CRIME & PUNISHMENT | From The Examiner

Alleged meth peddler popped

An Orange Police Department (OPD) traffic stop on Feb. 7 resulted in the arrest of a 53-year-old man carrying a quantity of meth investigators suspect was intended for distribution.

According to information from OPD, ongoing investigation led police to track David Wayne Broussard of Rose City, suspected of distributing methamphetamine in Southeast Texas. When OPD’s Narcotic Division conducted a traffic stop on Broussard’s Toyota Camry in the 2300 block of Elmira Road on Feb. 7, the police report, the accused was found in possession of approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, along with other narcotics. 

“Additional charges are pending,” according to OPD.

Detailed jail records on Feb. 8 list Broussard as arrested on a second-degree felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, with bond listed at $150,500.

Cross-county child soliciting alleged

Hardin County deputies took over custody of a Beaumont, Jefferson County, man accused of attempting to sexually entice a teen girl in the neighboring community. 

Feb. 9, Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis’ deputies arrested Tyler O’Neil Davis, 26, of Beaumont, and transported him to the Hardin County Jail after he was accused of the online solicitation of at least two 16-year-old girls in Hardin County.

Davis is also accused of soliciting another teen in Jefferson County. He is currently facing eight online solicitation of a minor charges, each with a possible 20-year sentence, two counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography and two counts of online solicitation of a minor, according to jail records.

Davis’ total bond for seven of the charges was set at $1.75 million or $250,000 each. 

The Hardin County District’s Attorney office will present the case to a grand jury.

Paperwork problems reveal drug possession

Feb. 11, a Houston man found in possession of weed – and an invalid license – was arrested for felony evading and aggravated assault of a public servant in Port Arthur, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

DPS reported that preliminary investigation indicated troopers attempted to stop a Nissan Altima on FM 365 and U.S. 69 for registration violations. The driver, Luis Armando Sinaloa, 32, fled in the vehicle, but was apprehended a short distance later.

With assistance from the Port Arthur Police Department, Sinaloa was transported to the Jefferson County Jail, charged with evading arrest with vehicle, possession of marijuana, driving with invalid license, aggravated assault of public servant, and possession of controlled substance. Sinaloa’s total bond was set at $100,000.

‘Thousands of pills’ lands man in federal prison

Valentine’s Day, a Beaumont man was sentenced to serve just shy of 10 years in a federal prison for his part in a criminal meth-mix distribution conspiracy, according to an announcement from the office of Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.

Patrick Dwayne Gipson, 38, pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and, on Feb. 14, was sentenced to serve 119 months in federal prison by Beaumont-based U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.

According to information presented in court, on Feb. 6, 2020, local law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Beaumont residence controlled by Gipson and others. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized thousands of pills, purported to be ecstasy, which contained methamphetamine.

Prior to the federal prosecution of Gipson et al, the Beaumont Police Department (BPD) Narcotics and Special Assignments Units reported the results of a “several months” investigation “on target locations that are suspected to be delivering narcotics in and around the 4000 block of Buffalo.”

Aug. 23, 2019, Beaumont Police Narcotics, Special Assignments, SWAT and K-9 Units executed warrants and arrested the three named suspects: Gipson, Travion Dewayne Parkerson and Wendall James Kirtman.

Police report the raid was “high-risk,” as the known criminal suspects were heavily armed and secured in premises guarded with surveillance equipment. The risk paid off with the seizure of approximately 380 grams of suspected MDMA, several pounds of marijuana, liquid THC, various prescription pills, more than 16 gallons of Promethazine, four loaded handguns, and a large amount of cash.

Gipson is the last defendant of the conspiracy to be sentenced. Earlier in February, Travion Dewayne Parkerson was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison; Wendall James Kirtman was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison; and an added co-defendant not arrested pursuant to the 2019 raid, Kobe Jashawn Grimes, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. 

Woman sentenced for trafficking child

Feb. 15, the record of Dylliaunna Lacey was clarified, as the woman, accused of continuous sex trafficking of a minor child, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Feb. 1, pursuant to a plea agreement where she admitted guilt to a lesser included charge. 

“Ms. Lacey is young … she was not even a target,” the defense’s attorney, Chip Radford, argued before Jefferson County 252nd Criminal District Court Judge Raquel West on Feb. 1, in hopes of securing a lighter prison sentence for his client, who was facing a maximum sentence of 10 years. “The only way the state discovered her is she was forthcoming to the police about what she had been doing.”

Lacey had no prior felonies, and has been in jail for two years already, Radford added. Judge West retorted while reading from a Pre Sentence Investigation (PSI) report prepared by the county’s probation department.

In addition to what West called a quasi-admission of multiple instances of child sex trafficking, the jail staff’s 79 write-ups for infractions Lacey committed while in custody helped to cement the judge’s order. 

“It’s all ridiculous,” West said. Lacey was indicted as the mastermind behind online ads “from a known prostitution website” that offered up minors for sex. Lacey pleaded guilty to one count of the crime, but there could be others. 

“Based on some of the ads and things,” West continued, Lacey was involved in more than one child’s trafficking – and was under scrutiny in Jasper County for child sex trafficking, as well. “Even one minor child is too much.”

Lacey’s own words support the state’s theory, West added.

“I just want to say, no one was forced to do anything,” Lacey was quoted in the PSI. “Not just that particular person, but no one.”

All taken into account, Lacey was given the maximum sentence allowed.

“That 10-year cap is a gift,” West said.

Silsbee PD arrests eight
The Silsbee Police Department reported eight people were arrested recently.
Feb. 12, Jasmine Nicole Reid, 30, was arrested for possession of controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, 1-4 grams (third-degree felony); possession of dangerous drug (Class A misdemeanor) and four warrants. Also, Douglas Scott Costlow, 60, possession of controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, 1-4 grams (third-degree felony) and public intoxication (Class C) and Deanna Nicole Gentry, 36, arrested for public intoxication (Class C).
Feb. 10, Christopher John Staebler, 38, was arrested for stalking (third-degree felony).
Feb. 9, Pauline Carrier, 40, was arrested for public intoxication (Class C).
Feb. 8, Randy James Stelly, 43, was arrested for possession of controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1B, 1-4 grams and four warrants; Christopher Allen Venable Jr., 25, was arrested for evading arrest with previous conviction (state felony) and James Howard Pattillo, 43, was arrested for driving while license invalid (Class C). 

Area residents arrested in Tyler Co.
The Tyler County Sheriff's Office reported several local residents were arrested recently.
Silsbee resident Aaron Justin Kirkendall, 42, was arrested for resisting arrest, terroristic threat against public servant and public intoxication. His boned was set at $45,000.
Thad Anthony May, 52, of Beaumont, was arrested for driving while intoxicated and Kenneth Marie Malone, 40, of Beaumont, was arrested for possession of controlled substance, Penalty Group 3.
James Earl Cratic, 64, of Beaumont, was arrested for criminal trespass and expired drivers license with a $1,000 bond.
Taylor Morgan Hryorchuk, 31, of Nederland, was arrested for theft of property, $100-$750. Bond was set at $750.
Brennan Covington, 22, of Port Neches, was arrested for sexual assault of a child. No bond amount has been set.