Shelby County Today

August 7, 2024 - A Timpson man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Austin Yarbrough, 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 7, 2024. 

According to information presented in court, from 2021 through 2023, law enforcement conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating throughout East Texas. Yarbrough was identified as a member of that organization and a distributor of methamphetamine, as well as a firearms trafficker. As a member of the organization, Yarbrough would receive methamphetamine transported by his co-conspirators and then distribute the methamphetamine in the Timpson area. On multiple occasions, law enforcement conducted operations leading to the purchase of methamphetamine and firearms from Yarbrough, including a modified .45 caliber rifle with a shortened barrel and an adjustable stock.

Further investigation revealed Yarbrough has previous felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a building, and bail jumping. As a convicted felon, Yarbrough is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Angelina County Sheriff's Office; Drug Enforcement Administration; and FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.

August 7, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners moved forward on seeking quotes for a proposal from District Attorney Karren Price during their July 24, 2024, meeting to upgrade the video system in the District Courtrooms for the benefit of jurors.

A few years past, the commissioners agreed to install a large screen in each courtroom to allow for the viewing of evidence, and since then Price has heard feedback from jurors.

“Here's what we hear from jurors, they can see what's going on on that screen and they can hear, but they can't see a lot of tiny detail and they can't hear as well as they would like to be able to hear,” said Price. “So, I got to thinking about what we can do to help them be able to hear the evidence, which is the only reason we want that technology, is to help these jurors.”

Price described a system of three monitors to sit directly in front of the jurors in the jury box wall when operational, and when not displaying evidence, the screens can drop down the behind the wall and out of their view.

Commissioner Tom Bellmyer moved for the District Attorney to seek an estimated cost for a turnkey installation of the system she described and to know how long it would take for the project to be completed and then for her to return to the court with that information, the motion was seconded by Commissioner Roscoe McSwain and the motion carried.

The commissioners discussed donating the cost of an Opioid Educational Curriculum to Excelsior ISD with Opioid Litigation funds in the amount of $619.41.

County Judge Allison Harbison stated, “This is going to be kind of a test run for the school system, and that money is sitting, I believe, in that fund.”

Judge Harbison confirmed with Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, none of the Opiod Litigation funds have been used yet.

“I think this is a great opportunity for a smaller school to see how it works, and then maybe we can do some help for the other school districts,” said Harbison.

Commissioner McSwain said he has spoken with Porterfield in the past about what could be done with the funds, which have been collecting over some time, because there are limited options on how the money can be spent.

“I serve on a security board of Excelsior ISD so a while back I asked them would they be interested in trying opioid addiction educational for like fifth graders sixth graders,” said McSwain. 

Commissioner McSwain heard back from Excelsior ISD representatives who were interested in a curriculum for the fifth grade class.

Commissioner McSwain moved to donate the $619.41 to Excelsior ISD to acquire the curriculum for opiod schooling. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer and the motion carried.

“If we can save one Shelby County child by taking this curriculum and giving them the encouragement and the chance to say, ‘no, I'm not gonna do this and I'm gonna take these drugs,’ I think if we just save one kid's life it’ll be well worth it,” said Judge Harbison. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:51am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Payroll.
3. Reappoint John Howard Shelby County Representative to Burke Board of Trustees for a two-year term.
4. District Attorney, Karren Price to seek quotes on Courtroom technology upgrade.
5. Donate the cost of an Opioid Educational Curriculum to Excelsior ISD with Opioid Litigation funds in the amount of $619.41
6. Adjourn 9:51am.

August 5, 2024 - Emergency personnel responded to crash incident on State Highway 87 North July 27, 2024, where one vehicle involved is reported to have fled the scene.

When emergency officials arrived at the location just north of CR 4020, a box truck carrying household appliances was visible overturned beside the southbound traffic lane.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones, at approximately 10:55am in July 27, 2024, an unknown red vehicle entered onto State Highway 87 North from CR 4020 and failed to yield right of way to oncoming traffic. This action interfered with a northbound white 2011 Hino box truck driven by Frank Sanchez, 36, of Houston who took evasive action and lost control of the truck before it rolled off the roadway on the southbound side coming to rest on its passenger side.

Sanchez was transported by ambulance to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.

At the time of the crash report the suspected vehicle remained at large.

Once a towing service arrived on location, Timpson Volunteer Fire Department personnel remained on scene to divert traffic for an extended period of time. This was to allow for the truck to be unloaded of its contents of kitchen appliances and so the truck could be removed from the scene.

Also assisting at the scene were DPS Trooper Josh Gradberg, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Constable Precinct 5.

August 5, 2024 - Recently I saw the following post on social media: “… if you are checking in at the polls and they happen to write anything on your ballot before they give it to you, please request a new ballot. Your ballot could be disqualified if it is written on. Please be on the lookout for this type of behavior.” 

I do not know about other states, but this is absolutely not true in Texas, per the Texas Election Code.

Section 62.008 – Presiding Judge to sign ballots:
(a) The presiding judge’s signature shall be placed on the back of each ballot to be used at the polling place.
(b) The judge shall sign each ballot or an election officer shall stamp a facsimile of the judge’s signature on each ballot.
(c) The signing of ballots need not be completed before the polls open, but an unsigned ballot may not be made available for selection by the voters.

Section 85.0311 – Early Voting Clerk to sign ballots:
(a) The early voting clerk’s initials shall be placed on the back of each ballot to be used at the polling place.
(b) The early voting clerk shall enter the initials on each ballot or a deputy early voting clerk shall stamp a facsimile of the initials on each ballot.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office at 936-598-5340 or 936-234-2147 with any questions or concerns in regard to voter registration and/or elections.

Nancy Adams, Shelby County Elections Administrator