Raid yields three arrests, drugs
March 22, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and SWAT executed multi-structure search warrants in the 11,000 block of Hillcrest Drive in Beaumont.
While executing warrants, one subject, Madison Wade Lowe, 30, of Beaumont, fled from one of the structures but was found and taken into custody for an outstanding felony warrant out of Jefferson County for theft and two outstanding felony warrants out of Hardin County, both for possession of a controlled substance, (Penalty Group 1).
Lowe was also found in possession of one once of methamphetamine, a small amount of suspected Ecstasy pills and glass smoking pipe used to smoke methamphetamine. She was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (Penalty Group 1), evading arrest, theft and two counts of possession of a controlled substance (Penalty Group 1-A). Her total bond was $77,500.
During a search of two structures, detectives found more suspected meth, suspected Adderall and suspected synthetic marijuana. Arrested were Savannah Chelsie Hawkins, 26, of Beaumont, for possession of a controlled substance (Penalty Group 1) and Jordan Lee Bean, 26, of Beaumont, for possession of a controlled substance (Penalty Group 2).
Hawkins’ bond was set at $7,000, and Bean’s was set at $5,000.
Man dies in shooting, suspect arrested
A Jasper man is dead after being shot in the head and the suspect in the crime is in custody, reported the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).
JCSO spokeswoman Karli Cherry said the shooting occurred about 10 p.m. March 25 at a location on County Road 420, southwest of Kirbyville.
Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. confirmed Chase Butler, 21, of Kirbyville, died about 4 p.m. March 26 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont.
Chief Deputy Scotty Duncan reported Jadarian Ra’Joan Lee, 25, of Kirbyville was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (second-degree felony), unlawful Possession of a firearm by a felon (third-degree felony) and possession of marijuana, 2-4 ounces (Class A misdemeanor).
Man arrested in July boating accident death
A Hardin County man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal boating accident that claimed the life of a Louisiana man on July 7, 2022, on Lake Sam Rayburn.
Karli Cherry, public information officer with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, reported Erik Lloyd Cozart, 40, of Sour Lake, was arrested March 24 for manslaughter.
Marcus Morgan, 47, of Grand Lake, Louisiana, was airlifted to a Beaumont hospital and later died from injuries received in the 2022 boating collision. According to media reports at the time, an unnamed family member said a man operating a bass boat at full speed was apparently not paying attention and slammed into and went over the pontoon boat Morgan was in.
Cozart, the driver of the bass boat, was not injured in the crash. Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens questioned Cozart at the time and detected no signs of intoxication or impairment.
Several of Morgan’s family members were injured in the collision.
Search warrant yields two arrests
Two Beaumont residents were arrested after a search warrant was executed in the 1500 block of Chamberline Drive on March 23, according to the Beaumont Police Department (BPD).
BPD reported SWAT and Narcotics officers, along with the Special Assignment Unit and K-9, executed the warrant at 10 a.m. Upon SWAT entering the residence, one male occupant ran out of the back door but was quickly apprehended while the other occupant was arrested inside. A quantity of crack cocaine and methamphetamine, along with two handguns, was discovered, police reported.
Michael Davis, 41, and Kimberly Beyer, 50, were charged with possession of a controlled substance. Davis was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Both were taken and booked into the Jefferson County Jail.
Burglar caught in church
A burglar alarm at a church led to the arrest of a Beaumont man on March 22, reported the Beaumont Police Department (BPD).
BPD responded to a burglar alarm notification at Holy Bible Faith Center located on Avenue A. After officers arrived and surrounded the building, they went inside and found Jesse Scott, 22, burglarizing the church.
Scott was arrested, then transported and booked into the Jefferson County Jail for burglary of a building.
Two teens nabbed for joyride
March 21, two 14-year-old juveniles were taken into custody after stealing a running vehicle from the front the owner’s home.
According to the Beaumont Police Department (BPD), officers responded at 6:51 p.m. to a residence in the 3900 block of Lou in reference to an auto theft. The victim told officers he left his car running in front of his home and saw a group of juveniles walking in the area. When he came outside, the vehicle was gone.
At 7:56 p.m., officers located the vehicle at Washington and Fourth streets and conducted a traffic stop. The driver and passenger, both juveniles, were taken into custody. The driver was arrested and transported to Minnie Rogers Juvenile Detention Center for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The passenger was released to his parents.
Alleged predator/schemer released on $300K bond
Posting bonds good for $300,000 at the Jefferson County Jail, a Beaumont man accused of years of child and family sexual and physical abuse, as well as attempting to scam more than $100,000 for slum rent collection from American taxpayers, is now free to roam the streets as of Wednesday, March 22.
Billy Lynn Woolley, who has been in jail since telling a judge on Nov. 8, 2022, that his only crime was “trusting a one-legged Marine” to help with his paperwork, was remitted to the custody of jail staff in reference to allegations of an attempted $115,000 rental-assistance ruse while the now 50-year-old Beaumont was then already out on bond facing sexual assault, domestic violence and indecency with a child charges. According to jail personnel,
Woolley posted bond for $50,000 for each of four original charges – which would include sexual assault, aggravated assault, family assault and indecency with a child, and $100,000 for the additional charge of attempted theft.
Felon sentenced for federal firearms violation
An Orange man was sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation on March 23, according to Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.
Michael Lawrence Geral, Jr., 35, pleaded guilty on Oct. 4, 2022, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, on Dec. 13, 2021, Geral was stopped for a traffic violation by officers with the Orange Police Department.
As officers spoke with Geral, they smelled the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found a firearm that Geral admitted was his.