Crime Time

Tree falls on man in Fort Worth, killing him

FORT WORTH — A 20-year-old man was killed Wednesday when a tree he was cutting down fell on him, officials said.

Emergency responders were called to a house in the 1500 block of Parsons Lane about 7 p.m. 

The victim's name had not been released late Wednesday. Witnesses told police the victim was a friend of the homeowner and that he was helping several other men cut the tree down.

— Marty Sabota

 

Former Grapevine animal control supervisor sentenced

A former Grapevine animal control supervisor was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in jail and 10 years of deferred adjudication after admitting to stealing nearly $50,000 from the city to buy big-ticket items for himself.

State District Judge Scott Wisch also ordered Lawrence Charles Hopkins, 60, of Aurora, to pay restitution for the full amount, if possible, for items that were purchased with the stolen funds. The scheme lasted for several years, beginning in 2007, officials said.

Appearing frail and using an oxygen tank, Hopkins took the witness stand to apologize for what he had done.

"I am real sorry for the embarassment I've caused the city of Grapevine," he said. He pleaded guilty in January to a charge of theft of up to $20,000 by a public servant.

Wisch said Hopkins' poor health contributed to his decision to grant deferred adjudication, a form of probation that, if completed, will not leave a conviction on Hopkins' record.

Hopkins, a legal resident, is a native of England and moved to the United States in 1981. Wisch cited his military service for England in the Queen's Regiment and Hopkins' son's service in the U.S. military as contributing factors in the decision to defer adjudication.

But Wisch insisted he spend 30 days in the county jail.

"There's no excuse for what you did," Wisch said. "You should have known better ... There needs to be a message sent: Don't steal from the public."

An accomplice, feed store owner Arthur M. Waters, 60, was sentenced to five years probation last year.

Prosecutor David Lobingier said Waters submitted falsified invoices for phony purchases of dog food, dog cages and kennel panels to the city, and Hopkins approved the payments. Waters then purchased items for Hopkins, including a $2,600 cargo trailer, a $1,983 boat motor and a $1,250 winch.

Grapevine officials said Wednesday that many of the items were recovered, and will be auctioned off later this year. The money recouped from the auction will be credited toward the amount of restitution Hopkins must pay.

Hopkins oversaw the city's animal control division, which is part of the city police department. He left the department in April 2010.

Defense attorney Brett Boone had urged the judge to give Hopkins deferred adjudication so he would not be deported back to England.

-Dianna Hunt

 

Three Fort Worth men suspected in Wal-Mart theft ring

Here's another reason why cigarettes can be bad for you.

Three Fort Worth men were arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing cigarettes from the gas station of a Sulphur Springs Wal-Mart, then leading police on a pursuit.

Authorities say the men are suspected in 21 similar Wal-Mart thefts throughout North Texas.

“About $80,000 worth of property has been taken during those burglaries, so they were pretty happy when they got the news we were able to capture those three subjects,” Sulphur Springs Police Capt. Jay Sanders told the Telegram-News.

According to the Telegram-News, the pursuit stretched about 15 miles into Cumby, where authorities were able to spike the tires of the suspects' car. Two of the men then tried to flee on foot but were captured.

The men were identified as Fredrick Marcell Johnson, 23, Darius Ramon “Pot” Hampton, 19, and Marvin Earl Jackson, 24, all of Fort Worth.

They face charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and evading arrest with a vehicle.

- Deanna Boyd

 

Driver runs after roll-over injures passengers

Three men were taken to hospitals and one of them is listed in critical condition following a single-vehicle roll-over early Monday.One of five occupants was ejected when a Ford Explorer rolled several times in the 3400 block of W. Long Avenue about 12:30 a.m. One of the back passengers, the ejected man suffered serious injuries, but was expected to survive, the police report said.Two other passengers were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the report said.The SUV was traveling fast and the driver lost control, the report said. The driver fled the scene, but was identified and will face criminal charges, the report said.

Robbery victim clubbed, sent to hospital

A man was taken to a hospital by family members after he was struck with a club by someone who tried to take his wallet Monday.Fort Worth police officers were called about 3 a.m. to the 3200 block of Northwest 30th Street. The victim said he was on his front porch when he saw a man walking down the street, the police report said.The victim told police that the suspect called out to him, and the victim walked out to meet the suspect, the report said.The suspect struck the victim on the head with a club and attempted to take the victim’s wallet.The suspect has not been found, the report said.

Jury begins weighing punishment for Fort Worth man in death of toddler

UPDATE: 2:41 p.m.

The jury has begun deliberating punishment for 32-year-old Samson Loynachan, convicted of murder in the death of his fiance's 2-year-old daughter.

Defense attorney Fred Cummings asked the jury for mercy, saying a punishment less than a life sentence would be appropriate.

"He's been a responsible citizen up to this point in his life," Cummings said during closing arguments, pointing out Loynachan's service in the U.S. Navy that included a stint in Iraq, where he injured his back.

"This is not a way to value Chloe's life. You cannot place a value on Chloe's life."

But prosecutor Eric Nickols, who tried the case with Alana Minton, urged jurors to do just that by giving him a life sentence.

"Give him life. Send a message," Nickols said. "He picks on things that are weaker than he is. He's angry, he's violent, he's a liar. He's a murderer."

Loynachan faces punishment ranging from 5 years to life in prison or 99 years. He is not eligible for probation.

Visiting Judge Phillip Vick is overseeing the case in the 213th state district court.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 2:10 p.m.

Convicted child killer Samson Loynachan told jurors of happier times with his two children, with photos of them visiting state parks, walking along a river, reading books.

Loynachan, who could face up to life in prison in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Chloe Robinson, said he spent as much time with his kids as he could after he and their mother were divorced. He said the kids came first.

"No matter how bad things were between us .... we were able to set that aside for the children," he said under questioning from defense attorney Fred Cummings.

He was living with Chloe's mother, Nicole Robinson, at the time of the child's death.

But Loynachan faced sharp questioning from prosecutor Alana Minton, who grilled him about what happened to little Chloe on the day she was injured. Loynachan said he hit her with a vehicle arm rest while trying to cheer up the sick child; experts have said that the arm rest would not have caused the damage she sustained.

"Why did you hit her?" Minton asked.

"I was playing around," Loynachan testified.

"What did she do to deserve to be hit?" Minton asked.

"She didn't do anything," he said.

Closing arguments are expected to begin about 2:20 p.m. before Visiting Judge Phillip Vick. Loynachan is facing up to life in prison and is not eligible for probation.

Minton and prosecutor Eric Nickols had originally sought a life sentence for Loynachan.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.

Convicted child killer Samson Loynachan has taken the witness stand again in his own defense as the jury considers whether to sentence him to up to life in prison for the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

The state rested its case against convicted murderer Samson Loynachan with witnesses testifying he was overly harsh with his son, caused bruises on his then-wife during an argument and was mean to the family dogs.

His ex-wife, Kelly McArthur, testified that he never struck her but did leave bruises on her arm after an argument escalated into "wrestling." Her brother-in-law, who is a Friendswood police officer, said he saw the bruises and urged her to file a police report. She never did.

Loynachan was convicted of murder in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Chloe Robinson, who died in August 2010 of a severe blow to the head.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols presented evidence that the injury occurred while she was under the care of Loynachan. Chloe's mother, Nicole Robinson, had started a new job and could not pick up the child when daycare called to say she was sick.

