Shelby County Today

July 19, 2024 - The City Council adopted animal control ordinances most recently in 1998 to assist in stray animal population control, state rabies regulations and dangerous dog sections of State law. The Center Police Department is responsible for enforcing those ordinances and responding to animal complaints including nuisances and dangerous animal situations.

Due to the exhibited and unacceptable conditions of the holding facility Tuesday via social media, the Center Police Department was directed Tuesday evening by the City to suspend activities for animal control capture or impoundment until the situation was resolved and adjustment to procedures for alternative approaches to enforcement can be presented and reviewed. The Center Police Department participated with investigation of conditions from holding of stray and abandoned animals and initiated action to address animals on site.

The facility is on City property, not operated by the City but has been allowed to be utilized as a temporary holding facility by individuals providing contract services as a vendor for animal control activities. Subsequently, the contracted vendors providing services were charged for the conditions at the site. The animals that remained at the holding facility were either rehomed or have been scheduled to be sheltered. The site will be vacant and unavailable for any use. Actions were taken to address the unacceptable conditions while initiating administrative review of this situation and related operations. This matter remains under continued investigation.

The Center Police Department will not be responding to any abandoned or stray animal complaints during this period but will respond to emergency situations. State and local laws will be reviewed or amended by City Council as appropriate and a thorough examination of alternative approaches to enforcement of those revised statutes will be evaluated including anticipated partnerships with potential or existing animal shelter operations.

July 18, 2024 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 23 indictments on Wednesday, July 16, 2024. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2024 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts. Five of the indictments were for James Alan Burke, the target of an undercover investigation of online solicitation of a minor that resulted in his arrest on March 3, 2023. (Child Predator Undercover Operation Catches Timpson Man).

Stacey Buford Wells was indicted for injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 28, 2024, Wells caused bodily injury to Kathey Tuckers, an individual 65 years of age or older, by hitting, scratching, and biting her repeatedly. (273rd Judicial District Court)

David L. Godwin was indicted for unlawful carry weapon with felony conviction, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on November 22, 2023, Godwin recklessly carried a handgun on or about his own person while not on his own premises or premises controlled by him, or while en-route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that he owned. The indictment further states, Godwin was prohibited from possessing a firearm at that time due to a previous felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver on November 22, 2023. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Armando Javier Huerta was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on April 8, 2024, Huerta with intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination consisting of Huerta, Ricardo Rodrigues, Jonathan Vincente, Marlena Poore and an unknown man, who collaborated in carrying on the hereinafter described criminal activity. The indictment further alleges conspiracy to commit the offense of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance or dangerous drug, in possession of stolen property and weapons by agreeing with each other that they would engage in conduct that constituted the offense, and Huerta, Rodriguez, Vincente, Poore, and unknown man, performed an overt act in pursuance of the agreement, namely, unlawful possession of stolen property and weapons. (273rd Judicial District Court)

(Some of the following content contained within indictments is of a sensitive nature and may not be suitable for younger viewers.)

James Alan Burke was indicted for possession with intent to promote child pornography with a previous conviction, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 21, 2022, Burke possessed with intent to promote visual material that visually depicted, and that Burke knew visually depicted, a child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct, namely actual deviate sexual intercourse. Prior to the commission of foresaid offense, on October 30, 2024, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Burke was convicted of 4th Degree Sexual Assault. (273rd Judicial District Court)

James Alan Burke was indicted for possession with intent to promote child pornography with a previous conviction, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 21, 2022, Burke possessed with intent to promote visual material that visually depicted, and that Burke knew visually depicted, a child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct, namely actual lewd exhibition of the genitals. Prior to the commission of foresaid offense, on October 30, 2024, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Burke was convicted of 4th Degree Sexual Assault. (273rd Judicial District Court)

James Alan Burke was indicted for possession with intent to promote child pornography with a previous conviction, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 21, 2022, Burke possessed with intent to promote visual material that visually depicted, and that Burke knew visually depicted, a child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct, namely actual sexual intercourse. Prior to the commission of foresaid offense, on October 30, 2024, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Burke was convicted of 4th Degree Sexual Assault. (273rd Judicial District Court)

