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December 6, 2023 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 15 indictments on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2023 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.
Luke Anthony Odom was indicted for int/know unauth discharge/know endangerment, felony: confinement not to exceed 10 years and/or a fine not less than $10,000 or more than $1,500,000. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Odom discharged or allowed the discharge of a pollutant, to-wit, diesel fuel into or adjacent to water, thereby placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, by then and there transferring diesel fuel from holding tank into 55 gallon drums placed next to flowing water. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Luke Anthony Odom was indicted for theft of petroleum product >=$10K<$100K, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Odom took a petroleum product, namely red diesel, from its owner, namely City of Joaquin, by making and causing a connection to be made with a green water hose into the tank and stored in 55-gallon barrels used to store the diesel without the effective consent of City of Joaquin. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for int/know unauth discharge/know endangerment, felony: confinement not to exceed 10 years and/or a fine not less than $10,000 or more than $1,500,000. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Eaves discharged or allowed the discharge of a pollutant, to-wit, diesel fuel into or adjacent to water, thereby placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, by then and there transferring diesel fuel from holding tank into 55 gallon drums placed next to flowing water. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for theft of petroleum product >=$10K<$100K, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Eaves took a petroleum product, namely red diesel, from its owner, namely City of Joaquin, by making and causing a connection to be made with a green water hose into the tank and stored in 55-gallon barrels used to store the diesel without the effective consent of City of Joaquin. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Terry Lynn Crowder was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 4, 2023, Crowder intentionally fled from Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Ford, a person Crowder knew was a peace officer attempting lawfully to arrest or detain Crowder. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Therrin Anthony Keele was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on June 23, 2023, Keele entered a habitation with intent to commit theft without the consent of Hayley Potter, the owner. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Tanarrian Jyeneqne Moses was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury - family violence, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 30, 2023, Moses recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Cody Barrett by stabbing him in the chest with a knife, during commission of the assault, and Barrett was a person with whom Moses has or has had a dating relationship as described by the Texas Family Code.
Justin Leon Carter was indicted for perjury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 18, 2023, Carter made a false statement under oath, namely, that he has never been known as Jay White or Baby Jay. Such sworn statement being then and there required by law to be made under oath, while Carter was then and there under oath administered by Judge James Payne of the 273rd Judicial District Court of Sjelby County, Texas, such statement being false in that [Carter] has in fact been commonly known as Jay White and Baby Jay. Such false sworn statement was then and there made during or in connection with an official proceeding, to-wit: jury trial in cause number 21CR21952 in the 273rd Judicial District Court of Shelby County, Texas, styled The State of Texas vs. Justin Earl Bennett. The said false sworn statement was then and there material to such proceeding in that it pertained to the identity of witnesses to the offense being then on trial.
Robert Anthony Ortega was indicted for injury to a child/elderly individual/or disabled individual, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 27, 2023, Ortega caused serious bodily injury to a child 14 years of age or younger by whipping the child with a belt.
(Some of the following content contained within indictments is of a sensitive nature and may not be suitable for younger viewers.)
Ja'Voiskieon Trae'shun Howard was indicted for aggravated assault of a child, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 27, 2023, Howard caused the penetration of the female sexual organ of a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age and not the spouse of Howard, by Howard's sexual organ. (273rd Judicial District Court)
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):
- Jason Cole Briley, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 1, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Jeremy Leigh Green, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 26, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Carrie Ann Stanley, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony January 2, 2022. (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Therrin Anthony Keele, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 23, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Tyler Ryan Belrose, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 26, 2023). (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 5, 2023 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the incidence of a shooting on November 30, 2023, in Timpson.
According to Shelby County Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Hooper, officers were dispatched to a residence on Garrison Street around 9pm in response to a request for assistance. When deputies arrived they discovered one individual who had been shot and a suspect which they took into custody.
The individual who had been shot was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Nacogdoches for treatment of their injuries.
Christefer Bell, 39, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
This incident remains under investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and additional details will be updated as they are made available.
December 4, 2023 - Emergency personnel responded to a crash involving a passenger car and a train on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
The vehicle appeared to have received significant damage to its front as a result of the crash incident. Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department personnel responded and assisted law enforcement at the scene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Troopers investigated a non-injury crash on Sugar Hill Road, near South Rail Road Street, that occurred Sunday, December 3, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 12:20pm, a white 2016 Buick Verano driven by Marco Mendoza Sanchez, 24, of Center was traveling east. It is reported that Sanchez failed to yield to the train crossing at the intersection and was struck.
Sanchez was not injured and was cited for fail to yield right-of-way and fail to maintain financial responsibility.
