News Blotter
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported several arrest in the recent weeks for warrants, drugs and arson. On Sunday September 4, at approximately 11:30 PM, 50 year old Irene Arellano of Sweetwater, Texas was arrested during a traffic stop for a warrant for theft by check in Scurry County. Arellano has since posted bond and has been released. On Wednesday, September 7, at approximately 10:30 PM, 47 year old Timmy Lee Sims of Mullin, Texas was stopped by Mills County Deputies for an expired registration on US 84 west of Goldthwaite. During the stop deputies noticed Sims was extremely nervous and deputies asked for consent to search the vehicle. Sims consented and deputies recovered approximately 1.5 grams of Methamphetamine from the seat area of the vehicle along with other drug paraphernalia. Sims was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance a Third Degree Felony and was released the following day after posting $12,500 bond. On Monday September 12, 43 year old Joseph Hilscher of Dublin was arrested by Mills County Deputies for warrants out of Comanche County, Texas for bail jumping and failure to appear for offenses in Comanche County.
Sheriff Hammonds was is also pleased to report that there has been an arrest made in the July 20th fire of the playground at the Methodist Church in Goldthwaite. Mills County Deputies have been working continuously with fire investigators and the state crime lab in Austin, Texas. Through the collection of evidence and interviewing numerous individuals Mills County Sheriff’s Inv. Stephanie Brown and Chief Deputy Chris Green arrested 20 year old Pedro Buriciago Delgado of Goldthwaite on Tuesday, September 13th. Delgado is in custody being held in Burnett County for the offense of First Degree Felony Arson. This case is still under investigation at this time and no further details will be released.
On September 15, 2016, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division executed a search and arrest warrant at a residence in Mullin, Texas. As a result 41 year old Jason Whisenhunt of Mullin was arrested for Online Solicitation of a Minor Child. Whisenhunt was released on bond later that day. On this same date Mills County Sheriff’s Office were called to assist the United States Marshall’s Service in executing a felony warrant at a residence near Mullin on County Road 508. The Marshall’s Service and Mills County Authorities were able to arrest 64 year old William James Carr of Cross Plains, Texas for a warrant out of Parker County, Texas for Motion to Revoke Probation/Aggravated Assault w/a Deadly Weapon.
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reports that there have been several new arrests in the last two weeks. On Monday, August 22 at approximately 9:40 AM, Investigator Stephanie Brown arrested 25 year old Crystal Gayle McConnell of Goldthwaite on a charge of Simple Assault. McConnell was released later that day on $500 bond.
On Monday, August 22 35th Judicial District Judge Stephen Ellis sentenced 31 year old Michael Edward Ynostrosa of Goldthwaite to serve a 30 year prison term with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division. Ynostrosa was originally arrested in January 2016 with multiple charges including Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1 (Methamphetamine) over 4 grams, in a Drug Free Zone – a First Degree Felony, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon – Class A Misdemeanor, Possession of a Dangerous Drug – Class A Misdemeanor, Possession of Marijuana <2oz – Class B Misdemeanor.
On Tuesday, August 23 at approximately 6:56 PM Deputies Johnny Brown and James Purcell responded to the Mullin ISD Gymnasium in reference to a fight in progress. The fight occurred during the schools volleyball game against Early High School. After an extensive investigation, several suspects were identified as being involved. On Wednesday, August 24, Investigator Stephanie Brown and Chief Deputy Chris Green reviewed the case with the Mills County Attorney and determined that multiple charges would be filed and arrest warrants were drawn up for several individuals. The arrest warrants were served later the same day on;
39 year old Lori Anne Day of Mullin on charges of Disruptive Activities/Public School and Disorderly Conduct. Day was released on bonds totaling $3,000.
25 year old Cheyenne McCulloch of Mullin on charges of Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Criminal Mischief, Disruptive Activities/Public School and Disorderly Conduct. McCulloch was later released on bonds totaling $6,000.
36 year old Dorthy “Dottie” Best Coston of Mullin on charges of Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Disorderly Conduct and Disruptive Activities/Public School. Coston was later released on bonds totaling $4,500.
36 year old Serena Ann Spivey of Mullin on charges of Disruptive Activities/Public School and Disorderly Conduct. Spivey was later released on bonds totaling $3,000.
On Tuesday August 30, 32 year old Christy Escovedo of Pflugerville was sentenced by Mills County Judge Kirk Fulk to serve 20 days County Jail time for a charge of Possession of Marijuana <2oz.
The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reported a few arrest in the past week. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Highway Patrol responded to a minor accident in the parking lot of a local business on Saturday, August 13th. Texas Highway Patrol conducted the crash investigation which resulted in the arrest of 45 year old Steven Wade Bridges of Goldthwaite for driving while intoxicated. Bridges was transported to the Mills County Jail where he was released on bond the following day.
Shortly afterwards The Mills County Jail received an inmate wanted for a Mills County Warrant for the offenses motion to adjudicate aggravated assault from a previous charge. The individual is identified as 21 year old Michael Allen Moore of Bovina, TX.
On Sunday, August 14th at approximately 12:48 PM, a Mills County deputy stopped the driver of a vehicle for traffic violation on US 183 south of Goldthwaite. During the stop the deputy made contact with 30 year old Kevin Douglas Kelly of Austin, Texas who had just finished smoking marijuana in the vehicle. The deputy conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and recovered THC laced candy and marijuana. Kelly was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2 over 4 grams but less than 400 grams and possession of marijuana. Kelly has since been released on bond and is awaiting trial.
