LIVINGSTON

POLK CO GRAND JURY IDICTS SILVER STAR MARINE

 Word has trickled out that man arrested at the scene of a second confrontation between them  that resulted in one man being shot in late October last year has been indicted.  

   Last word from the John Arrendondo family is that John was still in Galveston Hospital about a month ago from the gun shot wound..  

   We will seek more info on the exact charge.  

SOUTH HOUSTON DOG SHELTER SHADOW BOX

San Jacinto is not alone in suffering from the shadow box syndrome.  the video linked to the headline is eerily similar to the animal control/rescue apparatus crafted in our own county.   

What appeared to be falling into disarray just after the first of the year spuring an outcry from from the coordinators has not only gotten back on track but is streamlined some.  Constant communication of who is in jail and administering due process by coordinating the court dockett with constantly changing information has been a problem in the past.  The last few years have been much better allowing most of the backlog in the District Courts to be caught up.  It has taken great effort between the DA's offices, The sheriff Departments andThe Courts.  Sentinel readers will remember when people were being left in jail and not getting a lawyer.  Breaking loose from the old hard copy and hand carry system into the computer age was a hic cup in hickville for some folks.  

     The problem had been addressed and corrected under Sheriff Capers leadership but seemed to fall back to nothing at the first of the year with the new sheriff in town.

    "That problem has been solved" a criminal justice spokesperson shared.  "Not only resolved but improved.  "Whoever is doing the report for Sheriff Houston has eliminated a lot of redundant information if the inmate has multiple arrests."  

After hearing the flow of vital  information had stopped a few weeks ago, I inquired as to current status today  expecting  to report civil rights violations in the SJC Jail but . .. . .

2/11/2025 TRI COUNTY 

STONE AGE PATTERN EMERGES 

IGNORE, DEFLECT, DEFEND OPEN RECORDS VIOLATIONS

   NO EMAIL ADDRESS?  NO EMAIL ACCESS.  SNAIL MAILDIGRESS

It seems like we have come full circle in the open records racket or investigative journalism as some call it.  I remember the days you had to look up an address, buy an envelope and pay postage certified or drive in and hand deliver the written request.  You needed it date stamped and signed received to be binding and triggering deadlines under the law.  

   Then email came of age.  When they first made it legal to submit open records by email, my first was on behalf of C.J. Grisham, a father on an eagle scout hike with his son.  The clerk at the sheriff's office responded so quickley that I got the only copy with the callers remark, "he isn't waving it around or anything, just walking" before the prosecutor told them not to let that document out.  

   Back then, C.J. Grisham was a father, active duty military and a 2nd amendment advocate.  

    The video showed the Fat Bastard Steve Ermis grab C.J.'s rifle and put a pistol to C.J." head infront of his teen age son over a pistol C.J. Was licensed to carry.  Grisham was arrested and charged with a crime when there was none.   

   Now C.J. Grisham is a licensed attorney that specializes in constitutional rights protections.  

 I said all of that to say this.  Why can't I get a simple email address for the SJC Sheriff that I can submit an open records request to?  The one secretary Lisa Jolly gave me did not bounce back but has not been answered.  Is it a bad address or just a criminal ignoring open records laws?  Neither answer is good.

POLK CO 11/21/2023

"TOOTHLESS" VICTORY FOR FATHER'S RIGHTS

"THIS Doesn't involve you!" Polk Co Court at Law Judge, Honorable Tom Brown told a step father who has blatantly interferred with court ordered child custody for years now.  "It is between him and her", Judge Brown made plain from his bench pointing first at the natural father and then the mother of the minor child with eyes fixed on the step father.

        With years of history of denying the father access to his son in blatant violation of the court orders and Hon's ABSOLUTE FAILURE as FORMER da to enforce the law against his buddy, the interfering step father.  Judge Brown told the tale of devastation with one comment.  After counseling with the sons and ordering the weekly visitation with the natural father and his family, a, "Let's see if we can repair this"   emanated from The Court.   We could all see  that the potential for parental alienation was afoot.  A crime in the State of Texas.  Fortunately for non custodial parents in Polk county, the Top law enforcement officer in the county, DA, Honorable Shelly Sitton was in the courtroom to hear the judge's order.  A child and parental rights advocate who put light on the injustice weeks ago calling for a Sheriff's dept investigation did question Ms. Sitton about that.  "Their report has been given to my office."  Ms. Sitton allowed.  

