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ROCKWALL – Rockwall Police issued a statement yesterday that their preliminary investigation indicates that the three-year-old girl who died Monday accidentally pulled a TV off of a table and onto herself.

Despite resuscitation efforts, the child passed away from injuries believed to have been sustained during the accident.

The accident took place in the 700 block of Hail Dr. , in a neighborhood behind Home Depot.

Police responded to a 911 medical call about 4:50 pm. Rockwall County Emergency Medical Services arrived at the location and transported the girl to an area hospital.

The name of the child is being withheld at this time, while the case is still under investigation by the Rockwall Police Criminal Investigation Division.

By J.J. Smith

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Devin Oliver (right), Aubrey Butts (Dallas Morning News photo)

PARIS TX – Former Rowlett High School girls basketball player Devin Oliver, 20, who was a member of the Texas A&M-Commerce women’s basketball team, was killed with a teammate Tuesday when the car they were riding in was hit by an 18-wheeler.

Also killed was 21-year-old Aubrey Butts, who graduated from Lewisville High School. The women were in the back seat.

Taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries were two other team members, the car’s driver – 21-year-old Latisha Hearne – who graduated from Richardson High School; and front passenger, 19-year-old Zeonbia Winbush, from Schertz TX.

Police said it happened just before 6:30 pm at the intersection of Loop 286 and FM 1497. The women in the car stopped at a stop sign, pulled out into the intersection and then were hit by the semi-truck.

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ROCKWALL – The Rockwall Police Department is seeking your assistance in identifying the subject in this photo, who was recently involved in a theft that occurred at the Centsible Thrift Store at Rockwall County Helping Hands.

If you can help identify this subject, contact Rockwall County Crime Stoppers at 972-771-8477.

You may also text your tip to Rockwall County Crime Stoppers by entering keyword “Rockwall” plus your message and send it to 274637.

You may remain anonymous.

By Staff

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ROWLETT – Rowlett Police say that 30-year-old Amanda Todhunter shot and killed her ex-boyfriend, 35-year-old U.S. Navy recruiter, Brandon McClain, and then committed suicide after 3 pm Saturday in the home they shared until two weeks ago in the 5600 block of Luna Dr.

Family and friends told police that she was upset about him breaking up with her.

Lt. David Nabors with Rowlett Police said officers found their bodies around 1:30 pm Sunday after McClain’s mother went to the home to check on him, saw her body on the kitchen floor and called 911. Both victims had been shot in the head.

She told police she grew concerned after he did not attend his son’s baseball game as he was expected to.

Nabors added that police are treating the case as a murder-suicide because the doors were locked on the inside and there were no signs of forced entry. They also found a weapon near the crime scene. The Dallas Medical Examiner confirmed that she committed suicide.

Over the past few months police have responded to two 911 calls from the home. In February, Todhunter reported a domestic assault, but did not press charges. Then, in May, McClain claimed his ex-girlfriend had a gun and was suicidal. She was not home when police arrived.

Although no children were home at the time of the shootings, Todhunter and McClain each leave behind two children.

By J.J. Smith

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DALLAS – The body of 69-year-old Rowlett fisherman William Neskorik was recovered by Dallas Police about 10 am today on the Rockwall side of the Hwy. 66 bridge after a 911 call reported him missing yesterday at about 5 pm and a search was conducted until midnight.

Police say he went fishing by himself about 6:30 am yesterday and his pontoon boat was found drifting near the Hwy. 66 bridge about noon.

His cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Dallas County Medical Examiner.

By J.J. Smith

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CADDO MILLS – A Royse City resident was killed Saturday night after receiving at least one gunshot wound during a birthday party at a residence on County Road 2737 and his death is currently being investigated by the Hunt County Criminal Investigation Division.

According to the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, Estanislado Theodo Hernandez, 37, died at Parkland Hospital as a result of two gunshot wounds after he was air transported there.

But his step-father, Jim McDonald, told the Greenville Herald Banner that he was only shot once in “a tragic accident.”

“There was only one gunshot fired,” McDonald insisted. “The home owner never intended for it to happen. It was just an altercation which got out of hand.”

McDonald said he, Hernandez’s mother and the home owner are all distraught over what happened.

Hunt Co. Sheriff Randy Meeks said his office received a call at around 7 pm Saturday of a possible shooting. Deputies arrived and found that Hernandez had suffered at least two gunshot wounds.