Defense attorney Fred Cummings presented witnesses during the punishment phase of the trial that Loynachan was a family man who appeared to enjoy his combined family.

Testimony is continuing before Visiting Judge Phillip Vick.

-Dianna Hunt

 

Testimony has begun in the punishment phase for convicted murderer Samson Loynachan with his ex-wife testifying that he was occasionally too harsh with his son and was mean to the family dog.

Loynachan was convicted Friday of murder in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Chloe Robinson, who died from a severe blow to the head.

Loynachan testified in his own defense that he did not intentially harm Chloe. He suggested that the injury may have occurred when he struck the child with the arm rest of a vehicle, but expert witnesses told jurors that would not have caused the severe injury.

Visiting Judge Phllip Vick is overseeing the case.

-Dianna Hunt

Fort Worth police fatally shoot dog after copper-theft call

A Fort Worth couple says an officer shot and killed their dog on their front porch after he showed up at their home on a copper-theft call, according to CW33.

Cindy and Mark Boling, who live at 4717 Norma St., said their dogs were with them in the front yard as they were unloading their truck after a shopping trip.

CW33 says the officer responded to the wrong address, but a police spokesman told the station that he was assisting on the copper-theft call and was looking for suspects.

The Bolings told the station that their border collie mix, Lillie, was trying to greet the officer when he shot her in the back.

Officer Daniel Segura of the Fort Worth Police Department said two dogs charged at the officer, who finally shot one after they continued to behave aggressively, the station reported.

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-- Kathy Vetter, editor

Arlington crash shuts down I-20 for hours

Arlington police on Saturday spent several hours investigating a crash that shut down eastbound Interstate 20 at Green Oaks Boulevard.

Tiara Ellis Richard, Arlington Police media relations coordinator, said the crash involved a sport utility vehicle that slammed into a car, causing a chain reaction with a pickup and 18-wheeler. 

Richard said a girl in the car that was rear-ended car, believed to be about 10 years old, was taken to the John Peter Smith Hospital with serious injuries.

After the girl was stabilized, she was taken via air ambulance to Cook Children’s Medical Center, Richard said.

No other serious injuries reported. 

-Susan McFarland

 

 

Police: Motorist hit by semi in Fort Worth killed

FORT WORTH  — Police were investigating a fatal wreck Friday night that occurred when a man believed to have been involved in a police incident fled in a semi and struck a vehicle, killing its driver.

According to police, the incident began about 8:30 p.m. when Fort Worth officers were dispatched to Camp Bowie Boulevard and Merrick Street on a disturbance. 

“A semi then took off from the scene and hit a vehicle,” said Officer Daniel Segura, a police spokesman.The crash occurred at Hulen Street and Calmont Avenue.

The driver of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene, Segura said.

— Marty Sabota 

 

Massive fraud conspiracy unravels and ends with three in federal prison

Three defendants who were convicted for their roles in what Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater called “a massive, complicated, multi-year scheme to defraud a large number of victims,” were sentenced today to lengthy federal prison terms and ordered to pay millions of dollars in restitution.

Michael Blaine Faulkner, of Southlake, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison plus approximately $18.2 million restitution and a forfeiture money judgment of the same amount and a host of computer equipment.  Faulkner pleaded guilty in October 2011 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and one count of obstruction through hiding assets.  His wife, Chasity Lynn Faulkner, who also pleaded guilty in October 2011 to one count of conspiracy to commit electronic mail, postal mail and wire fraud, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2012.

According to documents filed in the case Michael and Chasity Faulkner fled to Mexico in 2009 after they learned of the FBI’s investigation into their activities.  They lived in Mexico, under assumed aliases, until January 2010 when they were arrested and returned to the U.S. to face charges.  Michael Faulkner has been in custody since that time; Chasity Faulkner has been on bond.

Two defendants, Nathan Todd Shafer, 32, of Irving, Texas, and Matthew Norman Simpson, 26, of Red Oak, Texas, were convicted in December 2011 following a 10-week trial before Judge Fitzwater.

Simpson, who has been in custody since his arrest, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison with restitution of approximately $17.6 million and a forfeiture money judgment of the same amounnt.

In addition, the Court also forfeited specific assets such as precious metal certificates worth approximately $3 million and additional cash and computer equipment worth approximately $2 million more. 

Simpson was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, one count of fraud and related activity in connection with electronic mail, one count of obstruction through destruction of evidence and one count of false registration of a domain name.  Additionally, shortly after Simpson’s conviction at trial, the Court entered an order finding that Simpson committed perjury during his testimony.

Shafer, who was convicted at trial on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison with restitution in the amount of approximately $3.3 million as well as a forfeiture money judgment of the same amount.  He was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on July 3, 2012.
          
There were a total of 19 defendants originally charged in this massive telecommunications fraud conspiracy.  Two defendants remain fugitives and are believed to be living outside of the U.S.  Two defendants were acquitted at trial.  Of the remaining defendants, all have pleaded guilty with five having been sentenced and the remainder to be sentenced on various dates throughout the summer.
 
In March and April 2009, the FBI executed numerous search and seizure warrants at the  Faulkner’s residence in Southlake, at Faulkner’s business known as Crydon located at 1950 Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, at Matthew Simpson’s residence, at a business operated by Simpson known as Core IP located at 2323 Bryant Street in Dallas and at other related businesses.
 
During trial, the government presented evidence that Simpson, Shafer and their coconspirators conspired to defraud various telecommunications companies including AT&T, Verizon, XO Communications, Excel Communications, Waymark Communications, Bandwidth.com, and CommPartners; the lessors of properties at 2020 Live Oak, 2323 Bryan Street and 1950 Stemmons Freeway, in Dallas; leasing companies and creditors, including Wells Fargo and AT&T Capital Services; credit reporting agencies; and various other service providers, such as power companies, insurance companies, air-conditioning companies, web site developers and others for goods and services amounting to more than $20 million.
 
The conspirators made false representations to obtain goods, such as computers and telecommunications equipment and infrastructure, to include racks to hold computer equipment, generators to provide power for the equipment, and office space to install the equipment, as well as services related to the operation and use of computers and telecommunications.  The conspirators created, purchased and used shell companies to hide the true identity of the owners or operators of the companies, or the relationships between the companies.  The conspirators paid persons including homeless persons for the use of their identities to “act” as the officers, directors or managers of the shell companies. 

They also used P.O. Boxes, commercial remailer services, shell offices, apartments or other physical locations to hide owners’ or operators’ identities or the relationships between the companies.  They assumed other identities to hide true ownership of the shell companies and made materially false representations to their victims, by mail, fax, telephone, email or other communications, to obtain goods and services from them.

Anti-bullying rally to be held Saturday

FORT WORTH — In a new effort to stop a different type of violence, Mark Carter, founder of the Stop the Violence Walk of Praise group, will host a rally on Saturday to end bullying.

The rally will be between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Dunbar High School, 5700 Ramey Ave.

Bullying leads to suicides, low self-esteem, truancy and even obesity, Carter said.

“Bullying is another way that people strip the manhood and womanhood, the confidence of our children,” Carter said. “Maybe if the community comes out and visibly rejects and stand up to bullies, some of it will stop.”

For more information, call Carter at 817-938-8081. — Mitch Mitchell

Three teens injured and two adults arrested after prom party in Parker County

Two 50-year-old property owners were arrested last month on suspicion they enabled teens to play alcohol-enhanced games at their residence.

