Before all of that, The Honorable Travis Kitchens noticed ADA Freyer milling about the court room and said, "Mr. Freyer, you can have a seat".  Freyer did not aknowledge the comment but continued to mill about prompting a much sterner, "Mr. Freyer, SIT DOWN".  

   Sentinel readers will remember that in a recent murder case, two young hispanic males were manipulated into a confrontation by the woman they both had relations with and the old boyfriend allegedly killed the new boyfriend.  He (Escobar) turned himself in the next morning at the SJC Sheriff's office.  Someone set an unconstitutional one million dollar bond.  Several weeks in, when Escobar's attorney applied for a bond reduction, Judge Kitchens did lower the bond to keep it inline with the constitutional requirements that unreasonable bond not be used to punish a person by setting the bond amount beyond the means of the defendant.  Using unconstitutional bond amounts has been the corrupt practice of some in order to let the process be the punishment without due process.  Judge Kitchens has had to correct several unconstitutional bond amounts since being on the bench especially in Polk County where the practice was used often by FORMER DA Hon. 

     Only an idiot would lamblast a Judge who follows the constitution but we have idiots who do just that.  Some because they are from a bananna republic and don't know any better.  Others because they are corrupt and/or have their own political or financial agenda. 

     When the Constitution loving judge lowered Escobar's bond, a man that turned himself in, to 75 thousand dollars, the family of the victim protested on the courthouse steps with signs demanding no bond.  Not a problem and their right.  The problem arose when ADA Freyer took it upon himself to go out as a representative of the SJC DA's office as a featured speaker at the protest.  According to the Bloo Bonnet News,Freyer assured the crowd that he would make sure that they would get justice.  As he said those words, Freyer knew the crowds idea of justice was no bond for the accused.   

     Now when Memorial day was celebrated on the courthouse steps recently to honor the men and women who fought and died defending that Constitution, NO ONE from the DA's office bothered to walk downstairs and attend the somber event much less speak to the crowd.  When SJC recently celebrated Juneteenth for the 25th year in a row, also organized by our Veteran's Service Officer, no one from the DA's office bothered to walk downstairs for that constitutional honoring event either.  

    But let a crowd gather demanding unconstitutional actions from the court and Freyer fell all over himself to attend and even be the main event speaker at the protest.  Todd Dillon didn't stop him so as the elected DA, that buck stops with him.  I did warn DA Dillon that Freyer was a liability to him based on open records obtained and interviews with former co workers of Freyer's.  Excellent sources in Montgomery Co state Freyer was terminated for showing up drunk on a crime scene.  Freyer denies it when questioned but when I got his file from Harris Co., it turns out he did have a DWI as a young man.  Freyer failed to disclose that on any paperwork submitted to Montgomery Co or San Jacinto Co.  Nor did any background check take place according to those two files.

    I do have emails from the DA assuring The Sentinel that the bloo bonnet news did not get any inside information on the case from his office but it appears fairly obvious from her articles attempting to smear Judge Kitchens that she did.  In any event, regardless of the editor and lawman  joining up to lamblast Judge Kitchens for protectiong the constitutional rights of the accused  before, Judge Kitchens did it one more time by seeking a change of venue to protect the accused's constitutional rights to a fair trial.  In that decision, Judge Kitchen's cited Oliver Wendell Holmes' assurance that our 6th ammendment rights to a fair trial outweigh the 1st amendment rights of a free press because without a fair trial, our justice system has no foundation to stand on.   In that line of reasoning, The Honorable Judge Kitchens did seek a change of venue for the accused and entered this order against publicity to protect Escobar's constitutional rights to a fair trial.  He did indicate that Angelina County had agreed that they would be willing to take on the case.  According to the order against publicity restraining all the attorneys and court personnel from speaking to the press, it will follow the case wherever it ends up being transferred to.  

    In his closing remarks, Judge Kitchens commented that in his 50 years practicing law in many capacities including as a prosecutor, he had NEVER seen anything like this and never has seen the need for an order of this nature.  Judge Kitchens further assured the Prosecutors that he has submitted an ethics complaint to the State Bar of Texas.  

   During the Judge reading of the order, DA Dillon did get up and head to the side door of the courtroom.  When challenged by Judge Kitchens as to where he was going, Dillon replied, "I am removing myself".  "I have not dismissed you", Judge Kitchens stated firmly and instructed him to remain in the courtroom.  Dillon did comply and stood facing the judge for the duration.  His stoic composure respected the dignity and decorum of the court.  

5/14/2024 COLDSPRING 

WINFREY FAMILY TRAGEDY

Young Colby Winfrey died as the result of a wreck in the wet conditions yesterday.  Broken hearted friends of his and of the family have called with the sad news.  No other vehicles were involved.  

     A 2o16 graduate of COCISD, Colby is a  native son of SJC. His father, Scott Winfrey was tragically killed in a car wreck in 2o14.  

