News Blotter

Sheriff Clint Hammonds reports that criminal activity has been steady in the area resulting in numerous local drug arrest and burglaries. Sheriff Hammonds reported that On January 8, 2016 at approximately 11:03 PM, Deputies responded to a report of disturbance in the 1700 block of Cline Street. As a result 22 year old Jorge Armando Melgoza of Goldthwaite was arrested for Assault and transported to the county jail where he was released on bond the next day.

On Friday, January 22, 2016 at approximately 2:45 Mills County Deputies Johnny Brown and Stephanie Brown were patrolling the area of County Road 510 when they located a pickup parked in the road. Deputy Johnny Brown approached the vehicle and the driver pulled away. Deputies pursued after the vehicle and witnessed an occupant discard an item out of the window. Deputy Johnny Brown stopped to retrieve the item while Inv. Stephanie Brown  stopped the driver of the vehicle. The occupants were identified as 18 year old Branden Wayne Horton (driver) and his father 40 year old Bradley Ryan Horton (passenger). After investigating it was found the item thrown from the vehicle that was recovered was methamphetamine. Both individuals admitted that they were about to smoke methamphetamine before being discovered by Mills County Deputies. Both individuals were taken into custody and placed in the Mills County Jail. Braden Horton is currently being held in Burnett County for 1. Possession of a controlled Substance less than 1 gram, 2. Evading Arrest with a vehicle, 3. Brown County Warrant for Motion to Adjudicate for possession of Marijuana, 4. Tamper with Evidence. The father Bradley Horton is currently in Mills County Jail for 1. Possession of a Controlled Substance less that one gram, 2. Young County Warrant for Possession of a controlled substance less than one gram.

As a result of these recent drug arrests Mills County Sheriff’s Office has been able to clear the theft and recovery of 2 four wheelers and solve several burglaries that occurred during mid-January. On January 25, 2016 Mills County Deputies were able to recover a 1997 Polaris that had been stolen for some time ago from a ranch on County Road 549.  The owner of the Polaris was unaware that it had been stolen. The Polaris was seized from a residence in Mullin along with an item stolen in a burglary of the Mills County Precinct 3 barn in Mullin. Then on February 6, 2016, Mills County Deputies went to Lampasas County and recovered a 2013 Honda ATV stolen from a ranch on County Road 506 and a gas compressor that had been taken from Mills County Precinct 3. Mills County Deputies recovered just under $15,000 worth of stolen items during their investigative efforts. Sheriff Hammonds stated “this is another fine example of persistent and professional work that my deputies showed during the course of the investigation”.

On Monday, January 25, 2016, Deputy Johnny Brown stopped a vehicle at Second and Fisher in Goldthwaite for a traffic offense. During the stop it was discovered that 29 year old female passenger Amber Lynn Hester was wanted out of Hardin County, Texas for a probation violation for driving while intoxicated.

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at approximately 7:30 PM, Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1300 Block of Trent Street. Deputies arrived and a male identified as 31 year old Michael Ynostrosa was in the process of leaving the home. Deputies could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from Ynostrosa’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a 9mm pistol, 5.45 grams of methamphetamine and 21.37 grams of marijuana. Ynostrosa was arrested for 1. Manufature/Delivery of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone, 2. Possession of Marijuana in a Drug Free Zone, 3. Unlawful Carrying of a weapon and 4. Possession of drug paraphernalia. Sheriff Hammonds stated the drug free zone enhancements were a result of the residence being located just blocks away from the Goldthwaite Middle and High Schools. Ynostrosa is currently free on bond.

On Friday, February 5, 2016 at approximately 10:25 AM 72 year old Michael David Holley of Mullin turned himself into the Mills County Jail after being indicted for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Holley had been previously arrested in 2015 for possession of child pornography. Holley is currently free on $50, 000 bond for the new offense.

Sheriff Hammonds reported numerous other arrests in the county such driving while intoxicated that were conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety Tropopers.

Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported several arrests for the during the first to mid part of December 2015. On Sunday, December 6, 2015 at approximately 4:09 PM, Deputy James Purcell responded to a report of a female that had called 911 and stated that she was drunk and wanted to go to jail. Deputy Purcell was able to locate the female in the 1400 block of Pine Street who is identified as 52 year old Lisa Michelle Kolb of Goldthwaite. It was determined that Kolb was intoxicated to the point she was a danger to herself and was arrested for public intoxication.