Patricia Parrish Linn and Gregory Ray Wright were on the steps watching the teens on their property when deputies responded to a disturbance call about 1 a.m. on April 29, according to a news release from the Parker County sheriff's office.

Authorities said it appeared there were about 100 people at an after-prom party that included several underage drinkers. Some of these underage drinkers appeared to be involved in a game of beer-pong, the release said.

Linn told deputies she was trying to provide a safe place for teens after the prom and believed it would be better for them to be out in the country on 200 acres rather than in the city getting pulled over and receiving tickets.

Linn told investigators she never bought beer for the kids but only gave them a safe haven.

Three teens were injured during the party. One male teen sustained a large gash on his left knee, while a female teen suffered two large knots on her head from falling off a ledge and a third male sustained a dislocated shoulder.

Paramedics were called to the scene. Two injured teens left the scene without treatment while one teen was treated and released by paramedics.

Linn and Wright were charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor. Each suspect was released after posting a $1,500 bond.  -- Mitch Mitchell

Jurors begin deliberating in capital murder trial in toddler's death

UPDATE: 3:15

The jury has begun deliberating the fate of accused child killer Samson Loynachan, who is standing trial for capital murder in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols urged jurors in closing arguments Friday to convict Loynachan of capital murder, which would mean an automatic life sentence.

"We don't know what happened," Minton said. "There's only one person alive on this earthy who knows what happened, and he's not saying."

At one point Minton got out Chloes' tiny pink tennis shoes to show the jury.

"Chloe was a chore to him," she said. "She wa the cost of doing business with (Chloe's mom) Nicole."

Defense attorney Fred Cummings urged jurors to find him not guilty or perhaps guilty of a lesser charge of injury to a child. He said evidence does not support the higher charge.

"This is not a capital murder case," Cummings told jurors. "They don't want you to decide this case on the evidence. They want you to decide on emotions, that a beautiful little girl is dead."

 -Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

The case against accused child killer Samson Loynachan ended with fiery questioning from prosecutor Alana Minton.

"You expect this jury to believe your story when you are a self-admitted liar?" she asked.

"I have lied on other occasions and I am now under oath," he replied. "I'm not lying."

The jury will hear closing arguments after lunch and then will begin deliberating Loynachan's fate. He is charged with capital murder in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, who died Aug. 26, 2010 of blunt force trauma to the head.

Loynachan has testified that the injury must have occurred when he struck her with a car rest while trying to cheer her up after he picked her up from daycare early because she was sick. Prosecutors suggested he struck the child with his hand.

Prosecutors Minton and Eric Nickols are not seeking the death penalty. If convicted of capital murder, Loynachan would face automatic life in prison. If convicted of a lesser offense, which is an option for jurors, the sentence would be determined.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: Friday, 10:30 a.m.

Under sharp questioning from the prosecutor, accused child killer Samson Loynachan maintained the injury to his 2-year-old stepdaughter must have been accidental.

"I didn't do anything intentionally to hurt her," he told jurors in his capital murder trial stemming from the death of little Chloe Robinson.

"You are the person who caused Chloe's injury, are you not?" asked prosecutor Alana Minton.

"Probably," he saiid.

Loynachan has testified that the injury was caused by his hitting the child with the arm rest of a vehicle while trying to cheer her up. He had picked her up from daycare because she was sick.

But Minton outlined all the other stories that witnesses said Loynachan told at the time and in the days after Chloe's death  - that she'd fallen from her toddler bed, that she'd been hurt on the playground, that he'd tripped while carrying her and she'd fallen into the coffee table.

Minton asked Loynachan to read a portion of a letter he had written to Chloe's mother, who was then his girlfriend and whom he believed at the time was his wife, in which he'd suggested perhaps he'd blacked out.

"I'll never have the answers to make you happy, so I guess that means I will never have you," he wrote. "What if I blacked out? A novel idea but I doubt it. I don't remember any gaps in time."

The case is expected to go the jury today. Prosecutors Minton and Eric Nickols are not seeking the death penalty; if convicted of capital murder Loynachan would face an automatic sentence of life in prison. If convicted of a lesser offense - which is an option for the jury - the sentence would be determined.

-Dianna Hunt

The man accused of killing his stepdaughter is back on the witness stand Friday, facing grilling from prosecutors in his capital murder trial.

Samson Loynachan, 32, is standing trial in state District Judge Louis Sturns' court in the death of 2-year-old Chloe Robinson, who died from a fatal blow to the head.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols have presented evidence that the child lost consciousness while under Loynachan's care. Loynachan had picked the child up from daycare after workers called to say she was sick; the child's mother was on her first day of a new job and couldn't do it.

Loynachan testified Thursday that the injury may have occured when he hit the child with the arm rest of his vehicle. He said he was trying to cheer her up and didn't realize it had a metal core.

Defense attorney Fred Cummings has presented evidence that Loynachan was a good father to his girlfriend's children - three daughters in additional to Chloe - and to his own two children. Chloe lived with the couple full time but the other children visited frequently.

The case is expected to go to the jury today. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

-Dianna Hunt

Child on three-wheeler killed in Arlington traffic accident

ARLINGTON — An 8-year-old girl riding a three-wheeler bike was fatally injured in a traffic accident Thursday night, police said.

The accident occurred about 7 p.m. in the 1100 block of Angel Fire Lane.

The girl was riding the toy across the street when she was hit by a Honda Accord driven by a woman, police said. The child was dragged a short distance down the street before the driver of the Honda stopped.

The girl was playing with a young friend, who was not injured.

According to Tiara Ellis Richard, a police spokeswoman, the driver of the car stopped. There was no sign of impairment of the driver, Richard said.

The victim, whose name was not released, was driven by ambulance to Medical Center of Arlington and later flown to Cooks Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.

The girl died from her injuries a short time later.

Her name will be released by the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. 

This is the seventh traffic fatality in Arlington this year.

— Marty Sabota

Oncor: 12,000 in Tarrant County without power

FORT WORTH — More than 12,000 people were without power in Northwest Tarrant County Thursday night, Oncor officials said.

Ashley Burton, an Oncor spokeswoman, said the cause was under investigation.

“Right now our priority is to get power restored as quickly and safely as possible,” Burton said about 9 p.m.

— Marty Sabota

 

Fort Worth man gets a life sentence after delivering a knock out punch to his ex-girlfried

FORT WORTH — A judge sentenced a man to life in prison for knocking out his ex-girlfriend last year.

Prosecutors said Ronnie Paul Kappel, 47, had abused women for 20 years and was a habitual offender having been to prison four times on six felony convictions.

Kappel did not want to say good-bye to this woman, according to a news release from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office.

On Jan. 18, Kappel went to his ex-girlfriend’s house in Haltom City where he tried to rekindle their relationship. The woman refused and Kappel left, only to return later that day, the release said.

When Kappel returned, he punched the woman in the face in front of her two daughters – 3 and 6 – with enough force to knock her unconscious. When the woman awakened, Kappel tried to reconcile again. Again the woman said no, the release stated.

When his girlfriend said ‘no’ a third time, Kappel insulted her and left, the release said. The woman reported the assault the next day and was taken to the hospital.

Prosecutors showed the jury evidence that Kappel was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, a white supremacist prison gang, and had subpoenaed two different women who Kappel had assaulted.

