Crime Time

Water well issues cause a five-day flushing problem at a South Texas prison

KENEDY, Texas — A water well malfunction in the city of Kenedy caused inmates at the Connally Unit to not be able to flush their toilets regularly for five days.

The motor in the water well that pumps water to the Connally Unit malfunctioned on Sunday, according to Ford Patton, Kenedy city manager. Kenedy is about 300 miles south of Fort Worth and 60 miles southeast of San Antonio.

The problem caused water pressure at the Connally Unit, a prison facility with capacity for about 2,900 inmates, to fall below the amount needed to properly flush the toilets, according to an email from the Ombudsman’s Office at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Once the motor was replaced and the well repaired, that led to other problems.

“They had an issue with all the offenders trying to flush their toilets all at once,” Patton said. “They were trying to use twice as much water as their waste stations could take out of the system because they tried to turn everything on at once.”

 
The malfunctioned was detected on Sunday and repaired by Wednesday afternoon, Patton said. It took perhaps as late as Thursday afternoon before pressure could be built back up at the prison unit, according to a prison official.

The unit continued to have water and ice. Prison officials filled barrels with water and brought in water and ice so that inmates could remain hydrated, the official said. -- Mitch Mitchell

Tree falls on man in Fort Worth, killing him

FORT WORTH — A 20-year-old man was killed Wednesday when a tree he was cutting down fell on him, officials said.

Emergency responders were called to a house in the 1500 block of Parsons Lane about 7 p.m. 

The victim's name had not been released late Wednesday. Witnesses told police the victim was a friend of the homeowner and that he was helping several other men cut the tree down.

— Marty Sabota

 

Former Grapevine animal control supervisor sentenced

A former Grapevine animal control supervisor was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in jail and 10 years of deferred adjudication after admitting to stealing nearly $50,000 from the city to buy big-ticket items for himself.

State District Judge Scott Wisch also ordered Lawrence Charles Hopkins, 60, of Aurora, to pay restitution for the full amount, if possible, for items that were purchased with the stolen funds. The scheme lasted for several years, beginning in 2007, officials said.

Appearing frail and using an oxygen tank, Hopkins took the witness stand to apologize for what he had done.

"I am real sorry for the embarassment I've caused the city of Grapevine," he said. He pleaded guilty in January to a charge of theft of up to $20,000 by a public servant.

Wisch said Hopkins' poor health contributed to his decision to grant deferred adjudication, a form of probation that, if completed, will not leave a conviction on Hopkins' record.

Hopkins, a legal resident, is a native of England and moved to the United States in 1981. Wisch cited his military service for England in the Queen's Regiment and Hopkins' son's service in the U.S. military as contributing factors in the decision to defer adjudication.

But Wisch insisted he spend 30 days in the county jail.

"There's no excuse for what you did," Wisch said. "You should have known better ... There needs to be a message sent: Don't steal from the public."

An accomplice, feed store owner Arthur M. Waters, 60, was sentenced to five years probation last year.

Prosecutor David Lobingier said Waters submitted falsified invoices for phony purchases of dog food, dog cages and kennel panels to the city, and Hopkins approved the payments. Waters then purchased items for Hopkins, including a $2,600 cargo trailer, a $1,983 boat motor and a $1,250 winch.

Grapevine officials said Wednesday that many of the items were recovered, and will be auctioned off later this year. The money recouped from the auction will be credited toward the amount of restitution Hopkins must pay.

Hopkins oversaw the city's animal control division, which is part of the city police department. He left the department in April 2010.

Defense attorney Brett Boone had urged the judge to give Hopkins deferred adjudication so he would not be deported back to England.

-Dianna Hunt

 

Three Fort Worth men suspected in Wal-Mart theft ring

Here's another reason why cigarettes can be bad for you.

Three Fort Worth men were arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing cigarettes from the gas station of a Sulphur Springs Wal-Mart, then leading police on a pursuit.

Authorities say the men are suspected in 21 similar Wal-Mart thefts throughout North Texas.

“About $80,000 worth of property has been taken during those burglaries, so they were pretty happy when they got the news we were able to capture those three subjects,” Sulphur Springs Police Capt. Jay Sanders told the Telegram-News.

According to the Telegram-News, the pursuit stretched about 15 miles into Cumby, where authorities were able to spike the tires of the suspects' car. Two of the men then tried to flee on foot but were captured.

The men were identified as Fredrick Marcell Johnson, 23, Darius Ramon “Pot” Hampton, 19, and Marvin Earl Jackson, 24, all of Fort Worth.

They face charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and evading arrest with a vehicle.

- Deanna Boyd

 

Driver runs after roll-over injures passengers

Three men were taken to hospitals and one of them is listed in critical condition following a single-vehicle roll-over early Monday.One of five occupants was ejected when a Ford Explorer rolled several times in the 3400 block of W. Long Avenue about 12:30 a.m. One of the back passengers, the ejected man suffered serious injuries, but was expected to survive, the police report said.Two other passengers were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the report said.The SUV was traveling fast and the driver lost control, the report said. The driver fled the scene, but was identified and will face criminal charges, the report said.

Robbery victim clubbed, sent to hospital

A man was taken to a hospital by family members after he was struck with a club by someone who tried to take his wallet Monday.Fort Worth police officers were called about 3 a.m. to the 3200 block of Northwest 30th Street. The victim said he was on his front porch when he saw a man walking down the street, the police report said.The victim told police that the suspect called out to him, and the victim walked out to meet the suspect, the report said.The suspect struck the victim on the head with a club and attempted to take the victim’s wallet.The suspect has not been found, the report said.

Jury begins weighing punishment for Fort Worth man in death of toddler

UPDATE: 2:41 p.m.

