CLEVELAND 9/24/2023

BOGGY CREEK 

A local natural wetlands that has long been called, "Boggy Creek" by locals that lies between hiway 59 and Plum Grove Rd in behind the Texas Timberjack location is under threat of damage.  

     An oil skimmer 'cement pond' between the industrial washrack and the wetlands would seem to be the least effort that could be made to protect the natural wetland  but a Sentinel investigation has revealed no such  drainage infrastructure in place.  

Underline added for emphasis by Sentinel 

State Rep. Bailes: Delivering for House District 18
By State Rep Ernest Bailes
Throughout the 88th Legislature's regular session and in two subsequent special sessions, legislators have been working tirelessly over the past seven months to deliver legislative victories for our constituents. As state representative for House District 18, I was proud to champion legislation that will substantially improve our great state for many years to come. While we aren’t done yet, these victories address the issues that matter most to our community, from school safety to infrastructure to major property tax reform. 
Starting with the biennial budget, or House Bill 1, we appropriated $144.13 billion to fund the state’s operations over the next two years. This fiscally conservative budget spends a substantial amount of the anticipated $32.7 billion surplus while still staying well below the state’s spending limits. This budget includes several provisions to address the issues that matter most including: 
• Securing our southern border by directing $5.1 billion to border security efforts at the 13 state agencies tasked with defending our border; 
• Boosting the state’s share of public education to $50.4 billion, including $3.2 billion to fund projected enrollment growth; 
• Protecting Texas students in the classroom with $1.4 billion for school safety grants that will equip campuses with tools needed for potential emergencies (when combined with supplemental appropriations); 
• Dedicating $17.6 billion to much needed property tax relief for ALL property owners; 
• Improving Texas infrastructure with $9.3 billion for infrastructure-related projects, and so much more (when combined with supplemental appropriations). 
After passing the budget, the legislature turned its attention to several key pieces of legislation. I worked with my fellow legislators on both sides of the aisle to get numerous of these comprehensive and purposeful bills across the finish line. Some of these notable bills include: 
• The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act ensures that all Texans have the rights and abilities they deserve to control their personal data online, while the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act makes sure Texas children are safe from addictive algorithms and harmful content. 
• Improving our infrastructure through the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund and the Texas Water Funds. These funds will transform the state’s ability to tackle modern infrastructure projects, including providing statewide internet access and protecting our future water supply. 
• Several measures to protect Texas students including requiring the presence of an armed security guard on all campuses, expanding mental health training programs, and improving school safety infrastructure. 
The Texas Legislature took on numerous other bipartisan priorities this session. I was glad to support these meaningful legislative solutions that address a wide range of issues. We reined in rouge district attorneys who continue to refuse to prosecute criminal offenses by classifying refusal to follow the law as official misconduct. We also worked to boost public education by improving the teacher recruitment process, and passed legislation to take better care of our retired teachers with a cost of living adjustment as well as a 13th check. 
This session, we passed several measures to support the “One Pill Kills” campaign to combat the growing national fentanyl crisis plaguing Texas and the United States. With the passage of House Bill 6, we increased the penalties for fentanyl-related crimes in Texas. 
These are just a handful of the measures I proudly supported this session. 
Just this past Thursday, the Texas House and Senate passed a series of measures providing the largest property tax cut in Texas history. SB 2, SB 3, and HJR 2 will address your growing property tax bills from a variety of angles. 
Highlights of the measures include:  
• An increase in the Texas homestead exemption to $100k on 5.72 million Texas homeowners ISD property tax bills, effective on this year’s property tax bill; 
• Over $12 billion spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business properties; 
• The establishment of three elected, non-partisan positions added to each County Appraisal District board of directors in order to increase democratic representation in these entities;
• Non-homesteaded properties, valued at $5 million and under, including residential and commercial properties, will receive a 20% circuit breaker on appraised values as a 3-year pilot project; 
• and an increased exemption for the business franchise tax from $1 million to $2.47 million. 
Some proponents of the legislation anticipate an average Texas homestead savings of 41.5% or $1373 per year.
While I am grateful to be back home in the district with Courtney and the boys, I look forward to providing more details on the work I accomplished at the Texas Capitol. For questions about this session, please contact my Capitol office at 512-463-0570. For information about setting up a meeting in the district or for a local issue, contact my District Office at (936) 628-6687.
I thank each one of you for the opportunity to serve you in Austin and work hard on these many issues for HD-18. 

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.