James Alan Burke was indicted for possession with intent to promote child pornography with a previous conviction, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 21, 2022, Burke possessed with intent to promote visual material that visually depicted, and that Burke knew visually depicted, a child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct, namely actual sexual intercourse. Prior to the commission of foresaid offense, on October 30, 2024, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Burke was convicted of 4th Degree Sexual Assault. (273rd Judicial District Court)

James Alan Burke was indicted for possession with intent to promote child pornography with a previous conviction, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 21, 2022, Burke possessed with intent to promote visual material that visually depicted, and that Burke knew visually depicted, a child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct, namely actual sexual intercourse. Prior to the commission of foresaid offense, on October 30, 2024, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Burke was convicted of 4th Degree Sexual Assault. (273rd Judicial District Court)

(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):

• Michael Dewayne Watts, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (phencyclidine), third degree felony (January 29, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Michael Ray Foxworth, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (February 18, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Joel B. Fleming, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (March 17, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Esteban Lucio-Melendez, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (April 22, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Destinee Berana Adams, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (April 2, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Johnny Ray Green, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (April 15, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Brent Howard Denby, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (May 23, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Kenneth Grimes, prohibited substance in a correctional facility (methamphetamine), third degree felony (February 8, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Elizabeth Christine Fanning, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (February 18, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Michael Aaron Robinson, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (January 19, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Dennis Keith Mann, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (cocaine), third degree felony (April 3, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Stephanie Michelle Jackson, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (phencyclidine), third degree felony (January 29, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Armando Javier Huerta, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (April 8, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
• Derek Wayne Hendricks, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (March 13, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court) 
• Dmarco Kevon Johnson, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (psilocin), second degree felony (March 3, 2024). (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.

July 18, 2024 - Emergency personnel responded to a major cash incident just outside of Tenaha on U.S. Highway 59 Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 3:48pm.

The crash involved an 18-wheeler and a passenger car, which had multiple occupants, approximately a mile-and-a-half from Tenaha. Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene and Timpson Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the location to assist.

Airlift was requested to the location; however, air support was not able to fly at that time. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers from Nacogdoches were dispatched to the scene to assist Shelby County Troopers.

According to information from the Texas DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that a Mack truck tractor semi-trailer driven by Zachary Perez, 41, of Marshall was traveling northeast in the outside lane, followed by a Dodge Journey driven by Jonathan Toledo, 22, of Nacogdoches. It is reported that Toledo failed to control his speed and struck the rear of the semi-trailer.

Toledo, and two passengers, a 17-year-old female and a 5-year-old male child, were transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center by ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. 

A 6-year-old female child was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries. 

Perez was not reported to have been injured.

Toledo was cited for failing to control his speed and for failing to properly secure a child with a child safety seat.

According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.

Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies and Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5; as well as Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4; were on scene to assist DPS with their investigation.

DPS Troopers from Nacogdoches investigating the scene were Cpl. Trooper Austin Lunsford; Trooper Herbert Flores; Trooper Kody Moore; and Trooper Brinden Stephens. Shelby County Trooper at the scene was Daniel Dellenger.

Hassan Awels

July 16, 2024 - The Center Police Department has confirmed a shooting incident took place in Pecan Grove on July 11, 2024.

Center Police Officers responded to the scene a couple blocks from the Center Police Department, and were assisted by Shelby County Sheriff’s Department deputies.

In a press release issued by the Center Police Department, it's indicated their Communications Division received a call at 11:24pm, about harassment. While the caller was on the line with the Communications officer, the caller stated that the suspect began shooting at them. The Center Police Department Patrol Division was dispatched to the area of Pecan Grove in the 1300 block of Shelbyville Street.

When Officers arrived on the scene, they found a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire approximately four times. The victims, identified as Ricardo Cervantes and Maria Juarez, were determined not to have been struck by any of the shots.

According to the Center Police Department, Cervantes informed officers he struck another vehicle with his in Pecan Grove when trying to flee after the shooting started.

Just before the officers arrived on scene, the suspects fled the scene, and the Center Police Department confirms the suspects were later identified as Hassan Awels, 21, of Center and Abdulkadi Abu, 48, of Center.

Awels and Abu were both arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail where they were each booked on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony 2.

The press release goes on to state this was an isolated incident, and no further risk of harm is believed to be present to the public. This remains an active case and no further information is available at this time.

According to the Shelby County Jail log, the charges against Abu were dropped.