, without her consent and with intent to deprive her of the property. The indictment further indicates Smith to be an individual 65 years of age or older. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Michael Anthony McWhorter was indicted for unlawful possession of firearm by felon, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 8, 2025, McWhorter possessed a firearm before the fifth anniversary of release from confinement following conviction of the felony offense of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance PG1, on March 21, 2019, in Greenville County. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Michael Anthony McWhorter was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 8, 2025, McWhorter while knowing that an investigation was pending, to-wit: Texas Parks and Wildlife inspection, concealed an AR-15, with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the investigation. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Christopher Jamar Cartwright was indicted for theft of property >=150K<$300K, second degree felony - punishment enhancement: first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 24, 2025, Cartwright took a 2022 Ford F350 pickup truck, 2000 Falcon gooseneck, reclamation recycle water tank, two Wico power washers, and two 500 gallon water tanks of the value of $150,000 or more but less than $300,000 from Jackie McClelland, the owner, without consent. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Adrian Cole Swindle was indicted for injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 11, 2025, Swindle caused bodily injury to A.C. Swindle, an individual 65 years of age or older, by striking him in the face. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Kennis Keith Henderson was indicted for injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 29, 2025, Henderson caused bodily injury to a child younger than 14 by striking the child with a belt. (273rd Judicial District Court)
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):
- Kendrick Lamon Roland, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (December 4, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Christopher Rashad Martin, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony - punishment enhancement: 2nd degree) (May 3, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Morgan Ann Magee, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony - punishment enhancement: 2nd degree) (May 3, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Larry Lydell Berg, Jr., possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony - punishment enhancement: 2nd degree) (May 10, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Daniel Joseph Guin, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony - punishment enhancement: third degree) (July 1, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
December 13, 2025 - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial flock (poultry) in Shelby County, Texas. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a commercial facility in Texas this year.
Following considerable mortality in the flock, samples were submitted to a Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed December 11, 2025.
The TAHC is working closely with federal animal health officials on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and as part of existing avian influenza response, are working to conduct surveillance in areas around the affected flock.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H5N1 viruses circulating in birds is believed to pose a low risk to the general public in the United States. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.
“All bird owners should consider how they can keep their flocks healthy through enhanced biosecurity practices,” said Dr. Bud Dinges, TAHC executive director and state veterinarian. “Ensuring barriers between wild birds are established is critical. Watch birds closely for signs of illness and report sickness or unexpected deaths immediately.”
The TAHC recommends the following animal health considerations for all Texas poultry producers:
- Closely observe and report sudden increases in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242 or APHIS 1-866-536-7593.
- Practice good biosecurity with poultry and all other animals interacting with the flock.
- Prevent contact between domestic birds and wild birds. Consider bringing birds indoors to further prevent exposures.
- Avoid visits to other premises with susceptible animals and wash hands before and after handling birds.
Additional Resources
- TAHC HPAI page: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/avianinfluenza.html
- United States Detections of HPAI: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai
- USDA Defend the Flock biosecurity on a budget webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfCXv6OSVY
- USDA Defend the Flock biosecurity: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources
December 12, 2025 - The Boles Field area on FM 2694 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 11:30am.
Fire personnel with the Huxley and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Departments were both on scene to assist those involved.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety, a Mazda CX-5 driven by Mingyuan Shi, 61, of Center was traveling east, followed by a GMC Sierra driven by Larry LeBleu, 67, of Shelbyville. It is reported that Shi, the driver of the Mazda, applied the brakes to avoid striking a dog that ran onto the roadway and the Mazda was struck in the rear by the GMC.
Shi was self-transported to her physician to be evaluated.
LeBleu was not reported to have been injured.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
The fire department personnel cleared the scene at 12:45pm. The crash was investigated by DPS Trooper Josh Gradberg.
December 12, 2025 - Boil Water Notice for Joaquin Public Water Systems
Effecting the West Side of Joaquin
To all customers on the west side of town needs to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact City of Joaquin at 936-269-3021 or 130 Steve Hughes Drive, Joaquin, TX 75954
December 12, 2025 - The Shelby County Courthouse and County offices will be closed from 12pm – 1:30pm today, Friday December 12th so that all County employees can attend our annual employee Christmas luncheon.
The Courthouse and County offices will reopen at approximately 1:30 and remain open until 4:30 pm for regular business.
Thank you for understanding.
December 11, 2025 - The Shelby County Commissioners covered several utility maintenance issues during their December 3, 2025 meeting, as well as discussing the need for a funeral home transport policy.
When the commissioners reviewed the weekly expenses and Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, stated the county would be paying the funeral home bill from the previous week’s bills.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain commented further on the payment of the policy and considering alterations to the county policy on funeral home expense.