According to DPS, there is no additional information.
The crash was investigated by Troopers Keith Jones and Dustin Ramos.
Saturday, December 2, 2023 was a beautiful day and a good-size crowd came out for the 2023 Joaquin Christmas Festival, car show, and parade.
December 1, 2023 - Emergency Pricing Program (EPP) to Set New Limit on Wholesale Electricity Prices During Emergencies
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has voted to immediately implement a new Emergency Pricing Program (EPP) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region. The EPP was required by Senate Bill 3 of the 87th Texas Legislature and will limit consumer exposure to high wholesale electricity prices during power emergencies.
“Implementing the Emergency Pricing Program provides another layer of financial protection for Texas consumers and will ensure their electricity bills remain affordable even when conditions are tight in the ERCOT system,” PUCT Executive Director Thomas Gleeson said. “This is a key part of our ongoing work to ensure electric reliability for Texans at a reasonable cost.”
The Commission approved the program during its Open Meeting on Thursday through amendments to Section 25.509 of the PUCT’s Substantive Rules.
Current PUCT rules cap wholesale electricity offers at $5,000 per MWh. This “offer cap,” also known as the high system-wide offer cap (HCAP), is a cap on the price at which generators can offer wholesale electricity to retail electric providers that serve and bill individual customers.
The new EPP will trigger if system-wide energy prices hit the $5,000 per MWh HCAP threshold for 12 hours within a rolling 24-hour period. When the EPP is activated, a new emergency offer cap (ECAP) will take effect, reducing the cap on wholesale electricity offers to $2,000 per MWh and ultimately further protect consumers.
The EPP and $2,000 per MWh emergency offer cap would remain in effect until 24 hours after the EPP is activated, or, if ERCOT is in emergency operations while the EPP is active, 24 hours after ERCOT exits emergency operations. ERCOT must issue a notice to market participants both when the EPP is activated and when the EPP ends.
While the EPP is active and to account for variability in fuel costs, generators are eligible to be reimbursed by ERCOT for any actual marginal costs they incur above the $2,000 per MWh emergency offer cap. To recover actual marginal costs above the HCAP ($5,000 per MWh), a generator must submit additional attestations and information to ERCOT justifying any exceedances.
Within 10 working days of the end of an EPP event, ERCOT must report to the PUCT a summary of the event and analysis of the EPP’s performance. Within 90 calendar days, ERCOT must report the number of generators that filed for cost recovery and the total amount reimbursed. Beginning Jan. 1 2026, the PUCT will conduct a comprehensive review of the EPP and all other system-wide offer cap programs every five years to evaluate their performance.
El Programa de Precios de Emergencia (EPP, por sus siglas en inglés) establecerá un nuevo límite en los precios mayoristas de la electricidad durante las emergencias
La Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas (PUCT, por sus siglas en inglés) votó para implementar de inmediato un nuevo Programa de Precios de Emergencia (EPP, por sus siglas en inglés) para la región de energía del Consejo de Confiabilidad Eléctrica de Texas (ERCOT, por sus siglas en inglés). El EPP fue requerido por el Proyecto de Ley Senatorial 3 de la Legislatura 87º de Texas y limitará la exposición de los consumidores a los altos precios mayoristas de electricidad durante emergencias eléctricas.
"La implementación del Programa de Precios de Emergencia proporciona otra capa de protección financiera para los consumidores de Texas y garantizará que sus facturas de electricidad sigan siendo asequibles incluso cuando las condiciones son difíciles en el sistema ERCOT", dijo el director ejecutivo de PUCT, Thomas Gleeson. "Esta es una parte clave de nuestro trabajo continuo para garantizar la confiabilidad eléctrica para los tejanos a un costo razonable".
La Comisión aprobó el programa durante su Reunión Abierta a través de enmiendas a la Sección 25.509 de las Reglas Sustantivas de la PUCT.
Las reglas actuales de la PUCT limitan las ofertas mayoristas de electricidad a 5.000 dólares por MWh (HCAP). Este "tope de oferta" es un tope en el precio al que los generadores pueden ofrecer electricidad al por mayor a los proveedores minoristas que sirven y facturan clientes individuales.
El nuevo EPP se activará si los precios de la energía en todo el sistema alcanzan el umbral de 5.000 dólares por MWh HCAP durante 12 horas dentro de un período de 24 horas consecutivas. Cuando se active el EPP, entrará en vigor un nuevo tope de oferta de emergencia (ECAP, por sus siglas en inglés), que reducirá el tope de las ofertas mayoristas de electricidad a 2.000 dólares por MWh.