Sate District Judge George Gallagher also heard from a Tarrant County jailer who said that Kappel assaulted an inmate while in jail. After assessing the life sentence and ordering that Kappel pay a $10,000 fine, Gallagher told Kappel that he had “earned every bit of it.” -- Mitch Mitchell

Fort Worth man pleads guilty to child porn charge

   A Fort Worth man has pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldana of the Northern District of Texas.

       Michael Kristopher Gilbert, 29, who has been custody since early April, faces a sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November.

       A special agent with the FBI, acting undercover, entered a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. The agent entered Gilbert’s shared directories and downloaded images of child pornography.  In March, when FBI agents executed a search warrant at Gilbert’s home, Gilbert admitted that he had been using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to trade files depicting child pornography, and had done so as recently as the prior day.  Law enforcement located images and videos of child pornography on Gilbert’s computer.

 

 

Accused child killer breaks down in tears, tells jurors he didn't know he hurt 2-year-old stepdaughter

UPDATE: 6:30 P.M.

Accused child killer Samson Loynachan broke into tears on the witness stand and pledged to jurors he was telling the truth about what happened to 2-year-old stepdaughter Chloe Robinson.

He said he hit the child in the head with a loose arm rest from his Bronco, thinking it was soft but realized only afterwards that it had metal inside. But he testified that the child appeared startled but did not appear to be hurt.

He said he told her mother that he fell with the child because she had threatened to leave him if he didn't tell her something.'

The trial has broken for the night. Prosecutors will cross-examine Loynachan beginning Friday morning.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Accused child killer Samson Loynachan told jurors he left little Chloe Robinson in her bedroom to get fever medicine and returned to find her slumped out of her toddler bed, unresponsive.

"It wasn't anything I'd ever seen before," he testified Thursday in his capital murder trial stemming from Chloe's death. "Her eyes were half-open."

Loynachan said he "panicked," and scooped the child out of her bed. He said he shaked her and tried to rouse her, then went rushing out to neighbors to seek help.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: Thursday, 4:11 p.m.

Accused child killer Samson Loynachan has taken the stand in his own defense in the capital murder trial stemming from the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter Chloe Robinson.

Loynachan, 32, told jurors he was serving in the U.S. Navy at the time of his arrest in August. He said he had served more than 10 years and was a supervising petty officer at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth at the time.

He had been airlifted out of Iraq with a back injury and has had two back surgeries, he testified.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

Accused child killer Samson Loynachan has indicated to the judge that he will testify in his own defense, perhaps later today.

After intense discussions with his lawyer and with his family on the edge of their seats in the courtroom, Loynachan told his attorney that he would like to take the stand in his own defense.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: Thursday, noon

A defense expert testified Thursday that the fatal injury to 2-year-old Chloe Robinson could have occurred as early as 24 hours before she lost consciousness and was caused by a blow to the head.

Dr. Amy Gruszecki, a Dallas forensic pathologist, said the blow could have been caused by any number of things - "a bump, a fall, a hit - it could be anything."

She also testified that the symptoms Chloe exhibited at daycare - vomiting, fever - could have been symptoms of the blow to the head that she sustained.

Gruszecki is testifying in defense of stepfather Samson Loynachan, 32, who is standing trial on a capital murder charge in the death of Chloe, who died a day after arriving at the emergency room lifeless and struggling to breathe.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols presented evidence that the injury occurred while Loynachan was watching the child after picking her up sick from daycare.

But defense attorney Fred Cummings has presented evidence that the injury could have occurred at daycare or before and that the symptoms progressed after the child went home.

"The injury could have happened several hours before," Gruszecki testified.

Testimony is expected to conclude today and the case could go to the jury as early as this afternoon or Friday in state District Judge Louis Sturns' court. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

-Dianna Hunt 

 

UPDATE: 10:10 a.m.

The state rested its case against accused child killer Samson Loynachan with a child abuse specialist testifying that severe shaking likely caused the fatal injuries to 2-year-old Chloe Robinson.

Dr. Sophia Grant, a pediatrician who is part of the child abuse investigation unit at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, testified in Loynachan's capital murder trial that severe shaking could have caused the brain hemorrhaging that eventually killed her.

Grant also testified that the symptoms would have been immediate and said the injury had to have occurred while the child was under the care of Loynachan.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols have presented evidence that Chloe was alone with Loynachan, 32, who had picked up the child after she became sick at daycare. The child's mother, who was Loynachan's girlfriend at the time, was at her first day of work and could not do it.

But defense attorney Fred Cummings suggested during questioning of Grant that the child may have become unconscious from the high fever and vomiting, and that Loynachan's efforts to revive her may have caused the brain injury.

Loynachan admitted shaking the child after finding her unconscious, but Grant testified that actions he described would not have been severe enough to cause the injury.

The child had no other apparent signs of abuse except for scrapes on her knees and her skull was not fractured. Witnesses have testified, however, that Loynachan was so harsh with Chloe that one reported him to Child Protective Services.

But Chloe's mother, Nicole Robinson, had testified under questioning that she had praised Loynachan's parenting skills and his willingness to take responsibility for her four children and his own two.

The trial is continuing in state District Judge Louis Sturns' court. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

-Dianna Hunt 

THURSDAY, 9:30 a.m.

A child abuse specialist from Cook Children's hospital told jurors Thursday that the brain injury to 2-year-old Chloe Robinson was so severe that she would immediately have been knocked unconscious.

Dr. Sophia Grant, a pediatrician on the special child abuse unit at Cook Children's Medical Center, testified in the capital murder trial of Chloe's stepfather Samson Loynachan that the child would have become "non-responsive, eyes rolling in the back of her head, not breathing, comatose."

"Something happened in that home that caused her (injury)," Grant testified.

"We're not talking about an accident here, are we?' asked prosecutor Alana Minton.

"No," Grant replied.

Loynachan is standing trial in the death of Chloe, who suffered a head injury so severe that she died the next day after emergency surgery. Minton and prosecutor Eric Nickols have presented evidence that Chloe became unconscious within an hour of being picked up from daycare by Loynachan.

The child became sick at daycare, with vomiting and fever, and defense attorney Fred Cummings has suggested through questioning that the injury may have occured before she was alone with Loynachan.

The child's mother was at her first day of a new job and could not pick up the child.

The state is expected to rest its case this morning in state District Judge Louis Sturns' court. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

-Dianna Hunt

 

Arlington man faces child pornography charge

FORT WORTH — An Arlington man faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release if he is convicted of possession of child pornography.

Michael Ray Borah, 36, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of possession of child pornography, the U.S. attorney's office said. Borah will remain free on bond pending sentencing which is set for Nov. 13.
 
According to court documents, federal agents went to Borah’s home in early August 2011 to speak with him about purchasing access to known child pornography websites, a news release from the U.S. attorney's office states.

Borah admitted that had purchased subscriptions to these websites and that he still possessed child pornography on his computers, the release says.

-- Mitch Mitchell

Memorial fund established to help Bobby Miller's family pay funeral costs

FORT WORTH — Friends and relatives of Bobby Miller are hosting a fund-raising event from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday at the Diamond Hill Recreation Center. 

Proceeds from the fund-raising event will be used to offset funeral expenses incurred by the family that were brought on by Miller’s drowning in Lake Worth on Sunday.