So much for hope springing eternal.  Two more weeks have passed and none of the enforcement aparatus in POLK county has been willing to go against former corrrupt DA Lee Hon on this father's rights case.  Apparetly if you are Hon's buddy, you can violate court orders with impunity.  

1/24/2o25PLUM GROVE

HOLMAN OVERFLIES 'COLONY RIDGE'

Reports that a local private pilot took Holman and his crew to view the huge illegal alien refuge in Plum Grove called Colony Ridge have been submitted to The Sentinel.  All we have been able to confirm through official sources is that Holman was here in the area during that time frame.  

   Our sources said Homan commented, "This is as big as Washington D.C."  

    Other reports of internet and GPS outage in the Colony Ridge area recntly indicate other measures being taken to limit those resources.  Glitch? or just proof that they can and they will control that?

1/27/2025 

from an online publication :  “I recently photographed the Colony Ridge development from a helicopter and two things stood out to me: the scale of the expansion and the overall poor living conditions within the development."

1/2/2025  SHEPHERD

LUFKIN – A public hearing on proposed improvements to US 59 from Shepherd to the Trinity River is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 19, in the Shepherd High School cafeteria, 1 Pirate Lane, in Shepherd. The proposed construction project is being designed to upgrade the roadway to meet interstate standards.

The public is invited to attend and view the proposed schematic of the project, speak to TxDOT officials, and leave comments. All comments must be received online, in person, or postmarked by January 10, 2025.

The proposed improvements to US 59 will include the reconstruction of US 59 main lanes providing two lanes in each direction, and the construction of a new one-way, two-lane northbound and southbound frontage roads. The project will be designed to meet interstate standards for potential future designation as I-69.

Proposed improvements also include construction of new Trinity River bridges with turnarounds (U-turns); overpasses with U-turns at FM 1127 and SL424/Lake Pool Road; a U-turn at FM 223 from southbound US 59 to northbound US 59; and pedestrian accommodations along the frontage roads from FM 223 (Church Street) north to SL 424/Lake Pool Road.

Existing right-of-way ranges between 190 and 456 feet. The proposed improvements would require additional right-of-way ranging between 455 and 835 feet.

The proposed project is approximately six miles in length and extends from the city of Shepherd in San Jacinto County to north of the Trinity River in Polk County. The proposed project is anticipated to enhance safety, improve mobility, provide a more efficient hurricane evacuation route, and provide system connectivity to I-69.

Schematic and environmental studies will be done through early 2025, with right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations tentatively scheduled for 2025–2028.

For more information, visit txdot.gov and search “US 59 Upgrade Shepherd to Trinity River”, or contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

FRI 12/13/2024

SNARK OUT OF BOUNDS

After sharing the 'fix is in' judge's written decision with several who are interested and a follow up interview of their impression, one common thread warranted mention by all.  The "Snark" in the judge's words.  It was my first impression of the narrative that Judge McCaig revealed his bias quite plainly.  It appeared to be written by a judge who knew he would have no jury, no appeal, no review from higher courts and that with one signature, could silence the voice of eight thousand voters.  Oh that's right, that was exactly the circumstance.  

COLDSPRING 

LANGUAGE OF DISMISSAL

Below is a snip out of the motion to dismiss that was granted throwing out the contested sheriff race lawsuit.

SJC Harrell Rd 11/21/2024

METH DEALERS BUSTED

A "Swoop in" style drug raid was carried out on Harrell Rd in SJC yesterday just before noon with nearly a dozen law enforcment units decending on the location at once.  A reliable LEO source in SJC confirmed toThe Sentinel that several ounces of meth were seized.  The operation was based on information and a search warrant out of Walker County and according to Walker County booking reports, several were arrested and charged with posession of controlled substance yesterday after noon.  