El EPP y el límite de oferta de emergencia de $2,000 por MWh permanecerían vigentes hasta 24 horas después de que se active el EPP o, si ERCOT está en operaciones de emergencia mientras el EPP está activo, 24 horas después de que ERCOT salga de las operaciones de emergencia. ERCOT debe emitir un aviso a los participantes del mercado tanto cuando se activa el EPP como cuando finaliza el EPP.
Mientras el EPP esté activo y para tener en cuenta la variabilidad en los costos de combustible, los generadores tienen derecho a que ERCOT les reembolse los costos marginales reales en los que incurran por encima del tope de la oferta de emergencia de $2,000 por MWh. Para recuperar los costos marginales reales por encima del HCAP ($5,000 por MWh), un generador debe presentar atestaciones e información adicionales a ERCOT.
Dentro de los 10 días hábiles posteriores a la finalización de un evento de EPP, ERCOT debe informar a la PUCT un resumen de el evento y análisis de la actuación del PPE. Dentro de los 90 días de calendario, ERCOT debe informar el número de generadores que solicitaron la recuperación de costos y el monto total reembolsado. A partir del 1 de enero de 2026, la PUCT llevará a cabo una revisión exhaustiva del EPP y de todos los demás programas de tope de ofertas de todo el sistema cada cinco años para evaluar su desempeño.
November 30, 2023 - The intersection of Hurst Street and Roughrider Drive in Center was the scene of a three-vehicle crash November 15, 2023.
According to the Center Police Department, at 8:10pm a blue 2005 Ford Mustang driven by a 17-year-old driver from Center was northbound on Hurst Street and began turning left onto Roughtrider Drive through an unprotected green light. At that time a white 2024 Buick Encore driven by Denny King, 49, of Center was southbound on Hurst Street in the inside lane when the driver of the Mustang failed to yield right of way to the Buick and King veered in an attempt to avoid colliding with the Mustang.
The Mustang struck the Buick, causing damage to the right front quarter panel. A white 2022 Ford Bronco driven by Amber Scates, 28, of Center was traveling behind the Buick and attempted to avoid the collision; however, the Bronco struck the Buick causing damage to both vehicles due to wet roadway conditions.
King was transported by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for medical assessment. Her two 14-year old passengers were not reported to have been injured.
Scates and a 3-year-old and 8-year-old passenger were not reported to have been injured.
The 17-year-old, as well as a 17-year-old passenger and an 18-year-old passenger were not reported to have been injured.
Citations were issued to the driver of the Mustang for failure to yield right of way and no driver’s license.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos assisted officers at the scene of the crash.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Donna Ruppert assisted by Officer Bobby Hudnall.
Update at 12:52pm - Roadway has been cleared and has been opened up to traffic.
November 29, 2023 - Center Police Department officers are on scene on Hurst Street at the intersection of Sanders Street where a truck tractor lost its load of equipment as of 12-noon, November 29, 2023.
Drivers should use caution and consider an alternate route until the equipment has been removed.
The southbound traffic lanes are currently blocked and some traffic is being allowed to pass on the shoulder.
November 28, 2023 - The intersection of hurst Street and Cass-Caid Drive was the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
According to the Center Police Department, at 1:35am a maroon Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by Jorge Vazquez, 21, of Center was northbound in the 800 block of Hurst Street when the Ram left the roadway to the right and struck a concrete drainage culvert, flipping over onto its top, and crossing the 100 block of Cass-Caid Drive. The Ram landed in the parking lot of Roughrider Quick Lube.
During the crash, the Ram struck a metal trash can and a water meter. Vazquez stated he fell asleep.
Vazquez was transported from the scene by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Donna Ruppert.
November 28, 2023 - The interment of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Flags should be raised to full-staff following sunset tomorrow.
November 28, 2023 - FM 2468 at the intersection of FM 699 in Center was the scene of a fatal crash on the morning of November 23, 2023.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the location at 4:02am.
According to information released by Center Police Sgt. Bubba Lee, at an unknown time, a blue Hyundai Elantra driven by Pablo Alejandro Leandro, 24, of Nacogdoches was traveling southeast at a high rate of speed on Portacool Way (FM 2468) when the Hyundai failed to stop at the intersection of Cotton Ford Road.
The Hyundai continued across the intersection and left the roadway before going airborne across a ditch before striking an embankment and metal culvert. The force of the collision was severe and the vehicle continued in a southeastern direction, landing between a utility pole and small tree.
Leandro suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced at the scene by Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, and an autopsy was ordered. Leandro was transported by Watson and Sons Funeral Home.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Donna Ruppert. Center Fire Department personnel assisted at the incident location.
The crash remains under investigation.
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