On Wednesday, December 9, at approximately 2:42 PM, Inv. Stephanie Brown arrested 45 year old Harland Keith McDavid of Goldthwaite for driving without a license. Inv. Brown had earlier in the week warned McDavid about driving. At approximately 6:04 PM , Deputy Johnny Brown made a routine traffic stop on US 183 south resulting in the arrest of 43 year old Misty Dawn Kirkham of May, Texas for the offense of driving while license invalid.

On Thursday, December 10, at approximately 6:30, Deputy Johnny Brown was on patrol in Goldthwaite when he saw previous theft suspect in the 1400 block of Fisher. Deputy Brown made contact with the suspect and found that 26 year old Christopher Michael Mantia of Goldthwaite was wanted on Felony charges in Lampasas County for forgery of a financial instrument enhanced because the victim was elderly. Mantia has since been extradited back to Lampasas to stand trial.

On Wednesday, December 16, at approximately 6:37 PM, Deputy Johnny Brown was sitting in the Red Bud parking lot when he witnessed a driver stopped at the red light at Hannah Valley and Fisher Street. Deputy Brown saw that the driver of a semi-truck was traveling south on Fisher Street. Deputy Brown reported that the light turned yellow and the driver of the semi-truck accelerated resulting in the disregard of the red light and colliding with the other driver. The semi-truck driver was identified as 25 year old Viktor Myronchuk of Gresham, OR and was placed under arrest for reckless driving. Fortunately there were no serious injuries.

On Friday, December 18, at approximately 7:04 PM, Deputy Rick Pickard received a call regarding a driver traveling at a high rate of speed had just ran into a carport in the 1700 block of Parker Street. Caller advised that the suspect vehicle left the scene and was dragging pieces of the car and carport. Deputy Pickard located the driver 23 year old Jonathan Bennett in the 1700 block of Cline Street. Bennett was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated and driving while license invalid along with numerous traffic citations. Bennett is currently out on bond.

On Tuesday, December 21, at approximately 6:00 PM, Trooper Mark Owens and Deputy Johnny Brown conducted a traffic stop on a 2009 Chevrolet Impala on US 183 south of Goldthwaite. Officers made contact with 19 year old Tanner Joe Thompson of Blanket, Texas. During the stop a search of the vehicle was conducted resulting in the discovery of 220 Xanax pills in Thompson’s possession. During the interview Thompson admitted that he commonly sales the pills to individuals for profit. Thompson was arrested for Manufacturing/Delivery of a controlled substance less than 28 grams a second degree felony. Thompson currently remains in the Mills County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Individuals noted in this column are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies execute search warrant on local residence Child Pornography discovered.

Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported Mills County Deputies have recently been heavily involved in what began as aggravated sexual assault of a child investigation and evolved into child pornography. Sheriff Hammonds stated that Inv. Stephanie Brown received report of a possible child sexual assault on July 1, 2015. During the course of the investigation numerous witnesses and victims were interviewed about many different possible sexual abuse cases stemming from many years past involving minor children related to the suspect. The suspect was identified as 72 year old Michael David Holley of Mullin, Texas. On October 14, 2015, Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant at the Holley residence located on Farm Road 574 in Mullin, Texas. Numerous electronic devices were seized during the search and were analyzed after the seizure. Several hundred images of underage female girls were discovered on some of the devices. On November 10, 2015, Sheriff’s Deputies executed arrest warrants for Michael Holley and his wife 70 year old Donna Pauline Holley for Felony Possession of Child Pornography. Both individuals remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 as of press time.

In other news Sheriff Hammonds reported the quick identification and arrest of 41 year old Michael James Coleman of Tow, Texas. On October 21 the Mills County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a pressure washer that had been stolen during business hours at a local merchants business. A newly installed video survelliance system caught images of the suspect committing the theft. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has recently created a website (millscountysheriff.org) and a Facebook page. Chief Deputy Chris Green posted Coleman’s photo on our website and social media page and by the next day Coleman had been identified and arrested in Llano County, Texas.

Sheriff Hammonds encourages everyone to follow our website and social media page to stay up to date with occurrences in our community.

Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported numerous person were arrested in recent weeks for drugs and weapons offenses. On October 3, 2015, Deputy Johnny Brown stopped female driver for traffic violation on US 183 south of Goldthwaite. During the contact Deputy Brown identified 17 year old Luis Richard Campos of Santa Rosa, New Mexico that was consuming alcohol inside the vehicle. Deputy Brown obtained consent to search the vehicle which resulted in the recovery of loaded .38 revolver pistol under Campos’s seat. Campos was charged with minor in consumption and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Another Passenger identified 58 year old Joseph Eugene Garcia of Albuquerque, New Mexico was placed under arrest for prohibited weapon. The female was not charged and was released.

October 6, 29 year old Joseph Aguirre of Brady, Texas was apprehended in Michigan on an outstanding warrant out of Mills County 35^th District Court for Motion to Revoke Probation for the offense of Delivery of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon. Aguirre was transferred back to Texas and is currently in the Mills County Jail awaiting trial.

On October 13, 38 year old Tonya Sue Collins of Liberty Hill, Texas was arrested after being indicted for felony Forgery charges stemming defrauding an elderly victim. Collins is currently held awaiting trial for her offense. This same date Deputy Johnny Brown conducted a traffic stop on US 183 south of Goldthwaite. Deputy Brown identified the driver identified as 26 Jarrod Scott Smith of Houston, Texas and immediately detected marijuana emitting from the car. Other occupants in the car are identified as 20 year old Kellcee Aubra Justice of Round Rock, Texas and 32 year old Corey Trumane Vorish of Houston, Texas. While Deputy Brown was dealing with the three individuals another vehicle stopped at a distance behind them during the stop. A call for assistance prompted deputies to make contact with the other individual parked behind them. That individual was identified as 25 year old Tiffany Winzer of Stafford, Texas. A probable cause search revealed marijuana inside of the first vehicle and two handguns were also discovered during the search. Smith, Justice, and Vorish were all charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a handgun. Winzer did not even have a driver’s license to drive the vehicle she was in and consented to a search of her car. A search of that car revealed Winzer was in possession of prescription pills that were unlabeled. Winzer was arrested for possession of controlled substance. All individuals were transported to the Mills County Jail were they have made bond and are awaiting trial.

On Wednesday, October 14, 2015, 35^th District Judge Steve Ellis sentenced the following individuals to serve county jail and prison sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Carlos Morales Martinez 33 years of age of San Saba, Texas was sentenced to six months in the county jail a probation violation stemming from unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 45 year old Tommy Joe Pierce of San Saba, Texas was sentenced to three years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone.

Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported that the Mills County Sheriff’s Office has been currently busy this recent week with investigations and arrests. Sheriff Hammonds stated that on Monday, September 14, 2015 Mills County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an individual attempting to cash stolen checks at a local bank. Mills County officials arrived and identified a male individual that had been given the checks and asked to cash them. During the course of the investigation it was discovered that a 13 year old juvenile had taken the checks from a residence while visiting. The checks have been recovered and the case will be filed with the Mills County Attorney’s Office for prosecution in this case.

On Thursday, September 17, Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a burglary of a vehicle on Brim Street in Goldthwaite. During the investigation it was determined that 42 year old Yvonne  Meadows had entered her sons vehicle without permission and stolen his Texas driver’s license. Deputies arrested Meadows for burglary of a vehicle and theft of driver’s license both misdemeanor charges. Meadows is currently out on bond awaiting trial.

On Friday, September 18, at approximately 9:44 AM, Sheriff Hammonds conducted a traffic stop in the 1400 block of Fisher street after observing a driver passing cars on the right hand side downtown almost colliding with parked vehicles. During the stop a female individual later identified as 45 year old Deborah Castillo Melchor of Round Rock, Texas. Melchor did not have any identification in her possession and became deceptive about her identity by giving a fake date of birth. It was later determined that Melchor was driving on a suspended license. Melchor was arrested for failure to identify and was placed in the county jail where she was able to make bond.

On Monday, September 21 at approximately 5:03 PM, Deputy Johnny Brown stopped a driver on US 183 south of Goldthwaite for speeding 94 M.P.H in a 75 M.P.H zone. During the stop the occupants were identified as 25 year old Carlo Colton Gossett (driver) and 34 year old Shanna Lynn Hughitt (passenger) both of Mullin, Texas. Deputies gained consent to search the vehicle and discovered less than one gram of methamphetamine inside the vehicle. While deputies were searching the vehicle it was discovered that Hughitt had tossed a methamphetamine smoking pipe on the ground. Gossett and Hughitt were both charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) less than 1 gram. Hughitt was additionally charged with felony tampering with evidence for the discarded pipe.