    The raid took place at 1101 Harrell Rd on a property that belongs to Lawana Brown according to CAD files.   There was no listing of a Lawana Brown in the booking report.

  arrested were:

70 year old William Johnson, 38 year old Tyler Beaver, 41 year old Tiffany Martinez, and 34 Year old Tamara Cox for various charges ranging from evading arrest to manufacture  and distribution of a controlled substance.  There were arrests for felon in posession of a firearm and several outstanding warrants from Trinity Co and SJC. 

    Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae thanked all who participated in the investigation and operation.  They were, Montgomery County Narcotic Enforcement Team, Huntsville P.D., SWAT and the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Dept.  Well done all around.   One neighbor had observed activity lately comparable to a, "Sonic drive in".  

As Sheriff of San Jacinto County, I, Greg Capers, am very pleased to issue the following two very important announcements concerning Law Enforcement Operations and equipment acquisition.

On the 14^th of June 2023 the San Jacinto County Commissioner’s Court met in session with myself and other Texas Sheriffs from across Texas.  With overwhelming support from the public, the Court approved a Local Disaster Declaration. This Declaration acknowledged, over 3.4 million illegal aliens had unlawfully entered the United States. Customs and Border Protection had discovered 108 known terrorists and 107,622 American citizens killed by opioids and fentanyl which has been smuggled into the USA along with human trafficking organizations.

This Disaster Declaration requested the aid of the Texas Governor for assistance to stop this declared “invasion” and to use all lawful available resources granted under the Texas and United States Constitutions.

A major response to this request for aid came in the form of a special Task Force grant referred to as “Operation Lone Star”. This state grant is provided at STATE EXPENSE to enable County Sheriff’s to hire officers, purchase equipment and organize multi-agency task forces to combat this “invasion” of drugs and human trafficking. This grant will enable law enforcement to create a team of personnel from San Jacinto County and adjoining counties in which multiple agencies work together in a coordinated effort to combat this activity.

At my direction the Sheriff’s Office staff undertook the massive challenge to apply for the grant, make tentative operational planning, and complete the many bureaucratic requirements necessary for the award of the grant. I personally coordinated with County, State and Federal officials in this huge undertaking.

It is my honor, as your Sheriff to announce the Operation Lone Star (OLS) grant for $1,260,589.26 HAS BEEN  AWARDED to San Jacinto County and the Sheriff’s Office as requested. This is GREAT news for the people of San Jacinto County and our surrounding communities. I look forward to implementing this task force as soon as possible and am extremely proud of the support from County Judge Fritz Faulkner and County Commissioners who approved this measure. I also offer my heartfelt gratitude to the several hundred citizens of San Jacinto County who urged and supported the passage of this measure.

In addition to that outstanding news, I have one other announcement of great importance concerning the recent approval by Commissioners Court to purchase new patrol units for deputies. The funding will tentatively cover the cost of five new Chevrolet Tahoe Police pursuit vehicles. These are vehicles specially designed for the grueling conditions faced by law enforcement vehicles. Myself and my staff worked diligently for several years to see this request to fruition. After careful deliberation and research, San Jacinto County Commissioners have approved the purchase in a show of support for the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement efforts in our county. I am happy to once again give my appreciation to the public and County Commissioners for helping the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of San Jacinto County achieve our common goals of improving law enforcement service in San Jacinto County. 

Respectfully,

Greg Capers, Sheriff

San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office

AUSTIN 10/24/2024

GOV ABBOT AWARDS LONE STAR GRANT

SAN JACINTO COUNTY SHERIFF, GREG CAPERS has been successful in his leadership and efforts toward winning the LONE STAR Grant for SJC Sheriff's Dept  and an opportunity to crank up The Lone Star Task force for this part of Texas.  The breaking news is welcomed by Sheriff Capers and many who helped and encouraged him to press  forward in the 3 year process.

" the Operation Lone Star grant comes directly from the Governor’s Office and is for use by Sheriffs to help fund pro-active law enforcement task force operations targeting border related crimes (e.g. cartel linked crimes such as humans smuggling, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and other complex crimes with a nexus to the border).  This grant will help start a task force that will begin operations in a four (4) county area North of Houston (San Jacinto, Polk, Liberty, and Montgomery Counties) with growth into additional counties expected once the task force is formalized.  There are already OLS Sheriff’s task force operations ongoing in South Texas and West Texas.  This new task force is one of two newly funded Sheriff’s task forces with the other spinning up in Central Texas based in the Waco area."