“I’m fine with going ahead and paying that bill today, but I do want us to research and decide exactly what our policy is going to be and what we are going to pay and not going to pay,” said Commissioner McSwain.
Blackwell commented that once they do that all funeral homes, and Justices of the Peace can then be informed as to what the policy is.
“If a JP (Justice of the Peace) orders an autopsy, you know we may have an obligation that we have to pay the pickup, but if it’s a pickup from home or anywhere else we shouldn’t be involved in that,” said McSwain. “I don’t care if it’s beside the road or home, or the hospital, if it’s not an ordered autopsy pickup for transfer somewhere we ain’t the ones gonna pay to pickup no matter who you are, we shouldn’t be paying it.”
Commissioner Stevie Smith moved to pay the weekly expenses with the addition of the funeral home invoice from the previous week. A second was heard from Commissioner McSwain and the motion carried.
The commissioners reviewed the payroll and County Judge Allison Harbison asked Sheriff Gerald Corbell if the Sheriff’s Department is still 100% staffed.
“We’re short in dispatch, we had a full-time employee resign,” said Sheriff Corbell.
Sheriff Corbell stated the spouse of the dispatcher passed away, and it was necessary for the dispatcher to resign.
“We still have that vacancy and we’re still having to fill it with people that are on their days off or however we can,” said Sheriff Corbell.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer moved to approve the payroll and Commissioner McSwain seconded the motion, which carried.
During the Commissioners Court Reports portion of the meeting Judge Harbison shared that the gas supply to the AgriLife building had inadvertently been shut off as other portions of the old Center Elementary School campus where the office is located were disconnected.
Judge Harbison said that a plan is underway by Isch Plumbing, Co. to reconnect the gas to the AgriLife building.
The HVAC at the Historic Courthouse was another issue that Judge Harbison brought to the attention of the commissioners and that it would be on the following meeting agenda and she said she had a quote at that time for around $19,000 to repair the HVAC system to resolve a leak issue.
Ann Blackwell commented that all large events, such as weddings, have been canceled at the courthouse until the courthouse is in better shape.
Judge Harbison commented that people who are familiar with the building, such as the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, can utilize the building for the time being.
Commissioner McSwain commented that Casey Anderson has been working diligently on a slideshow for the upcoming county auction that they will be featuring on social media, and that it would be shareable. It was the commissioner’s opinion that social media would be how the county would reach “the people,” and he encouraged everyone to share the event.
Commissioner Bellmyer stated that the contractor for the Huber water well had been to the site installing the electrical that is required and that it was projected to take a few days.
The contractor, Jeff Dean, who is going to be constructing the new Precinct 4 office should have a floor plan for review soon.
Commissioner Bellmyer confirmed with Sheriff Corbell that Southern Medical will begin servicing the Shelby County Jail, and they began to become acquainted with the facility on December 1.
Commissioner Smith announced the closure on Thursday, December 4, 2025, of CR 3267 between the Lone Cedar and Campti Communities.
He said that a delivery truck struck a bridge railing and that it was in need of repair. Commissioner Smith said the project was planned to start in the morning following the meeting and that it was projected to last for eight hours until completion.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Pay current Payroll. 3. Adjourn at 9:51am.
December 11, 2025 - State Highway 87 North near County Road 1462 in the Mt. Gillion Community was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning, December 10, 2025.
While Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Ashlee Hughes investigated the incident, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted with traffic control.
According to DPS, at approximately 7:40am, a grey 2023 Ford F-150 driven by Grant Gregory, 18, of Timpson and a white 2023 BMW 330 driven by a 17-year-old female of Timpson were traveling south on State Highway 87 when the Ford started to slow down for slowing traffic and the driver of the BMW failed to control her speed before striking the Ford in the rear.
Gregory and the driver of the BMW were not injured.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
December 11, 2025 - Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, announces that CR 3801 half a mile from U.S. Highway 84 is closed for repair Thursday, December 11, 2025.
This section of roadway will remain closed until repairs are made to both a water line and the road itself.
December 10, 2025 - The deadline to file to be listed on the March 2026 Primary Ballot has passed. The only race to have Democratic and Republican candidates was the Commissioner Precinct 4 position which means the race will not be decided until the November 2026 General Election. Also, in the Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 race, Richard Lundie filed an intent to run in the November 2026 General Election as an indepentent. Lundie will have to follow through with additional requirements including a supporting nominating petition before he will be listed on the November ballot.
Contested races are District Clerk, Commissioner Pct. 4, Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Justice of the Peace Pct. 2, and potentially Justice of the Peace Pct. 4.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Pct. 4, did not file to run leaving the race between three new candidates.
