Hoodied man nabs trousers full of smokes
Orange Police Department officers arriving at the Exxon gas station in the 6800 block of FM 1130 the morning of Feb. 18 are still searching for a man shown in surveillance footage to have absconded from the store sporting white shoes, a gray hoodie, a red face mask, and gray sweatpants visibly stuffed with menthol cigarettes.
According to information from OPD, officers responding to Exxon in reference to a robbery arrived after the suspect had already fled the scene, and a subsequent search of the area yielded no results.
Police describe the suspect’s hoodie as possibly depicting a picture on the front of a man standing next to a turquoise car with words written above it.
“The suspect carried and displayed a handgun and stole money and merchandise during the robbery,” police reported.
Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to call the Orange Police Department at (409) 883-1026, or contact Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at (409) 833-TIPS (8477), online at 833TIPS.com or via the downloaded P3 TIPS app.
ID a suspect; get paid
Crimestoppers of Southeast Texas is offering a reward for the capture of a litany of suspects sought by the Beaumont Police Department (BPD), each caught on surveillance cameras for a variety of crimes.
Feb. 20, BPD reported an image of a woman who went shopping in the Gateway Shopping Center and paid for her purchase with counterfeit bills. Also the same day, BPD disseminated the image of a man who walked out of The Boot Barn without paying for two pairs of boots.
Earlier this month, Feb. 15, BPD investigators circulated an image of a two suspects involved in an aggravated assault at the 2210 IH 10 South “Express Mart” on Jan. 29 about 4 a.m. The black female, who was described as having long braids, wearing a white jacket and blue jeans, entered the store and tried to leave without paying for merchandise. The clerk attempted to keep the alleged thief from leaving, but she pushed her way past the employee along with an accomplice described as a black female wearing all black clothing and orange shoes.
The suspect returned to the store with a Black male with short black hair, earrings, wearing a black Playboy t-shirt and tattoos down both arms, who then pointed a handgun at and threatened to shoot the clerk on duty. The clerk reportedly jumped behind the counter and the three suspects left in a silver or gray vehicle, possibly a Ford Focus, with no front license plate and a paper rear license plate.
Anyone who has any information on any of the suspects is asked to call at (409) 833-TIPS (8477) or report tips online at 833tips.com. Persons will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Murder sentence appeal denied
A 52-year sentence for a Hardin County man convicted of murder was upheld by the Ninth Court of Appeals in Beaumont on Feb. 8.
Terrance Tyveone Williams, 52, of Silsbee, was convicted in the May 2015 shooting death of James Steven Clem, 27, of Lumberton, in a truck near a convenience store on U.S. 69 in Kountze.
According to court documents, Chief Justice W. Scott Golemon’s opinion stated, “We have found no reversible error, and we conclude the appeal is wholly frivolous.”
Court records state Williams pleaded guilty at the trial, but elected for the jury to set his sentence. Williams’ post-trial attorneys appealed the imposed sentence, questioning whether the lawyer representing Williams at trial provided sufficient defense for the client, and whether it was fair for an “all white jury” to determine sentencing.
According to media reports, Clem was in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck with his common-law pregnant wife and another woman on the corner of Fourth and Beech streets in Kountze.
The victim was shot while reportedly attempting to make a drug transaction. Clem’s wife got into the driver’s seat and drove Clem to the convenience store where he was pronounced dead.
An investigation conducted by the Kountze Police Department led to Williams’ arrest.
Beaumonters busted in Jasper County
Several Beaumont residents were arrested recently, according the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, including:
Feb. 16, Conner David Jones, 34, was arrested for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, 4-200 grams.
Feb. 14, Cody Allen Comeaux, 49, was arrested for hunting provisions violation.
Feb. 13, Caleb C. Martin, 22, was arrested for evading arrest with vehicle and for a warrant.