CASE IN COURT TOMORROW

Oct 7th is the dockett date for this case.  As of this writing, that is tomorrow morning.  One of the most troubling aspects of this case among all that I have listed  is that I personally witnessed the ADA female hispanic and the court appointed attorney stand flat footed at the bench and tell the judge that they had prepared and presented a written plea bargain offer to HB that he turned down.  They had mentioned a few long prison time offers but never put anything in writing to him.  

    The DA has kicked this down the road so many times.  This is a rail road job and a half if there ever was one.  How bout you FBI?  can yall figure that out yet?  

WALKER COUNTY HUNTSVILLE  8/8/2024

F.B.I. SETS UP SHOP 

Last week's investigation into the I.P. addresses for devices used to login to my website showed that the Walker County one came back to the courthouse square an had a prefix known to be used by the F.B.I.   Hmmmmmmmmm  

Sure enough, reliable source in the Criminal Justice system confirmed they have set up shop in Huntsville now.  "Lufkin was just too far away with all the stuff going on here" is how the information was relayed to me.

   One of the I.P. Addresses came back to a building in Newark N.J. that is nothing but F.B.I.  It has the same prefix as the Walker County router.  

There is plenty to look into here in greater East Texas or Deep East Texas as  the Council of Governments C.O.G. calles it.  

I have just the case for you guys and gals.  

What if I told you a lilly white PD arrested a black man for felon in posession of a gun when they had his  current/valid D.L. in hand , a dispatch return of no convictions along with the man telling them he was not a felon but they arrested, booked him and stole his gun anyway.?  (video of arrest andbooking documents  available at Sentinel Office)  

   This man assured me during the interview that once he was in the custody of Sheriff Clint McRae at the Walker Co. Jail, the treatment was good,the facilities were clean and the staff was professional.  

    Why would the pretty white woman lie on a black man?

One answer is,   he was breaking up with her because he found out she was married.  Married to a lilly white born and raised native to Walker co it turned out.

   Not only that, he worked in the I.S.D. organization for years.  I would venture that he knows all the right people.

   Here this accused man was falling in love with this blonde so much he was buying her phones, a purse pistol .380 calibre and asking her to marry him.  

    Little did he know she was lying about living with her mother being why she had to always come to his home.  

    Then the big lie.  "She'd been raped.  Not by the accused in this story but by three men she named in an H.P.D. report that was assigned a case number.  

  In it, she allegedly named the soon to be  husband and two of his friends.  A sordid affair all the way around.  I was able to get the case number  but it never resulted in an arrest or even a verifeid investigation of the lilly white native son and his buds.  Maybe the P.D. figured out she is an habitual liar.  Lied to H.B. about being married.  Lied on H.B. saying he was a felon in posession of a gun.  I wonder if she is lying when she claims, according to an hispanic female ADA , that H.B. Assaulted her? First it was Agg Assault with a deadly weapon.  His van.  Then after a week or so,  gave him the evidence, the 'weapon', his van right back to him.  They had poured out his bait bucket of shad out, taken his legally posessed and rightfully owned gun, locked the doors and parked it in the sun.  

 Thankfully, the J.P. Magistrate saw through the plan after reading The Sentinel story and confirming the man had never been convicted of any crime.  J.P.  did away with the false, Felon in Posession charges but they had already booked him and taken his gun and van.   That dismissal did not slow the ADA down one bit.  She hit H.B. with the Agg Assault with the van charges.  H.B. Answered that.  Then she hit him with the Agg assault with a gun.  H.B. answered that and when he showed up for the put off and put off trial date to pick a jury and move forward, that corrupt ADA stacked another charge of Agg Kidnapping on top of it all and another arrest, bond and payment to add to the rest.  That is what they in trade call stacking charges.  It is a method often used  by CORRUPT PROSECUTORS when the accused refuses to plead guilty on a Plea Bargain deal.  There has not been any other incident.  There has not been any other complaint.  All the charges stem from the single incident in Wal Mart parking lot that was filmed.  An incident that the H.P.D. called and 'argument' and listed it as no victim and no injury.