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported numerous arrest from mid-July until the first part of August. On July 18, 2016 at approximately 7:18 PM, 24 year old Marissa Shantal Navarro of Lubbock, Texas was arrested for possession of marijuana after a routine traffic stop on US 183 south of Goldthwaite.
On Friday, August 22, 2016 Mills County Deputies were investigating child welfare issues in Mullin at a residence located at 505 S. 6th Street. As a result of the investigation 28 year old Erica Nicole Shelton of Mullin was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), tampering with evidence and endangering a child all of which are felony charges. Shelton was transported to the Mills County Jail where she magistrated by Judge Leland Knight and released on bonds totaling $27,500.
The last week in July several individuals from Mills and Hamilton counties surrendered themselves to Mills County authorities as a result of numerous felony indictments from Comanche County, Texas. Christi Morgan of Priddy, Texas was arrested on a warrant charging Aggravated Assault w/deadly weapon, deadly conduct and unlawful restraint. Roy Lee Seider also of Priddy was arrested for Comanche County charge of aggravated assault w/deadly weapon. 29 year old David Allen Seider and 50 year old Virgil Ray Seider of Hamilton were arrested for aggravated assault w/deadly weapon, deadly conduct and unlawful restraint. All the above individuals have been released on bond and are awaiting trial.
On Tuesday July 26, at approximately 3:00 PM, 22 year old Jorge Armando Melgoza of Goldthwaite was arrested on a warrant for sexual assault. The arrest was the result of an investigation that began on July 23rd after investigators were alerted by Brown County authorities that child under 17 was at the Brownwood Regional Hospital and had made an outcry of being assaulted. Investigators were able to gather enough probable cause to obtain a warrant for Melgoza. He is currently free on a $40,000 bond for the offense and is awaiting trial.
Then on Wednesday, July 27, 35 year old Tammy Lynn Jones of Austin was arrested for driving while license invalid and was later released on bond.
On Friday August 5, at approximately 8:26 PM, 59 year old Harry Mitchell of Brady, Texas was arrested for bail jumping for a Driving while intoxicated.
Shortly thereafter at approximately 12:54 AM, Deputies responded to a disturbance at a residence located on US 84 east of Goldthwaite. Deputies arrived and found a male intoxicated and trashing the residence. After interviewing witnesses it was determined that 45 year old Richard Gary Forester had assaulted another male party in the residence. Forester was arrested for misdemeanor assault and placed in the County Jail.
On Saturday, August 6, at approximately 9:04 PM, Mills County Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1600 block of Fifth Street in Goldthwaite. As a result of the call 51 year old Camie Gumibellot of Goldthwaite was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault. Guimbellot has since pled in this case and is laying out her fine in the Burnett County Jail.
Finally on Monday August 7, at approximately 7:30 AM, Mills County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an individual unresponsive in a vehicle on Farm Road 2005. Mills County Deputies arrived and found 45 year old Hermenegildo Maldonado-Guzman passed out in the driver seat of his vehicle. Deputies arrested and charged him with public intoxication and placed him in the Mills County Jail.
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported numerous arrests this past week as result of routine calls and traffic stops in Mills County. On July 2, 2016 at approximately 2:52 PM, Deputy James Purcell had just finished responding to a call in Mullin and was traveling east on US 84 when he checked the driver of a vehicle traveling at 105 M.P.H. Deputy Purcell stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as 37 year old Rachel Charis Donaho of Brownwood, Texas. During the stop it was determined that Donaho was operating under an invalid license and also had an arrest warrant for assault family violence. Deputy Purcell advised Donaho that she was under arrest and Donaho surrendered a bag of marijuana in her possession. Donhao was also charged with possession of marijuana.
On July 4, 2016, at approximately 5:03 PM, Trooper Mark Owens initiated a traffic stop on US 183 south resulting in the arrest of 27 year old Matthew Ray Liggins and 40 year old Lasheba Covington both of Abilene, Texas. Liggins was charged with driving while license invalid and also had a warrant for Felony Theft out of Taylor County, Texas. A search of the vehicle revealed a pistol that had been in Covingtons’ possession and a routine check revealed that she was a convicted felon and currently on parole from prison. Covington was charged with felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Liggins was released on bond while Covington remains in Mills County custody and is being housed in Burnett, Texas.
On July 7, 2016, Inv. Stephanie Brown took a report of sexual assault of a child that had occurred in Goldthwaite previously. As a result of the investigation 19 year old Garrett Reed Mullings of Goldthwaite was arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child. This case is still under investigation and Garrett remains in the Mills County Jail with a bond of $55,000.
On July 8, at approximately 8:41 PM, Trooper Mark Owens attempted to stop the driver of a vehicle for a traffic violation but when Trooper Owens activated the emergency lights the driver failed to stop. Trooper Owens pursued the driver to a residence on County Road 450 where the driver 35 year old Joseph Robert McElwain Jr. of Goldthwaite was apprehended and charged with fleeing in a vehicle.
On July 9, at approximately 9:44 PM, Trooper Owens arrested 61 year old Roosevelt McTier Jr. for driving while license invalid. Then on July 11, 2016 Chief Deputy Chris Green served a warrant on 31 year old Andrew Lee Heath of Goldthwaite for a charge of theft. Both McTier and Heath have posted bond and are awaiting trial.