A fund has been established to help offset Miller’s funeral expenses. Donations to the Bobby Wayne Miller Memorial Fund can be made in person at either of the three Fort Worth Unity One Credit Union offices, 6701 Burlington Boulevard, 76131; 2625 North Main Street, 76164; and at 4625 North Tarrant Parkway, 76244.

Donations will also be accepted at Unity One Credit Union locations through the mail. On-line donations are being accepted at www.everribbon.com/ribbon/view/6382

-- Mitch Mitchell

Federal jury convicts Alvarado motorcycle gang member on weapons charge

FORT WORTH _ An Alvarado motorcycle gang member was convicted Tuesday of possessing an illegal machine gun that he delivered to an undercover FBI officer.
Benjamin “Rebel Rider Ben” Edward Neuner, 59, was convicted late Tuesday afternoon on the federal charge.
Neuner was returned to custody after the verdict.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 31 before U.S. District Judge John McBryde.
Neuner faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Alvarado man is a member of the Rebel Riders motorcycle club, a support group for the Bandidos motorcycle club, according to testimony in the trial
Federal prosecutors presented evidence that Neuner converted two rifles into machine guns and delivered them to the undercover officer.
The jury rejected Neuner’s claim that he was entrapped by a cooperating Bandido member.
— Domingo Ramirez Jr.

 

Accused killer said he 'fell' with child and hit coffee table, child's mother testifies

The man accused of causing the head trauma that killed two-year-old Chloe Robinson told the girl's mother after she threatened to leave him that he tripped and fell into a coffee table with the child.

Samson Loynachan, 32, who is standing trial on a capital murder charge in Chloe's death, later said the information was untrue, Nicole Robinson told jurors.

Robinson said under questioning from defense attorney Fred Cummings that she had praised Loynachan's parenting skills and enjoyed the family life they shared with her four children and his two children, most of whom lived with them off and on in the home that Loynachan owned in north Fort Worth.

Robinson testified that she married Loynachan, 32, while Chloe was near death in the hospital so she would have his military health insurance, but never turned in the marriage license.

"I didn't know what happened to my daughter and I didn't want to be married to someone who killed her," Robinson said.

But under questioning, she also testified that she had led Loynachan to believe, while he was incarcerated awaiting trial, that she was pregnant with his child and even sent photos to him and his father of a baby that she told him was his.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols have presented evidence that Chloe suffered a severe head injury while she was under Loynachan's care that led to her death. They are not seeking the death penalty.

Testimony is continued in state District Judge Louis Sturn's court.

-Dianna Hunt

Fort Worth man arrested in arson case

FORT WORTH — A man was being held in the Mansfield law enforcement center on Wednesday facing an arson charge.

Max Robert Roach, 49, of Fort Worth, was arrested on Friday in connection with a fire in an outbuilding at a residence in the 2800 block of Noble Street, a police report stated.

The fire, which occurred on Friday, caused an estimated $9,000 in damage, according to Tim Hardeman, fire department spokesman.

Officials determined that probable cause existed to make an arrest, but did not go into details citing the ongoing investigation, Hardeman stated.-- Mitch Mitchell

Fort Worth police to hold annual officers' memorial today

The Fort Worth Police Department and the Fort Worth Police Officers Association are holding their annual Peace Officers Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the memorial in Trinity Park.

The department plans to live-stream the ceremony here.

Massachusetts karate instructor facing Arlington sexual assault of a child charges

This story last updated 11:30 a.m.

SHREWSBURY, Mass. -- A Shrewsbury karate instructor has been accused of sexually assaulting a child in Texas last year, according to authorities.

The alleged victim, a 13-year-old girl at the time of the alleged assault, did not report the incident until recently, according to a WHDH Channel 7 News story out of Boston.

Police arrested 41-year-old Eric Rossini of Grafton over the weekend as a fugitive from justice after police in Arlington, Texas charged him with two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Rossini is an instructor as the MassDojo Karate School.

Police say the crimes allegedly occurred in Arlington, Texas last July. Rossini was in Arlington at the time of the alleged assaults attending a karate-related event, said Tiara Richard, Arlington police spokeswoman. The victim is Rossini's relative and the assaults are not related to Rossini's work as a karate instructor, police said.

Earlier this year Rossini was charged with domestic assault and battery on a woman at his home in Grafton. He was also charged with an illegal wire-tap of a police officer last year.

Rossini was arraigned on Monday in Westboro District Court and was freed on $25,000 cash bail. Rossini is being held under house arrest and authorities are making arrangements to ensure that he faces the Texas charges, Richard said.

Paul Jarvey, a spokesman for the Worcester County district attorney's office, said the court dismissed the wire-tapping case involving a police officer that occurred on May 10, 2011 after Rossini met the conditions of an agreement with the court.

However, his recent arrest violated the terms of an agreement made to dispose of an assault and battery charge involving an ex-girlfriend that occurred on Jan. 5, Jarvey said.

Rossini was placed on house arrest as a result of that violation, Jarvey said.  -- Mitch Mitchell

 

Convicted murderer denied early release

FORT WORTH — Convicted killer, Travis James Maxey, will continue to serve out his life prison sentence in a hospital near Lubbock, according to authorities.

Maxey, 37, was denied early release by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Family members and prosecutors had waged an effort, which included starting a Facebook page and a letter writing campaign, to keep Maxey in prison. Maxey, sentenced to three life terms on multiple murder convictions, was not supposed to be eligible for parole for 40 years.

A state program, called medically recommended intensive supervision, or MRIS, could have allowed Maxey, 37, to be released early, if such a release was not deemed a threat to public safety.
Cases are referred by the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments, then reviewed and voted on by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

In fiscal 2011, the board approved 85 medical releases -- the most in five years.

Maxey has been held in a hospital near Lubbock since April 6, according to a Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman. Maxey was sentenced in January 1999 and was originally eligible for parole in 2037.  — Mitch Mitchell

This story contains material from Star-Telegram archives

Texans urged to report arson this summer

Texas Forest Service officials urged Texans to report arson this summer as the dry season approaches the state.

Although much of the state has had recent rainfalls, drought conditions still exist in many areas of the state, making it possible for dangerous wildfires.

Officials urged residents to report arson or any suspicious behavior.

"We're asking residents to keep an eye out of any suspicious vehicles or unusual activity," said Les Rogers, chief law enforcement officer for the Texas Forest Service in a news release. "Arson is a threat to safety and property, and it causes an increased risk for our emergency responders."

Arson is a felony and if convicted a person faces a maximum of 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Anyone with information on arson activity in Texas should contact local law enforcement officials or call the arson hot-line at 1-800-364-3470.

_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.

Tarrant County grand jury nobills California inmate linked by DNA to Fort Worth cold case

A Tarrant County grand jury has declined to indict a California prison inmate who had been linked by DNA evidence to the 2001 killing of a Fort Worth man.

The grand jury issued a no-bill on Monday for William Tony Anderson, 32, who had been charged with capital murder in the slaying of Brett Curlee, 36, in his east Fort Worth home.

But that doesn't mean that's the end of the investigation into Anderson's possible role in the killing - the Tarrant County district attorney's office said the investigation is ongoing.

"Law enforcement authorities have submitted additional items for testing and, when those results are final, we will review them and determine whether we will resubmit the case to the grand jury," according to a written statement released by the district attorney's office.

The DA's office declined to comment further about the case.