    The ADA has video and testimony that she got in his truck willingly and rode off with him willingly but when he shows up to court to pick a jury on the agg assault case, they arrest him infront of the court and all the jurors and stack the Agg Kidnapping charge.  Another arrest, another bond, Another payment.

   They don't know H.B.  I do.  He won't run from nothing.  

   The kicker  and second answer to why she would lie is hearing her,   talking about the three men raping her and how she was going to be able to get 'victim's advocate' money from the state.  THEN she marries or was married to the one she accused of rape.  Yes I know his name and yes I have his picture.  I have her name and picture.  When I wrote about the injustice and contacted him, he replied by threatening me and here is part of his narrative

    Another interesting side note is that when the P.D. made their report on the incident, they stated no injuries and NO VICTIM in the report.  Document available at  . . . I will post it below.

6/14/2024   THE NORTHSIDE POND

We watched a, 'Lone Star Law' episode recently where a Texas game warden caught some baby ducks after their moma duck was killed on a road by the pond.  The warden took the lil critters to another pond he knew about where there was a momma duck and duckings and cast the orphans out into the water.  The moma duck made a beeline to the new babies and took them into her own brood immediatly.  The orphans knew to follow her.  

     That is as close as I can equate having the precious Evelyn Faye McLaurin as the best mother duck in the Northside pond.  Most will know  her married name of Evelyn Faye Smith as listed in her recent obituary but in the middle of that is when Mrs Evelyn was our mother duck.  My baby sister and I.  We were only divorce orphans living with dad who was busy building his business  on the north side of Cleveland.  Ms Evelyn, (Thank you Lord) was our neighbor.  

   Her pastor recently spoke of her unconditional love and her heart for others as we celebrated Mrs. Evelyn's life, He said those things to a whole chapel full of people that already knew. What an example Mrs. Evelyn lived before all of us.  What a difference she made to the orphans in the Northside pond.  She was busy raising three wonderful daughters and just went on and  raised four.  How fortunate was I to be the son she never had.  I am not just talking pot roast and perfect merenge on a pie but accountability, responsibility and respect. Now she has three Son in laws that kinow exactly what I mean.  

    say that Mrs, Evelyn Faye McLaurin, Grayson, Smith was one of the greatest blessings in my life.  

LUFKIN – A pre-construction meeting was held Monday at the Lufkin District Office, signaling the start of an 8-year construction project that will be the largest project to date for the district.

Engineers, contractors, utility company representatives, consultants and other interested parties met to discuss the pending construction. Barricades will be set Dec. 7 with work scheduled to begin Dec. 11, weather permitting, on a 6.37-mile section of US 59 in San Jacinto and Liberty counties.

Webber LLC, The Woodlands, will serve as contractor for the $190 million construction project that is scheduled to be completed in 2031. The project is designed to upgrade US 59 to future I69 standards and will include converting a non-freeway to freeway consisting of the construction of a four-lane freeway and two-lane frontage roads from FM 2914 in San Jacinto County to the Loop 573 interchange in Cleveland (Liberty County).

The construction will include 3.343 miles in the Lufkin District and 3.028 miles in the Beaumont District (Liberty County).

As this project begins, motorists are urged to reduce speed and obey all traffic control through the work zone. Stay alert for moving machinery and workers near the lanes of travel. Prepare for delays and obey a reduced work zone speed limit that will be posted near the area. Traffic fines double when workers are present.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

POLK CO. 12/15/2023

ADA FERGUSON PUT IN CHECK

The recent hearing in the 258th regarding Ferguson's continuation of Hon's efforts to indict and imprison a man for "appearing" as if he MIGHT commit a crime were stopped in their tracks by the 258th's District Judge, The Honorable Travis Kitchens.   "Appeal it if you want" was Judge Kitchens' reply to Ferguson's protestations of the Judge's decision to quash the faulty indictment according to a trusted court room observer.  