Shooter indicted five years after Vidor death
The man who called police to report that he shot 47-year-old Jason McLain, of Vidor, in 2018 has now been arrested, turning himself in to police after a grand jury indictment alleging murder on Feb. 16.
According to court records, Karl Avery Stanbrough Jr., 26, surrendered to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 20; he remained in custody as of press time.
Vidor Police Department (VPD) investigators released information that, at 10:32 p.m. on April 25, 2018, officers responded to the 100 block of Alamo in reference to a call of shots fired. The caller, Stanbrough, stated that he shot a man. Arriving officers reported that McLain was already dead.
Subsequent investigation details asserted that Stanbrough interceded in an argument between the deceased and a female companion. When Stanbrough approached McLain and the woman he was with, the police reported, McLain allegedly charged at Stanbrough and a firearm was discharged, striking McLain.
VPD stated Stanbrough cooperated with investigators.
Officers arrest alleged Hardin County criminals
The Silsbee Police Department reported six recent arrests for a plethora of crimes, including:
Feb. 18, Victoria Leanne Mauldin, 35, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to maintain financial responsibility and operating unregistered motor vehicle – all Class C misdemeanors. The same day, Michael Glen Gilbert, 37, was arrested for evading arrest with a vehicle, a third-degree felony.
Feb. 16, Marlin Robert Griffin II, 43, was arrested for unlawfully carrying a weapon (Class A) and Amber Marie Million, 43, was arrested for possession of marijuana, less than two ounces.
Feb. 14, Tina Rene Coudrain, 54, was arrested for possession of controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1B, 1-4 grams.
Feb. 13, Roy Frank Kendrick, 30, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia (Class C), failure to maintain financial responsibility (Class C), expired license plates, possessing an open container in a vehicle and driving while license invalid.
The Lumberton Police Department reported four people were arrested, including:
Feb. 19, Zachary T. Page, 37, was arrested for assault (second-degree felony).
Feb. 18, Steve M. Gardner, 40, and Craig McBryde, 36, were both arrested for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, 4-200 grams (second-degree felony). Also, Cameron Steele Fonseca, 24, was arrested for possession of marijuana, less than two ounces. (Class B).
Man arrested for mass of meth
Feb. 20, a joint effort of the Pinehurst and Orange police departments resulted in the arrest of a man investigators assert was selling meth from his Orange County residence.
Serving a search warrant on 42-year-old Christopher Dean Bennett, as well as his 1215 28th St. residence, police discovered “a large amount” of methamphetamine, along with a pistol.
Bennett was taken into custody and remitted to the Orange County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, and felon in possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
Cat-kick videographer admits guilt
A Beaumont man, who admitted guilt in filming a friend kicking a cat and posting it to social media, will face up to seven years in prison for federal animal cruelty violations, according to information from the office of Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.
Decorius Mire, 23, pleaded guilty to “animal crushing” on Feb. 21. The U.S. Attorney’s Office detailed the definition of animal crushing as: “actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians, is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury.”
According to information presented in court and shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on Oct. 15, 2021, Mire allegedly encouraged a co-defendant to kick a stray cat the two happened upon in the parking lot of a Beaumont apartment complex.
“The co-defendant, encouraged by Mire, kicked the cat as if kicking a football field goal, propelling the cat approximately 15 to 20 feet through the air,” the prosecutorial office explained. “Mire filmed the event with his cellular telephone and posted the video on his social media accounts where it was commented on and shared with others.”
A tip to Crimestoppers regarding the online imagery of the October 2021 video prompted Beaumont police to investigate the alleged cat torture in September 2022.
Beaumont Police Department officers arrested then-28-year-old Donaldvan Williams as the accused co-defendant, announcing that Mire had yet to be apprehended for his suspected role in the crime.
Police in 2022 described the felonious film of feline torture as more egregious than what was detailed in federal court. The video showed subjects torturing and killing the victim cat by not only kicking it “15 to 20 feet in the air,” but also setting it on fire and giving it narcotics, police reported.