Anderson's local attorney, Steve Gordon, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Anderson is set to be released this month from a California prison, where he has been serving out a 32-month sentence for possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

Anderson was linked to the slaying of Curlee through DNA evidence that had been obtained at the crime scene and entered into a database in 2002. In September 2011, Fort Worth detectives were notified by the California Department of Justice that the DNA had been linked to Anderson.

Additional DNA samples were obtained from Anderson, and police said additional testing confirmed a match between Anderson and DNA evidence found outside of Curlee's car and inside his home.

Anderson was also linked to Curlee's missing cellphone. A man who was using the phone a few days after Curlee was found dead told authorities he had purchased it from Anderson and a cousin.

The cousin told police that Anderson had sold the phone for $50 and left for California, police said.

-Dianna Hunt

Suspect in Pennsylvania shoplifting not a suspect in a 2002 Fort Worth murder

FORT WORTH — Officers returning from Pennsylvania said a man arrested on suspicion of shoplifting on Friday is not a suspect in a 10-year-old murder case.

Officers with the Wilkes-Barre City police department arrested Rafael Munoz, 39, Friday at a Home Depot trying to take a four-burner grill without paying for it, a news release said.

A records check revealed that Munoz had an arrest warrant out of Fort Worth connected to a 2002 homicide, the release said. Investigators said Monday that Munoz is not a suspect in that homicide, according to Pedro Criado, police spokesman.
-– Mitch Mitchell

Body found in Euless is missing teen

(UPDATE: The Tarrant County medical examiner's office has positively identified the body as that of Ashley Valladares, who went missing on May 4.)

It appears that Euless police are investigating the discovery of a body near the intersection of Texas 10 and Industrial Boulevard, but there is no word yet if it is that of a 19-year-old Ashley Valladares, who has been missing from a nearby apartment complex for two weeks. 

The woman's father, Justin Valladares, told the Star-Telegram on Thursday that he fears his daughter was either dead or the victim of human traffickers.

 “She would call everyday about every little thing,” her father said. “But since she went missing, no one has heard from her.”

Photo by Bob Booth/Special to the Star-Telegram

Seventh annual Danielle LeBlanc memorial concert for domestic violence victims is set for Saturday

As Christmas approached in 2005, Danielle LeBlanc told relatives and friends that she was ending her relationship with her abusive boyfriend. They tried to talk her out of doing it in person, but she insisted she could handle it.

A few days later, LeBlanc, 22, was found strangled to death in the bedroom of the southwest Arlington apartment that she shared with Don Wayne Moody. Her 2-year-old daughter was soiled and appeared to have been left to fend for herself. 

Within a week, Moody, 26, the suspect in the case, had killed himself in a Laredo motel room before police could capture him.

Channeling their grief into a determination to help other families avoid similar anguish, LeBlanc's siblings organized a memorial concert the following spring to raise money for domestic violence programs. Now in its seventh year, the Danielle LeBlanc Memorial Benefit Concert for Battered Women and Children will be from 5 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday at J. Gilligan's Bar and Grill in Arlington. Admission is $10.

Some of the bands set to play on stages indoors and outdoors are Egress, Rhymin and Stealin, Idol Job and Sally Majestic.

J. Gilligan's owner Randy Ford said last year that he hoped the concert becomes a tradition at his establishment. "It's a win-win for everybody," he said. "It's a tragic story, but what a wonderful way to make things better."

Brenda Jackson, executive director of I Can Still Shine, a domestic violence program in Grapevine, wrote in a letter that in 16 years she's never found a family more committed to ending domestic violence.

"For myself and my ministry, literally hundreds upon hundreds of moms and kids have been helped by their donations and support," Jackson wrote.

- Patrick M. Walker

Police headed to Pennsylvania to interview possible homicide suspect

FORT WORTH — Investigators are on their way to Pennsylvania to try and determine whether a shoplifting suspect is also a suspect in a 10-year-old murder case.

Officers with the Wilkes-Barre City police department arrested Rafael Munoz, 39, Friday at a Home Depot trying to take a four-burner grill without paying for it, a news release said.

A records check revealed that Munoz had an arrest warrant out of Fort Worth connected to a 2002 homicide, the release said.

Fort Worth police said they will release more information on Monday.

-– Mitch Mitchell

Suspect is arrested in Mississippi highway slayings

Mississippi have arrested a suspect in two fatal shootings that led residents to believe a man posing as a police officer was pulling over drivers and killing them.

James D. Willie, 28, has been charged with two counts of capital murder, according to ABC News.

Tom Schlender, 74, from Nebraska, was found dead May 8 in his car on Interstate 55 in Panola County, according to news reports. A few days later, Lori Carswell, 48, from Mississippi, was found near her car on Mississippi Highway 713.

Both victims were killed in rural, desolate stretches of highway, leading authorities to theorize that the shooter might be posing as a police officer to make them stop their vehicles.

Authorities had warned drivers to question whether someone pulling them over was really a cop.

ABC News reported that Willie  was arrested Tuesday on rape and aggravated-assault charges. Police also allegedly found a Ruger 9mm, semi-automatic handgun during the arrest, which investigators matched to last week's shootings.

And State Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain suggested that the suspect may not have posed as a police officer in the shootings after all.

Still,  Public Safety Commissioner Albert Santa Cruz told the news station: "The Bureau of Investigation and Crime Laboratory dedicated all resources available to this investigation. Our citizens have been terrorized by these murders and we worked tirelessly to resolve them."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/18/suspect-arrested-in-deadly-mississippi-highway-shootings/

-Alex Branch

 

Life without appeal: Court issues order prohibiting Fort Worth killer from pursuing appeal

First he got a life sentence without parole.

Now he's got a life sentence without appeal.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals this week issued an order that will largely prohibit Fort Worth killer Jeff Dodson from filing additional appeals of his conviction in the 2007 robbery-slaying of a Bedford convenience store clerk.

Dodson, who was acting as his own attorney, lost his right to appeal by submitting falsified records to the court in an application for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to overturn his conviction, the state's highest criminal court concluded.

"The writ of habeas corpus is not to be lightly or easily abused," the court notes in a three-page opinion released Wednesday.

"We find that (Dodson) has abused The Great Writ by submitting false evidence. We dismiss this application and cite him for abuse of writ."

Attorney Jack Strickland, who represented Dodson at trial and handled his direct appeal, said the court's action is a rare and unusual step.

"They don't find abuse of the writ very often," said Strickland, who is now Tarrant County's deputy district attorney. "It's a curtailment of a fundamental institutional right to seek redress through habeas corpus."

Meghan Ryan, assistant professor at SMU's Dedman School of Law, said it's hard to sympathize with Dodson.

"That's certainly a limitation of his rights but they're not constitutionally accorded rights once he's taken advantage of the process," Ryan said. "When you abuse the process, as the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals says, you lose that right."

Ryan said Dodson perhaps should have considered having a lawyer handle the application.

"You know the saying, 'A person who represents himself has a fool for a client,'" she said. "Having a lawyer is a good idea. Perhaps the bigger lesson is don't falsify documents or try to get at the end results by untoward means."

Strickland said Dodson could probably appeal the court's decision to a federal court but isn't likely to have much success.

"When I saw what he had done, I was astounded," Strickland said. "It was pretty transparent... He might appeal that decision to the federal courts but federal judges are probably even less patient than the state judges."

Dodson does still have one glimmer of hope: The state appeals court noted that it would consider accepting future applications from him if he can show that any claims could not have been raised prevoiusly. But that's not likely.