    In explaining the Hon/Ferguson error, Judge Kitchens pointed out the total lack of any crime alleged in the indictments.  This was the second effort to indict a man for appearing as if he might commit a crime of assault.   That is the slippery slope the Constitutional oath keeping Judge pulled us back from.  

    Imagine the consequences if Ferguson/Hon had been successful.  There would no longer be any way to hold public servants accountable without risking prison. 

FULCHER PLEADS GUILTY - 15 YEARS 

BREAKTHROUGH IN COLD CASE

MORE ON THE STORY HERE

WELLS HOUSE SHOPPING IN THE 411TH?

WOODROW WALLACE. CALLED OUT  The article linked to the headline has this following narrative in it:

"As the court rightly held, that includes any time that they’re controlling a Facebook page they maintain in their official roles. Specifically, the court recognized that when a public official uses a Facebook page as a tool of governance — that is, when she uses it to inform the public about her government work, solicits input on policy issues through the page, and swathes it “in the trappings of her office” — she is controlling the page as a government actor.

And if she opens that page to public comment, the interactive space of the Facebook page constitutes a public forum. The fact that the page exists on a website owned by a private company doesn’t change that."

Sentinel readers will remember when we open record requested comments Wallace had removed from his "Trinity County Sheriff" fb page.  Wallace paid much tax money to the Trinity County hired law firm, Iglaseus something.  Wallace is the most prolific spender of tax payer money to fight open records releases The Sentinel has ever encountered.  

   Wallace's facist censorship fight went all the way to Austin to the OAG Open Records division.  THEY FOUND FOR HIM!!!   I still have the letter from them.  

   We argued that if he took the critical comments down, as public records, they became subject to the open records laws.  To dispose of them would be the same as him shredding a written complaint a citizen walked in the lobby and made againsthim. 

SAN JACINTO CO 6/17/2023

GREAT LADY PASSES FROM AMONG US

The loving mother of the Honorable 258th District Judge, Travis Kitchens Jr passed away late last night or early this morning.    Judge Kitchens, for the first time, missed the Juneteenth celebrations at the SJC Courthouse this morning to be with her in her final hours.

   What a fitting tribute to her death to be celebrating one of if not the greatest Christian accomplishments of our great nation at the time she passed.  We are searching for the picture of Mrs. Kitchens holding the bible her son was sworn into office with and will post it soon.  The love for her son absolutely radiates in her face.  

11/3/2022 POLK, TRINITY AND SAN JACINTO COUNTIES

COURT DOCKETS MOVING FORWARD, SJC LAGS A LITTLE

Long standing issues with a sluggish dockett under soon to be former Polk Co DA, Lee Hon have been addressed and much done to relieve the back pressure since Hon's defeat in the last race.  Trinity County is making good progress and Polk County has had a great turnaround due to several factors that have changed or been streamlined since the last elections.  San Jacinto County has not made the same progress and The Sentinel has delved into the reasons why.  "Every body deserves a speedy trial" one Criminal Justice worker stated as we interviewed and questioned several who hold key positions that can make or break the forward motion of our docketts.  

    Hon, who is infamous for holding suspects for years in jail without a trial and with no evidence then dismissing at the last minute is obviously the main culprit.  Hon has stacked up THOUSANDS of backlog cases during his long tenure as the self professed, self labled "Prince of Polk County".   

    In our quest for answers, The Sentinel went right to the folks that know and asked questions.  

     The substantial progess in Polk County is based on several factors.  We are not going to name names but will share the observations of people involved in the process.  One of the greatest advantages that Polk Co has is that both district judges office in the Polk Co Courthouse and the District Attorney's office and the Distict Clerk's office there have immediate access to them and their respective Court Coordinators.  

     Another major advantage that Polk County has is having the County Court at Law Judge position.  In the Texas system, that court can hear many cases prior to them being in District court where as, even with the San Jacinto County Judge Faulkner being a licensed and practicing attorney, he is limited in what cases he can hear. 

    In our research project, we have learned that efiling is playing an important role but does have it's pitfalls.  Working from paper files has its advantages but instant delivery is not one of them.  

    The biggest concern The Sentinel has with efiling is that the judge might inadvertantly see files that he should not see prior to the case being brought before his court.  