Republican Candidates
District Judge
Jim Payne (Incumbent)
District Clerk
Dee Dee Green (Incumbent)
Karen Matthews
County Judge
Allison Harbison (Incumbent)
County Clerk
Jennifer Fountain (Incumbent)
County Treasurer
Ann Blackwell (Incumbent)
Commissioner Pct. 2
Shannon Metcalf (Incumbent)
Commissioner Pct. 4
William “Lum” Edwards
Larry Molloy
Constable Pct 5 (Unexpired Term)
John Pope
Justice of the Peace Pct. 1
Donna Hughes (Incumbent)
Andy Williams
Justice of the Peace Pct. 2
Marla Denby (Incumbent)
Roy Bailey
Justice of the Peace Pct. 3
Melba Rodgers (Incumbent)
Justice of the Peace Pct. 4
Robert Barton
Justice of the Peace Pct. 5
Tracy Broadway (Incumbent)
County Chair
Leigh Porterfield (Incumbent)
Democratic Party Candidates
Commissioner Pct. 4
Kevin Foster
County Chair
Patsy Handy (Incumbent)
Additional filing with the Democratic Chair are:
Precinct Chair for 1S - Monaca Nobles
Precinct Chair for 9S - George Grace
December 10, 2025 - The Shelby County Commissioners updated the sick leave policy, shortening the employment time before an employee can participate in the sick leave pool Wednesday November 26, 2025.
The sick leave policy originally required someone be employed continuously for 12 months before being eligible for participation in the pool, and through their action the commissioners reduced that time period by nine months.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, described what changes he felt were necessary to the Sick Leave Pool policy.
“Our policy at this time says that you have to be employed a year prior to sign-up and that’s unfortunate for people that get hired January, February, March or something, because that same year they missed the sign-up, and they have to wait nearly two years,” said McSwain. “My proposal is to change it to, if you’re hired before October 1, you’re at 90 days and your still matched, you’ll be able to sign up instead of having to get hung in a trap of waiting nearly two years.”
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison verbalized the change the sick pool policy “Eligibility” section to reflect at least three months instead of 12 months and the second page of the policy under “Enrollment and Contributions to the Pool” to at least three months instead of 12 months. Commissioner McSwain moved in response to Judge Harbison’s statement and Shannon Metcalf, Commissioner Precinct 2, seconded the motion and it carried.
The commissioners decided to move forward with the implementation of credit/debit card machines at Justice of the Peace offices as a preferred method of payment for those offices.
The commissioners discussed adding the credit card payment machines to the Justice of the Peace offices and the possibility of moving on to a card, check or money order only payment policy eliminating the cash payment option
Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, said that she has spoken to several of the Justices of the Peace and that they were in favor of making the change.
Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, commented on her favor for the implementation of the policy.
“I think we need to put the credit card machines in the offices and give them that ability, because every one of them say that people come in with cards all the time,” said Blackwell.
Blackwell didn’t think it would be likely that cash could be eliminated; however, cutting the amount down that’s handled would be very likely
“Let’s work toward cutting down on so much cash, that’s got to help us in appearing that we’re trying to do something to move toward clearing up this audit finding that we have every year,” said Blackwell.
John Price, County Attorney, agreed with Jim Allison, general council for the Texas Association of Counties, in that there’s no clear authority on whether a county can adopt a completely cashless policy.
“To me, I would be a little uncomfortable adopting a cashless policy until we have something a little more definitive such as maybe an Attorney General’s opinion, which we can certainly request,” said Price.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, moved to contact a credit card vendor to set the credit card system up, meet with the JP’s and train them and set a time to go live. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Metcalf and the motion carried.
John Pope, Shelby County Constable Precinct 5, introduced the donation of two WatchGuard 4RE camera systems from Montgomery County Police Department to the commissioners and described how the donation came to pass.
“It’s the same camera system that me and the Sheriff’s Office is running,” said Constable Pope.
Constable Pope said that the law enforcement in Montgomery County had advertised in their local newspaper they had equipment to donate and Constable Pope made contact.
“He said he was looking for small departments and he got it ok’d and he ended up giving us two of them instead of one in case we needed parts or something for one,” said Pope.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to accept the donation and Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, seconded the motion after which carried.
When the commissioners examined the weekly expenses during the meeting, there were three charges from a local funeral home that would have been for picking up deceased individuals. Commissioner McSwain wanted clarification on what one of the charges was for, because it wasn’t immediately clear the charge indicated a pickup of an individual that was being transported for an autopsy. The county is normally charged only if someone is picked up and an autopsy is necessary for investigation purposes.
Commissioner McSwain move to approve paying the weekly expenses with the exception of invoice 237626 to allow for further study. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Metcalf, and the motion carried.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Weekly Expenses. 2. Donation of two Watch Guard 4RE camera systems from Montgomery County Police Department for Constable Pct. 5. 3. Add credit card payment ability to the JP offices and moving to a card, check or money order only payment system and eliminating cash payment option. 4. Update the Sick Leave Pool policy. 5. Adjourn 10:23am.
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