“Information recovered determined that they were having a birthday party at the residence when a disturbance occurred,” Meeks said. “The victim was shot by the owner of the residence.”

No arrests had been reported as of Monday evening in connection with the shooting.

Hernandez’s death was the third homicide involving a shooting reported in Hunt County so far in 2014.

By J.J. Smith

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Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office Photo

ROCKWALL – The man accused of murdering former Kaufman Co. District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife, Cynthia, and former Kaufman Co. Assistant Mark Hasse was turned over to Rockwall County authorities in late June and is now being held in the Rockwall County Jail in lieu of $23 million until his trial begins Dec. 1.

Former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams and his wife, Kim, are accused of killing the McClellands in their Forney home March 30 and accused of gunning down Hasse in the Kaufman Co. Courthouse Annex parking lot Jan. 31.

Kim Williams will continue to be held in lieu of $10 million bond at the Kaufman Co. Law Enforcement Center.

Earlier this year, Dallas County Criminal District Court Judge John Snipes was appointed to preside over the trial.  He agreed to transfer Williams’ case to Rockwall Co. after the defendant’s defense team asked for a change of venue, claiming that their client would not be able to receive a fair trial in Kaufman Co. because of all of the publicity surrounding the case.

Jury selection will begin Sept. 22, after being reset from June.

McLelland and Hasse had prosecuted Williams, a former Precinct 1 justice of the peace, for stealing county equipment. A jury convicted him in 2012. He lost his job and law license as a result.

By J.J. Smith

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HEATH – The investigation into the April 22 death of 12-year-old Amy Parks Elementary School student Ethan Moran has been closed and the manner of his death has been officially listed as “undetermined,” the City of Heath Department of Public Safety announced yesterday afternoon.

The Heath resident’s body was found in the woods near his home deceased due to a gunshot wound to his head after he was reported missing but the autopsy report released yesterday by the Dallas Medical Examiner’s Office did not state what the exact circumstances were.

“The results of the investigation revealed there were no past or present reasons for Ethan to cause his own death,” said Heath Public Safety investigator Lt. Scott Trammell. He explained that interviews were conducted with family, friends, neighbors, coaches and teachers.

“Everyone investigators spoke with found Ethan to be a healthy and happy young man who loved all aspects of his life.”

Witness interviews, along with numerous close examinations of the scene where Ethan’s body was found, revealed he was handling a pistol that he removed from his home. It is unclear if Ethan knew the pistol was loaded or not. The evidence suggests Ethan was examining the pistol and caused it to discharge.

“After reviewing all the facts and evidence, Heath investigators believe Ethan’s death was an accident,” said Lt. Trammell.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – An unidentified armed robber held up Chicken Express at 1810 S. Goliad around Midnight Friday.

There are no reports of anyone being hurt.

Police said an employee at the business after it had closed reported an unidentified man broke a window and entered the location, displayed a weapon and demanded money. After a short amount of time, the suspect ran from the location with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police responded to the report at 12:06 am but the robber had already fled the scene.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Rockwall Police Department at 972-771-7721 or the Rockwall County Crimestoppers line at 972-771-TIPS (8477). You may also submit your tip by texting
keyword “Rockwall” followed by your message and send it to 274637.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – Rockwall Police released more details yesterday about the motor vehicle/pedestrian accident that killed Heath High School freshman student Chrishia Odette Friday night, after she crossed Horizon Rd. to retrieve a dropped cell phone.

Police say they responded at 9:36 pm to the scene at Horizon Rd. at Rockwall Parkway where they located a 13-year-old female with severe trauma. Rockwall EMS arrived at the location and transported the victim to Presbyterian Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

“The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was crossing Horizon Road when she was struck by the vehicle,” read the news release from Public Information Officer Sgt. Jeff Welch. “The driver of the vehicle did stop at the scene.”

He added that the case remains under investigation by the Rockwall Police Department’s Traffic Division.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – A Tennessee resident was convicted and sentenced to 54 years in prison and a $35,000 fine for Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine over 400 grams Sept. 4 by a Rockwall County jury.

Shelton Bonds, 48, had previously been convicted and sentenced to prison in Tennessee for three prior offenses involving the delivery of cocaine.

“This was a trial run for Bonds and his cohorts,” said Assistant District Attorney and lead prosecutor Lauren Ellis.  “If all went well, they would have made additional trips through Rockwall purchasing large amounts of cocaine, further poisoning our communities. Officer Ellis was instrumental in prosecuting this case because of his experience and knowledge in domestic highway enforcement.”