COLDSPRING5/10/2024 

FORMER ISD POLICE CHIEF PASSES AWAY

Rosevelt Joseph, veteran and TCOLE certified peace officer passed away today.  Joseph had worked for the COCISD police department as his last job before retiring some years ago.  

1/8/2024Mitchell is having a tough time but is hanging on.  He is a fighter.   

Family told to, "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst"   With little improvement.  One pastor who visits the hospitals often said, "He has one foot here and one foot in Glory",  

1/15/2024 CONROE I.C.U. 1:38 AM

SHE CALLED HIM "BEAR"

Mitchell Mathews passed away this morning holding the hand of his beloved bride.  

The doctors brought him out from under sedation where he made it clear that he did NOT want to have the open heart surgery nor did he want artificial life support.  

SAN JACINTO CO. 1/4/2024

FIREFIGHTER STANDS IN NEED OF PRAYER

FIREMAN FACING OPEN HEART SURGERY is the latest asessment of his doctors.

He is in a danger zone facing such a serious operation.  The family is standing storng but still asks for prayer.

1/12/2024

Volunteer fireman, Mitchell Mathews was lifeflighted to the hospital last night with symptoms of a stroke/heart attack that put him into the I.C.U. for treatment.  He is not only a volunteer fire fighter, he is a father a husband, a neighbor and friend to many.  Please lift him by name to the Throne Room.

1/15/2024 SJC COUNTY OFFICES AND FACILITIES CLOSED TILL WEDNESDAY PER JUDGE FAULKNER

UPDATE 12/29/2022   COLDSPRING

FATHER / SON DUO ARRESTED

Now that the arrests have been made, more info will be revealed that we were holding back such that there were two suspects from the get go of the investigation.  According to other sources, the son and the victim had been in a relationship for several years. 

   The murder was a particularly gruesome bludgeoning and evidence indicates the father tried to help the son cover up the crime, hence the tampering with evidence charges.  

      One post on social media reveals that a female friendof the victim has claimed to have 'found you'.  

   JP 2, Harris Blanchett was the JP that was called to the scene and ordered the autopsy.  

VICTIM NAMED, SUSPECTS ARRESTED

from the desk of; SHERIFF GREG CAPERS:

CLEVELAND 7/5/2017

ADVOCATE ‘JOURNALISTS’ CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE FAKE NEWS

Under the tutelage of Vanessa Brashear, The Eastex Advocate continues to propagate misinformation as fact and then reduce proven facts to what they call ‘allegations’ depending on, it seems, which sounds best in their biased narrative.  A practice that has ensued for years now back from the days when Royce Wells was a commissioner in SJC, Brashear and her staff seem to have a penchant for taking anything their preferred elected officials state as fact and print them without bothering to check the easily provable (or disprovable) statements for truth.  From a front page story, above the fold, from years ago where The Advocate (my hometown paper) stated and printed that I was a convicted felon based solely on Royce Well’s say so to the most recent instance where cub reporter, Jacob McAdams writes that it is “alleged” that SJC Judge John Lovett was driving without insurance the day of his recent wreck, The Advocate staff should be dizzy from all the spin they engage in.  Even more compelling evidence of The Advocate staff’s bias is the news they choose to ignore despite proof positive laid in their proverbial lap.  DPS gave Lovett several days, out of respect for his position, to provide proof of insurance and when he couldn’t, issued him a ticket for driving with no insurance.  That is public record.  Let us shoot down a few more of The Advocate’s spin jobs.  Commissioner’s Court did not take Judge Lovett’s office space from him, they merely backed off Lovett’s illegal grab of space that was already designated as Probation office space and returned it to the probation department.  The Advocate totally ignores the FACT that Lovett took the space without permission and illegally misappropriated county funds with no permission to remodel the space as his own.  Those are the facts pertaining to that situation yet the Advocate continues to spin the narrative to let Lovett play ‘the victim’ when it is the tax payers whom Lovett victimized.  The “half the office” narrative is so blatantly false that it would take a blind fool to fall for it or a propagandist to promote that stupid narrative.  The fact of the matter is that Lovett had maintenance personnel remove boxes of probation files that were in a probation designated office space filed in chronological order and retrievable as needed to another location without permission of the probation department.  The amount of space that the commissioners returned to the probation dept would amount to possibly one fourth of the total square footage Lovett illegally confiscated which is more than twice the amount of space the former judges required with a heavier docket load.  Brashear is willing to continue the lie that Lovett, “gets complaints on Eastex Towing on almost a daily basis” despite the fact that proof Lovett lied was obtained through open records and published months ago.  Brashear ignores the fact of record that Lovett was ordered by the attorney general to produce those complaints and he has not been able to produce a single one.  The Advocate continues to ignore the FACT that Lovett had no jurisdiction in Shepherd city limits to call in those state agencies and that the city did not request him to butt in to their business and that the city has issued a written statement (also published) that they have never received the first complaint on that private business.  Brashear ignores the fact that both state agencies closed the investigation as having, “no merit” and that Lovett has stated and even written on the record since the investigations were closed that the Marrs’ were still, “under investigation”.   The narrative that Don Franks resigned because of the reclaimed office space issue is stale and tired and a damn lie.  Franks is employed as a porter at Anderson Ford.  Please, Vanessa, go interview him and find out why he left the Judge's office and then inform the readers.  Oh wait, that might not fit into your propaganda plans.  Brashear and her cub reporter have reduced The Advocate to being a partisan political rag much like the Dam Good Times who will print anything that promotes their agenda regardless of whether there is any basis in truth or not.  It is a sad day for the misinformed readers in their circulation area.