    One major change that has taken place in Polk County allowing the docket to move forward has been the willingness of the ADA's to work with the court more openly and professionally since the corrupt Lee Hon is no longer a long term threat to their career.  This has led to the ADA's forging a more professional and trusting relationship with other members of the Criminal Justice system in Polk County.

    The Sentinel has never had complaints on the ADA's other than Tommy Coleman. 

   Now that the remaining ADA's can see that the incoming DA is NOT going to follow Hon's retaliatory practice of letting the process be the punishment (years in jail before the first court date), there has been way more communication between the different offices.  

ANGELINA CO 6/25/2022

DA AMMENDS DENIAL LETTER

Recognizing that her case to withold the video is on flimsy ground already, Angelina Co DA, Janet Cassels delivered an 'ammended' certified letter to our office today denying us the video adding that she was also claiming exemption under the, "Common law privacyrights".

   After DA Cassels initial reply/request that we withdraw the request because it was exempt from disclosure,  we politely declined to withdraw but did agree to allowing all the images and voice of the once upon a time, minor. and just leave the part showing David Stua intact, we thought that would alleviate her concerns about unwanted publicity for the young man.

We would point out that the video was shot in public on a community college campus.  There is no expectation of privacy in public,  The video was live streamed and published in a public media.   

There are several elements that must be met in order to make a claim of violation of ones privacy.  They are:

(1) appropriation of the plaintiff’s “name or likeness for the value associated with it”;  (2) the plaintiff can be identified from the publication; and (3) the defendant received “some advantage or benefit.”

We have agreed in writing to redacting all identifiers of the young man.  We have no advantage or benefit.  If the Angelina County DA's are making false claims and filing false charges, THAT is definately a matter of public concern.

    Now it appears to be something more driving her determination to keep the video out of our hands.  Is there anyone out there that happened to download the video before it was removed from the East Texas Reporter FB page?  Contact info is in the left column.

7/1/2022

THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO!!!!!!

DA DUCKS AND DODGES

In a convoluted and allergic to transparency response, Angelina County DA makes it up as she goes trying to hide public information.   A simple strait forward request for a copy of the video live streamed, recorded and published by East Texas Reporter, David Stua seems to keep her, the DA before her and two judges determined not to ever let the public see the video again.  The problem is, The Sentinel, America White and others are just as determined to find the truth.

       In a case that has been on the books for years and already resulted in solitary confinement of a man for over a year with no trial and no conviciton, that same video has been touted as the proof of his guilt.  

    The presentation made to the grand jury by Martin, seeking his original indictment indicated Stua exposed himself to the young man on the college campus while live streaming the event to his East Texas Reporter FB page.  It didn't happen. Now that the case is disposed of, the DA's 'artistic linguism' has come to light.   The video was played in court as evidence so why hide it?   Could it be that it disproves the allegations of the State?

    As we pointed out before, Both Martin and Cassels, Judge Ball and White were given open records requests by Stua before these charges were brought against him  and they all should have recused themselves.  Instead, they collaborated to impose unconstitutional bond conditions and keep the man in jail, in solitaire for over a year.

The fact that Cassels was willing to dismiss all the sexual charges (stacked 9 high) if Stua signed a plea deal speaks volumes to the lack of validity of the sex charges to start with.

    The Sentinel requested the video under open records weeks ago.  Ms. Cassels emailed back requesting that I withdraw the request but assuring she would seek the Attorney General's opinion if I did not.  The Sentinel politely declined to with draw the request and were met with another letter from the DA declaring that the video was confidential and would not be released.  Now for the battle at the OAG's office.  Is Ken Paxton going to come down on the side of transparency or help Angelina County DA's and judges continue to hide the truth?  We will see.

     As brought out in a previous article, Ms. Cassels is trying to hide the video under the statute exemption to protect a video or audio recording SHE made of an interview of a witness while investigating a crime.  That is dis honest because she did NOT make this video.  

   One of the more troubling aspects of this case that has recently come to light is that while the DA had access to Stua's 'East Texas Reporter' FB page to take the video down, a lot of other documents pertaining to her and the judges were also deleted.