According to a news release from Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney Kenda Culpepper, jurors heard testimony that on Feb. 27, 2012, Rockwall Police Department Officer Josh Ellis detained the vehicle in which Bonds was a passenger on a traffic stop on I-30 and later found over a kilogram of cocaine in the trunk of the vehicle.

“Bonds had traveled from Tennessee to Texas the previous day and had stayed overnight in a local motel,” read the release. “Prosecutors were able to present telephonic communications which had been obtained through wiretaps in a federal narcotics investigation.  Those phone calls linked Bonds to the Rockwall drug offense by revealing that Bonds had organized the purchase of cocaine from a relative in Texas.

In punishment, Officer Josh Ellis testified to the negative effects of drugs on the community.

“Both state and federal law enforcement agencies worked hand in hand to investigate and prosecute this case,” said Culpepper.  “Collaborative relationships like these are essential in our quest to combat the widespread and insidious networks of the drug trade.”

By J.J. Smith

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Eric Williams

ROCKWALL – Jury selection began today in the Rockwall County courthouse in the first of three murder trials of former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams, who is accused of murdering Kaufman Co. District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, last March; plus Assistant Kaufman Co. DA Mark Hasse last January, in retaliation for charging and convicting him of burglary.

The trial was moved to Rockwall because of pretrial publicity and is scheduled to begin Dec. 1, despite attempts by defense attorneys to postpone it. Williams has pleaded “Not Guilty.”

Special prosecutors Bill Wirskye and Toby Shook are seeking the death penalty for Williams. They disclosed earlier this month that Williams was also targeting current District Attorney and former judge Erleigh Norville Wiley and his one-time boss, retired state District Judge Glen Ashworth.

Each potential juror will be carefully interviewed for 80 minutes by prosecutors and defense attorneys.

The first juror interviewed today stated that he doesn’t know much about the alleged crime, only that “a Kaufman Co. judge and his wife” were killed in their home. He added that he believes gun control is unconstitutional “for the most part” and he owns several guns, including 5 or 6 shotguns and six or seven rifles. He said he knows someone who killed a man, and he has not formed an opinion about Williams.

Williams’ estranged wife and co-defendant, Kim Williams, has been cooperating with police and will testify against Eric Williams, whom she is now divorcing. She recently led police divers to a spot in Lake Tawakoni under the two mile bridge that spans the lake, where divers recovered a gun believed to be the murder weapon of Hasse. Ballistic tests have linked the gun to the murder of Hasse. A second gun was also found.

No photos were allowed in the courtroom this morning.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – A Royse City man was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison for the first-degree felony of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Sept. 18 by a Rockwall County jury.

Jurors heard testimony that Arron John Lumsden, 29, sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl in 2007.

Lead prosecutor, Ashley Anderson, related that she was inspired by the courage of the victim, who is now 11 years old.

“Seeing her testify in front of the man who assaulted her and took advantage of her was powerful,” said Anderson. “She had the confidence on the stand to fight back in a situation when she was too little to fight back at the time of the offense.”

“Jurors had to listen to difficult and graphic evidence,” said Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper.  “This was a tough case for everyone, and I really appreciate the jury’s hard work.”

Multiple expert witnesses from the Hunt County Children’s Advocacy Center and the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Center helped educate the jury on the reasons for a delayed outcry and the accuracies of a child’s memory.  Prosecutors also called an expert witness from the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center in the punishment phase to testify about the continuing dangers to society presented by a high risk sex offender.

In punishment, prosecutors presented additional evidence that he had also committed a sexual act with a four-year-old boy.

By J.J. Smith

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DALLAS – The former owner and president of Curry Auto Leasing (CAL) in Dallas, who pleaded guilty in July, 2014, to an information charging one count of bank fraud, was sentenced Monday to 24 months in federal prison and ordered to pay approximately $1,170,620 in restitution.

Christopher Mark Hood, 47, of Rockwall was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.  He must surrender to the Bureau of Prisons in January, 2015.

CAL, located on Montfort Drive in Dallas, facilitated auto leases for individual and corporate clients by obtaining funding for the vehicles from various financial institutions. CAL served as the intermediary between the customer and the financial institutions, obtaining funding for the leases for the customer and then servicing the leases on behalf of the financial institutions.