"It's pretty strict and pretty hard to overcome that hurdle," Ryan said.

Dodson was convicted in 2008 of capital murder in the death of Gaurab Rajbanshi, 28, who worked at D&S Food Mart on Pipeline Road. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty.

Dodson's brother, Theodist Dodson, pleaded guilty but said he was not the shooter in the case. He was sentenced to life in prison. Dodson submitted trial transcripts to the appeals court that had been altered to make it appear that his brother had pleaded guilty to being the gunman in the case.

Dodson's claim allege prosecutorial misconduct and witness perjury, that he was denied an attorney at one point in the process and that his attorneys were ineffective. He also claims he is innocent of the charges.

Strickland said Dodson thanked him at the end of the trial when the jury's decision took the death penalty off the table.

"It's just another example of 'no good deed goes unpunished,'" Strickland said.

-Dianna Hunt

Store employee who suspected cheating finds himself behind bars

A 25-year-old Texaco employee faces a charge of aggravated robbery after allegedly pointing a gun and demanding money from customers whom he suspected of cheating while playing electronic gambling machines inside the store.

The customers _  two men and two women _ told investigators that they had been playing the games at the Texaco at 5400 Brentwood Stair Road Wednesday afternoon when one of them won a cash voucher.

Police said the customer had exchanged the voucher at the counter for cash, then began playing again when store employee Saul Rangel allegedly approached the customers and pointed a handgun at them.

“The suspect demanded the money back and accused the victims of cheating,” Officer Kellie Whitehead stated in a press release about the incident. “The suspect locked the victims inside the store.”

When police arrived on the scene, it was Rangel who was arrested.

He remained in the Mansfield jail Thursday on suspicion of aggravated robbery. He was also being held without bond on an immigration hold, jail records show.

- Deanna Boyd

Fort Worth man sentenced to 45 years in prison for fifth DWI

A Fort Worth man with five drunken driving convictions has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Stephen Andrew Hall, 59, was convicted this week of his fifth DWI and sentenced by state District Judge Mollee Westfall

Hall was arrested on July 22, 2011 just before 2 a.m. in River Oaks for failing to properly stop at an intersection, according to a statement from the Tarrant County district attorney's office.

When officers approached, he said, "I'm so under arrest," and later admitted to officers, "I'm guilty," according to evidence presented by prosecutors Erin Cofer and Keith Harris.

 Hall had four prior DWI convictions and had been to prison for felony DWI. He also had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated robbery.

A jury deliberated just four minutes before convicting him. Hall, who represented himself, opted to let the judge decide his punishment. He must serve one-fourth of his sentence before being eligible for parole, according to the district attorney's office.

-Dianna Hunt

Not guilty verdict of former Houston cop outrages black community

  A former Houston police officer found not guilty of official oppression in the videotaped beating of a 15-year-old burglary suspect says he has no regrets but will take a “deep breath” before deciding whether to go back into law enforcement, according to a story by The Associated Press.

Andrew Blomberg was the first of four fired police officers to stand trial for their roles in the alleged March 2010 beating of Chad Holley.

The verdict Wednesday outraged black community leaders. Blomberg, who is white, said his actions to subdue the black teenager were not racially motivated and those who disagree weren’t there.

Defense attorney Dick DeGuerin praised the jury’s verdict and called Blomberg “a hero.”

But Houston Mayor Annise Parker said the officers will never work in Houston as police no matter their criminal trial verdicts.

Carjacking victim improves following surgery

PANTEGO — A mother of two who was run over by her own van during a carjacking episode on May 7 is recovering from one of several surgeries she is expected to undergo before she heals.

Nina Cherry, 55, was waiting in the Pantego Christian Academy parking lot for her sophomore twins to get out of school when a suspect in a computer theft pulled her out of her 2007 Honda Odyssey van.

The suspect threw Cherry to the ground and then ran over her during his escape attempt, according to police. The van was equipped with a tracking device that led police to the vehicle. Police arrested the suspect, Benjamin Michael Rowell, 32, of Arlington, shortly after the carjacking occurred.

Rowell was in the Arlington city jail on Wednesday facing an aggravated robbery charge along with several other charges. Rowell’s bonds totaled more than $500,000, jail records showed.

Cherry is at John Peter Smith hospital and out of the intensive care unit, but still faces months of recovery, a friend of the family said.

In the interim, the Burks family of graphic designers has fashioned a T-shirt that they are selling on behalf of the Cherry family to help them offset some of the medical expenses they will incur during the long road to recovery.

The shirts can be purchased by following this link http://prayformrscherry.bigcartel.com and following the instructions. -- Mitch Mitchell

'Lost Boy of Sudan' sentenced to 20 years in prison in stabbing of UPS driver

A former "Lost Boy of Sudan" who has a history of mental illness was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison in the stabbing of a UPS driver on her delivery route.

James Panchol, 35, of Fort Worth, had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and opted to let a Tarrant County jury decide his punishment. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated about an hour before deciding on the maximum punishment.

Panchol was shot four times by a Fort Worth police officer after attacking the UPS driver in the parking lot of a west Fort Worth apartment complex on July 27, 2009.

He stabbed the woman, unprovoked, in the upper back with a large kitchen knife and then stabbed her twice more in the lower back and upper arm as he chased her around the parking lot, according to prosecutors Lloyd Whelchel and Jennifer Jackson.

A bystander helped the woman hide but Panchol was still in the parking lot when officers arrived. He refused to drop the knife and was hit with a Taser gun. He pulled out the probes and charged officers before being shot, according to the district attorney's office.

He had a history of mental illness and had reportedly been "hearing voices" just a few weeks before the stabbing. At the time, however, he refused treatment.

A cousin testified for the defense about their lives leaving Sudan and living in Ethiopia and Kenya before moving to the U.S. Defense attorney David Jones said they were "taught to kill people so they could defend their homeland."

He urged jurors in state District Judge Ruben Gonzalez Jr.'s court to consider probation.

"Life has already punished this man," he said. "Do you need to punish him more? It's like we saved him to lock him up. ... We might as well have left him to be eaten by the crocodiles."

Whelchel, however, told jurors that prison may be the only way to guarantee that Panchol takes his medication.

"It took four bullets to stop him in this case," Whelchel said. "He's violent, he's dangerous, he's unpredictable and he's out of control ... If he's left to his own devices, he's going to seriously injure - or kill - someone again."

Whelchel urged the jury to hand down the maximum punishment.

"You think about how long you want to keep him away from us," he said.

Panchol was one of about 40 Lost Boys who came to Tarrant County in 2001 to escape years of civil war and famine in their country. Panchol had a prior misdemeanor conviction for resisting arrest in 2002.

-Dianna Hunt

Fort Worth man accused in fatal shooting

FORT WORTH _ A 45-year-old Fort Worth man was charged today with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of another man in south Fort Worth Friday, court records show.

Harold Lawrence Graves Jr. is accused of shooting Eric Hollie, 34, during an argument. Police discovered Hollie’s body on the front porch of Grave’s home after responding to an investigation call in the 1400 block of Roma Lane shortly after 7 a.m. Friday.

Investigators believe the shooting actually took place about 4 a.m. but was not reported for another three hours until the body was spotted, according to Sgt. Pedro Criado, a police spokesman.

Detectives later obtained a murder warrant for Graves, who was arrested Monday and booked into the Mansfield jail.

He remained there Tuesday with bail set at $100,000.