The jury has begun deliberating punishment for 32-year-old Samson Loynachan, convicted of murder in the death of his fiance's 2-year-old daughter.

Defense attorney Fred Cummings asked the jury for mercy, saying a punishment less than a life sentence would be appropriate.

"He's been a responsible citizen up to this point in his life," Cummings said during closing arguments, pointing out Loynachan's service in the U.S. Navy that included a stint in Iraq, where he injured his back.

"This is not a way to value Chloe's life. You cannot place a value on Chloe's life."

But prosecutor Eric Nickols, who tried the case with Alana Minton, urged jurors to do just that by giving him a life sentence.

"Give him life. Send a message," Nickols said. "He picks on things that are weaker than he is. He's angry, he's violent, he's a liar. He's a murderer."

Loynachan faces punishment ranging from 5 years to life in prison or 99 years. He is not eligible for probation.

Visiting Judge Phillip Vick is overseeing the case in the 213th state district court.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 2:10 p.m.

Convicted child killer Samson Loynachan told jurors of happier times with his two children, with photos of them visiting state parks, walking along a river, reading books.

Loynachan, who could face up to life in prison in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Chloe Robinson, said he spent as much time with his kids as he could after he and their mother were divorced. He said the kids came first.

"No matter how bad things were between us .... we were able to set that aside for the children," he said under questioning from defense attorney Fred Cummings.

He was living with Chloe's mother, Nicole Robinson, at the time of the child's death.

But Loynachan faced sharp questioning from prosecutor Alana Minton, who grilled him about what happened to little Chloe on the day she was injured. Loynachan said he hit her with a vehicle arm rest while trying to cheer up the sick child; experts have said that the arm rest would not have caused the damage she sustained.

"Why did you hit her?" Minton asked.

"I was playing around," Loynachan testified.

"What did she do to deserve to be hit?" Minton asked.

"She didn't do anything," he said.

Closing arguments are expected to begin about 2:20 p.m. before Visiting Judge Phillip Vick. Loynachan is facing up to life in prison and is not eligible for probation.

Minton and prosecutor Eric Nickols had originally sought a life sentence for Loynachan.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.

Convicted child killer Samson Loynachan has taken the witness stand again in his own defense as the jury considers whether to sentence him to up to life in prison for the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

The state rested its case against convicted murderer Samson Loynachan with witnesses testifying he was overly harsh with his son, caused bruises on his then-wife during an argument and was mean to the family dogs.

His ex-wife, Kelly McArthur, testified that he never struck her but did leave bruises on her arm after an argument escalated into "wrestling." Her brother-in-law, who is a Friendswood police officer, said he saw the bruises and urged her to file a police report. She never did.

Loynachan was convicted of murder in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Chloe Robinson, who died in August 2010 of a severe blow to the head.

Prosecutors Alana Minton and Eric Nickols presented evidence that the injury occurred while she was under the care of Loynachan. Chloe's mother, Nicole Robinson, had started a new job and could not pick up the child when daycare called to say she was sick.

Defense attorney Fred Cummings presented witnesses during the punishment phase of the trial that Loynachan was a family man who appeared to enjoy his combined family.

Testimony is continuing before Visiting Judge Phillip Vick.

-Dianna Hunt

 

Testimony has begun in the punishment phase for convicted murderer Samson Loynachan with his ex-wife testifying that he was occasionally too harsh with his son and was mean to the family dog.

Loynachan was convicted Friday of murder in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Chloe Robinson, who died from a severe blow to the head.

Loynachan testified in his own defense that he did not intentially harm Chloe. He suggested that the injury may have occurred when he struck the child with the arm rest of a vehicle, but expert witnesses told jurors that would not have caused the severe injury.

Visiting Judge Phllip Vick is overseeing the case.

-Dianna Hunt

Fort Worth police fatally shoot dog after copper-theft call

A Fort Worth couple says an officer shot and killed their dog on their front porch after he showed up at their home on a copper-theft call, according to CW33.

Cindy and Mark Boling, who live at 4717 Norma St., said their dogs were with them in the front yard as they were unloading their truck after a shopping trip.

CW33 says the officer responded to the wrong address, but a police spokesman told the station that he was assisting on the copper-theft call and was looking for suspects.

The Bolings told the station that their border collie mix, Lillie, was trying to greet the officer when he shot her in the back.

Officer Daniel Segura of the Fort Worth Police Department said two dogs charged at the officer, who finally shot one after they continued to behave aggressively, the station reported.

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-- Kathy Vetter, editor

Arlington crash shuts down I-20 for hours

Arlington police on Saturday spent several hours investigating a crash that shut down eastbound Interstate 20 at Green Oaks Boulevard.

Tiara Ellis Richard, Arlington Police media relations coordinator, said the crash involved a sport utility vehicle that slammed into a car, causing a chain reaction with a pickup and 18-wheeler. 

Richard said a girl in the car that was rear-ended car, believed to be about 10 years old, was taken to the John Peter Smith Hospital with serious injuries.

After the girl was stabilized, she was taken via air ambulance to Cook Children’s Medical Center, Richard said.

No other serious injuries reported. 

-Susan McFarland

 

 

Police: Motorist hit by semi in Fort Worth killed

FORT WORTH  — Police were investigating a fatal wreck Friday night that occurred when a man believed to have been involved in a police incident fled in a semi and struck a vehicle, killing its driver.

According to police, the incident began about 8:30 p.m. when Fort Worth officers were dispatched to Camp Bowie Boulevard and Merrick Street on a disturbance. 

“A semi then took off from the scene and hit a vehicle,” said Officer Daniel Segura, a police spokesman.The crash occurred at Hulen Street and Calmont Avenue.

The driver of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene, Segura said.

— Marty Sabota