According to documents filed in the case, beginning as early as September, 2007, and continuing through at least October, 2010, Hood knowingly executed a scheme to defraud the financial institutions by making false representations and promises concerning the auto leases and loans.

Hood’s scheme to defraud had two parts: (1) “double pledging” lease agreements with multiple financial institutions; and (2) providing a false guarantee to the financial institutions that CAL would provide a clear title to financed vehicles, knowing that clear titles could not be provided.

After obtaining financing from the originating financial institution to acquire one or more vehicles to be leased by CAL customers, on occasion, CAL through Hood, sought and secured subsequent funding for the same vehicle(s) from a second or new financial institution. At times, the secondary funding occurred at or about the time of the expiration of the original lease and/or for reducing the monthly cost to the customer. In some instances, however, the secondary funding occurred a few months after the original lease was funded by the original bank, without disclosure of the original lease to the secondary funding institution. At the time of the secondary financing, CAL, through Hood, represented to that financial institution that the funds paid through this financing would be paid timely to the original financial intuition so that a clear title could be obtained and provided. Hood knew this statement was false.

The U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Nicholas Bunch prosecuted.

By J.J. Smith

The post Rockwall man sentenced to 24 months in prison for bank fraud appeared first on The Rockwall News.

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Eric Williams

ROCKWALL – The prosecution and defense rested yesterday in the capital murder trial of Eric Williams, the former Kaufman Co. justice of the peace accused of murdering Kaufman Co. DA Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and Assistant DA Mark Hasse.

The defense declined to call any witnesses after the prosecution has called numerous witnesses during the past three days.

Closing arguments are scheduled today.

The jury yesterday heard testimony that Williams sent anonymous emails to law enforcement claiming credit for the 2013 killings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife. Prosecutors explained Williams used cloaking software to mask the origins of the emails to a tip line.

Williams faces a possible death sentence if convicted.

By J.J. Smith

The post Defense rests without calling any witnesses in Eric Williams murder trial appeared first on The Rockwall News.

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ROCKWALL – Former Kaufman Co. justice of the peace Eric Williams was found guilty today by a Rockwall jury of murdering Cynthia McLelland, the wife of Kaufman Co. District Attorney Mike McLelland.

The jury, which took less than two hours to reach its verdict, will hear evidence from Monday in the sentencing phase, beginning at 8:45 am.

The former peace officer is facing the death penalty after being described by a prosecutor as “a ruthless killing machine” who had carefully plotted out his crimes.

Upon hearing the verdict, Williams bowed his head and rested his face in his hand.

The defendant has also been charged with the death of Mike McLelland and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse. The trial of the wife’s death was the first of three cases being heard separately.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases yesterday after prosecutors presented evidence for the past three days. The defense cross-examined several state witnesses but declined to call any witnesses in William’s defense. He also chose not to speak in his own defense.

After the verdict, William’s defense lawyer, Matt Seymour, said their team would call witnesses and present evidence during the sentencing phase of the trial.

He stated there is no proof that Williams is the killer or that he was even at the McLelland’s home. He claimed his client is innocent and added that there is reasonable doubt and the facts presented do not prove the prosecution’s case.

By J.J. Smith

The post Eric Williams found guilty of capital murder in slaying of Cynthia McLelland appeared first on The Rockwall News.

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DALLAS – Dallas County and Dallas Police have announced that people caught with less than two grams of marijuana will not be arrested beginning in January as they begin an experimental program for officers to just issue tickets and a reminder to show up in court.

The County announced in October their plan to cite and release pot users. Although Dallas Police Chief David Brown initially said his officers will continue to arrest users until the legislature changes the law, he changed his mind along the way.

According to the Dallas Observer, Dallas County criminal justice director Ron Stretcher said the cite-and-release experiment was initiated by DPD about four months ago.

“The county actually did try a cite-and-release program shortly after the law was passed in 2007, he says, which covered marijuana arrests as well as a half-dozen other misdemeanors like criminal mischief and driving without a license, but it was marred by poor planning and a large percentage of defendants skipping court dates. Cops, prosecutors, and judges were “not all completely committed to the process.”

“This time, Stretcher is optimistic things will be different. The previous incarnation of the program was originated by the county, which had to convince sometimes reluctant cops to play along. This time, it’s the cops who are leading the charge. And officials are being much more meticulous about planning for implementation this time, for example drafting cite-and-release forms and running them by cops, prosecutors, and judges to be sure they pass muster.