Records show Hollie also goes by the last name of Johnson.

- Deanna Boyd

Aryan gang members sentenced to prison

More gangsters with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas have been sentenced to federal prison for an aggravated assault in Tomball in 2008, according to federal officials.

Benjamin Dillon, aka, “Tuff,” 39, was sentenced to 41 months in prison and  Justin Northrup, aka, “Ruthless,” 27, was sentenced to 63 months in prison. The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. in the Southern District of Texas.

According to court documents, Dillon and Northrup and 10 other Aryan gangsters took part in the beating of a prospective gang member at the home of another gang leader, Steven Walter Cooke, 48, aka “Stainless,” in Tomball on Sept. 22, 2008. The prospective member was beaten up because he violated certain Aryan Brotherhood rules of conduct. 

Eleven of the 12 co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to violent crimes in aid of racketeering aggravated assault.  The 12th gang member, David Harlow, aka, “Bam Bam,” 43, was found guilty at trial.

-- Lee Williams, aka “Incredible Bulk”

Pair rob 7-Eleven

BEDFORD — Two men who concealed the lower portion of their faces with their shirts robbed a 7-Eleven store about 7 p.m. Sunday.
“One of the suspects went behind the counter and demanded money from the clerk” of the store at 800 Forest Ridge Drive, said Bedford police spokesman David Smith. “The clerk did not see any weapon displayed.”

The clerk gave the man an undetermined amount of money from the register, Smith said.
The subjects fled on foot, east on Pipeline Road, and were last seen headed toward the Sotogrande Apartments in Euless.
Both suspects were described as about 5 feet eight inches tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds.
— Terry Evans

Security increased at Keller Fossil Ridge High School in north Fort Worth

Security was increased at Keller Fossil Ridge High School today because of an altercation among students on Friday when school was dismissed.

Several parents removed their children from school this morning because of rumors of a weapon or possible campus shooting, according  to Keller school district officials.

Classes were conducted as usual, without disruptions, officials said.

The school is located in north Fort Worth.

-- Lee Williams

Body parts found at Juarez bar

The carnage in Juarez and other parts of Mexico continues to amaze me.

I lived in El Paso in the early 1990s and was a regular visitor to Juarez restaurants, markets, golf courses and, of course, the greyhound track.

These days you couldn't pay me to go there.

Seems that there is a news report every day about some unfathomable violence.

The latest came this morning, when two heads and four hands were found in a bar's parking lot in Juárez, according to the El Paso Times.

This comes a day after 49 mutilated bodies were found in the town of San Juan, near Monterrey, Mexico.

The bodies, all victims of drug cartel violence, had their heads, hands and feet chopped off, according to the Associated Press.

--Lee Williams

 

 

Dallas woman sentenced to 30 years for using cell phone to take, send photos of child engaging in sex acts

DALLAS _ A 38-year-old woman was sentenced Monday morning to 30 years in federal prison for using her cell phone to take and send photos of a 6-year-old child engaging in sex acts.

Holli Chapman was sentenced in a Dallas federal courtroom by U.S. Judge David Godbey. She was sentenced to prison and a lifetime of supervision following her release.

Chapman's sentence followed her guilty plea in February to a charge of production of child pornography.

The Dallas woman admitted to federal authorities that she photographed the child and then sent the images via text messages to another person, according to federal court documents.

The case was investigated by Dallas police and the U.S. Secret Service.

_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.

Fire department to host charity event

FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth Fire Department will host a Community Bowl-a-Thon that will benefit three local charities — Meals on Wheels, the Tarrant Area Food Bank and the American Red Cross — from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The event will be at Brunswick Westcreek Lanes, 3025 Alta Mesa Blvd., and the public is invited to attend. Proceeds from the event will be divided equally between the three charities. Bowlers can donate $10 for unlimited bowling, including shoe rental, during the event. -- Mitch Mitchell

Denton fire marshal names person of interest in college preparatory fire in January

The Denton fire marshal has named a man arrested on a weapons charge as a person of interest in the Jan. 26 fire that destroyed the main building at Selwyn College Preparatory School, according to the Denton Record Chronicle.

Luther Joe Romines, 43, a maintenance man who lived in an apartment at the school on West University Drive, has not been charged in connection with the fire, but he faces charges on two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon on school property.

Fire Marshal Rick Jones confirmed that Romines is a suspect in the fire previously determined as arson, a story in the Denton Record Chronicle said.

Firefighters who arrived on the scene shortly after the fire started were limited to protecting the other buildings nestled close by and were not able to save the academic offices and classrooms for lower grades. -- Star-Telegram staff

Police seeking leads about a Euless woman who has been missing for a week

EULESS — Police are actively searching for a young woman who seems to have disappeared without a trace.

Her boyfriend reported that he last saw Ashley M. Valladares about 11:30 p.m. May 4 at her apartment in the 300 block of South Industrial Boulevard, police said.

It seems that she took nothing with her from her apartment, according to authorities. Police are working a couple of leads in the case, but said they a near a point where they will begin searching for her door-to-door.

Friends and relatives have told investigators that this disappearance is unusual and that she has never done anything like this before. She talks to her parents daily, police said.

She left work at a KFC in Euless late and arrived at the apartment, police reports state. An unknown man arrived about 11:30 p.m., asking for a haircut, police said.

She cuts hair at her apartment, and she had gone around the complex trying to get customers, according to Eric Starnes, police spokesman. Her boyfriend was upset because some guy showed up late at night asking for a haircut, Starnes had said.

Starnes said the boyfriend stormed out of the apartment, leaving Valladares and the man in the apartment. The boyfriend returned about 2 a.m. and no one was there, police said.

Euless police said Valladares was wearing a gray tank top and black pants. She is about 5-foot-2 and weighs about 115 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call Euless police at 817-685-1556. -- Mitch Mitchell

Dallas man who liked to look at children in diapers sentenced for child porn

  Federal authorities have sentenced a Dallas man to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release for transporting and shipping child pornography, said U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. 

Thomas Roussin, 46, who had been in custody since pleading guilty in December 2011, was sentenced late Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle.

Roussin was first investigated by Plano police and later the FBI, who when searching Roussin’s home, found several images of child pornography on his computer.

 He admitted that he had approximately 30 “friends” with whom he trades images.  Roussin also admitted that his primary interest is viewing children in diapers, but he also has photos of nude children, which he conceded are child pornography, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

-- Lee Williams 

Fort Worth man accused of stealing, crashing DPS Trooper's patrol car in Cisco

It’s never a good idea to steal a car.

It’s even worse when it’s a Texas Department of Public Safety patrol car.

And that’s exactly what a 40-year-old Fort Worth man is accused of doing today along Interstate 20 in Cisco, according to television station KXTS Channel 12 in Abilene.

Chris Eugene Durham, of Fort Worth, faces a variety of charges in connection with the incident, according to DPS Senior Trooper Sparky Dean.

Durham was apparently on his way to Abilene when he pulled over his vehicle and flagged down a state trooper, saying his wife was having a heart attack.

An ambulance and other officers were called, but the woman was not having a heart attack. Officers searched the vehicle and found drugs.

Durham was arrested and put in handcuffs, but slipped out of the restraints and began fighting with officers before jumping into the DPS patrol car and driving off.

After officers shot out the tires, he continued to drive westbound on I-20 about two miles before crashing.

He is currently in the Eastland County Jail.

 - Lee Williams