Some hurdles remain. Without defendants being booked in and having all 10 fingerprints taken, prosecutors and the courts worry that police might have difficulty firmly establishing a person’s identity. To minimize these concerns, only pot-users with a valid state ID showing an address in Dallas County will be eligible for cite-and-release. And there’s always the danger that the defendant won’t show up for court.

Joe Ptak, who’s been advocating for the wider adoption of cite-and-release programs in the state, says the no-show problem is minimal when implemented in an intelligent way. Hays County, home of San Marcos, has 95 percent of defendants show up. The benefits, meanwhile, can be tremendous for cops and jails. In Travis County, about 5,500 offenders go through the cite-and-release program, which represents a significant savings in officers time and jail costs.

He hopes the legislature in 2015 will force state agencies (e.g. the Texas Department of Public Safety and university police departments) to adopt cite-and-release, which would establish a statewide framework for the program and allow municipalities to implement the program without going through the complicated dance they currently must do with courts and prosecutors.

CBS11-TV reported Dec. 15 that State Rep. Joe Moody has introduced a bill that would reduce penalties for marijuana possession in Texas.

“We tend to criminalize everything. What we’ve done here is created a civil sanction so it would still be technically illegal under the law but wouldn’t be punishable under a criminal sanction,” said Rep. Moody. “We need a new approach that allows us to more effectively utilize our limited criminal justice resources. This legislation is a much-needed step in the right direction.”

By J.J. Smith

The post Dallas County, Police to stop arresting people caught with marijuana appeared first on The Rockwall News.

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ROCKWALL – A Rockwall jury sentenced former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams to death this morning for the murder of Cynthia McLelland, wife of former Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland,

Williams was also accused of murdering the DA and his first assistant Mark Hasse but additional trials will no longer be necessary since he received the death penalty.

The 12-person jury took about three hours yesterday and 30 minutes this morning before announcing their verdict.

Williams was found guilty Dec. 4 of murdering McLelland. His defense attorneys tried in vain during the past week to save him from death row. He is entitled to an appeal, according to Texas law.

Yesterday his estranged wife but admitted accomplice in the murders, Kim Williams, told the jury and packed court room how “excited” that she and her husband were with having killed all three people. They were also planning to kill current Kaufman Co. DA and former judge Erleigh Norville Wiley and former state District Judge Glen Ashworth but were caught before they could do so.

Several victim impact statements were made by relatives of the McLelland family, including Nathan Foreman, Cynthia McLelland’s son; and Mike McLelland’s daughter, Krista Ball. Foreman said he believes in the golden rule but will have a difficult time forgiving Williams for murdering his mother. He said he misses her all the time.

Other members of the family told Williams he thought he was smarter than everyone else but was not and was caught for what he did. Now he will have to pay with his life and they will be there to witness his execution.

By J.J. Smith

The post Rockwall jury sentences Eric Williams to death for murder of Cynthia McLelland appeared first on The Rockwall News.

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ROCKWALL – Former Rockwall County Sheriff’s Department Maintenance Supervisor Michael Dillingham was recently arrested and charged with the Class A Misdemeanor of Theft of Public Property of $50<$500, after it was disclosed he was after scrapping County property at Parks Recycling in Quinlan.

County Sheriff Harold Eveanson confirmed by email this morning that Dillingham is no longer employed as a deputy but had “no further comment at this time.”

According to Dillingham’s Linked In page, he was employed there since 2009, where he provided “maintenance and repair to electrical, mechanical, surveillance, HVAC, plumbing and security within the facility and other locations within Rockwall County. Responsible for contractors, budgets, time keeping and inmate worker selection.”

He paid a $750 bond Nov. 13, was released from jail and has a hearing set for Jan. 5, according to the online Rockwall County Judicial Records.

By J.J. Smith

The post Former Sheriff’s Department Maintenance Supervisor Michael Dillingham arrested for theft appeared first on The Rockwall News.

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ROYSE CITY – A Rockwall Police officer was arrested Jan. 1 by the Royse City Police Department for Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon.

According to Rockwall Police Public Information Officer Aaron McGrew, after Royse City resident Alphonso Olivo Jr., 30, posted a $50,000 bond and was released from the Rockwall County jail, he was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

No details about the incident have been released since police do not comment on open investigations.

By J.J. Smith

The post Rockwall police officer arrested for aggravated assault with deadly weapon appeared first on The Rockwall News.