TheCOLDSPRING 9/12/2015

COMMUNITY STUNNED BY LOSS

A great lady has passed from among us.  Many of us wonder what God had in mind when taking a woman of such youthful exuberance home at only 44 years old but there is peace in knowing His ways and His thoughts are so far above ours.  In a sanctuary packed to the rafters and with standing room only outside the doors, our community gathered together yesterday to say so long for now to Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Vaughn.  A mother, a daughter, a sister and a wife, Jenny Vaughn impacted way more lives than those of her family.  Known for her servant’s heart and unshakable joy, she lived every day to the fullest.  Even a blind man could tell that she was one of the most beautiful and Grace Full creatures to ever call San Jacinto County home.  Walking in her unshakable faith, Jenny Vaughn stepped up boldly when God called her to stand on the truth and seek justice for our county and its people.  Even knowing that she would suffer great persecution and personal loss, Jenny Vaughn was resolute in her determination to do the right thing.  Despite all the hoopla, Jenny Vaughn was vindicated in her actions when the dust settled and all the evidence was finally in.  We the people loved her for having enough love left over in her heart to love our children too.  We admired her for being consistent in her walk.  We will cherish her memory for the examples she set she set for us.   We thank you Lord for sharing Jenny Vaughn with our community as long as You did.  In the midst of our loss, we cannot help but recognize that she did more in a short time than many will even reaching old age.   We agree together Father in beseeching you to keep a hedge of protection around her children as they come of age, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.  There is no picture of Jenny with this story because from daughter to blushing bride and on to being a public servant, friend and companion, no single photo could ever capture what she is and was to all of us. 

UPDATE 4/9/2015

HAGLUND LAW FIRM CONTACTS THE SENTINEL

Wayne D. Haglund of Haglund Law Firm called The Sentinel Thursday in response to the recent open records request regarding billing.  He assured The Sentinel that his firm does not charge a retainer fee for any of the School Districts that he represents but bills on a per case basis.  On that premise, Mr. Haglund is sure the COCISD was billed for the case involving the prior, 'missing coach', open records request.  As a peer awarded, top notch lawyer who specializes in school law, Mr. Haglund expressed a great deal of the support for the open records laws in this state.  He went on to express that in the future, he would contact the requestor up front in the hopes of "short circuiting" the process required in this case.  In summation, he agreed with The Sentinel that a simple, "He is on a medical leave" would have been the correct response to The Sentinel's initial inquiry. 

COLDSPRING 4/3/2015

COCISD LAWFIRM MISLEADS SCHOOL SYSTEM

The 'Haglund Law Firm, P.C.', Lufkin, Texas, purposely  led the COCISD on a wild goose chase pursing something other than the truth.  Information is being sought by Sentinel Alert to determine if the law firm billed the COCISD above and beyond regular retainer in this case.  Haglund's counsel to the CISD that information being sought thru open records could be withheld or should be withheld went against long standing case law and precedents set many times.  In the OAG opinion letter, the portion of the information that the OAG does permit the COCISD to with hold is information that was never requested in the first place, despite being represented to the OAG by Haglund Law Firm, PC that it was.  Once again, the precedent has been set in Texas that if you hold the public trust, you are accountable to the public, despite Halund's best effort to the contrary.

HOMETOWN CAFE CLOSES

COLDSPRING  SHARON'S CAFE has closed it's doors after providing 2o years of hometown, homefolks and homecookin for our community.  Known for more than just good food, Sharon's offered a relaxed atmosphere and excellent service.  If you were a regular, your drink of preference would be on the table by the time you made it to the table and you better get your salad quick because the vittles were on the way.  Thank you Ms. Sharon for your consistant quality, good nature, good food and a genuine appreciation of your customers.  You will be missed.

COLDSPRING 11/21/2014

ARREST    NO CHARGES  

No formal charges have been filed on Terry Holcomb for his disruption of the Commissioner's Court meeting.  Neither did Holcomb actualize the threats he made in his Raging Radio interview to act out of order again at the next meeting.  Although Holcomb spoke, he still failed to convince our elected representatives to adopt 'his' resolution.  

UPDATE 12/4/2014

According to asst District Attorney, the DA's office has NOT received any charges from the Sheriff's office on Holcomb's arrest and therefore is not taking any action at this time.

FINAL UPDATE 1/25/2015

The Conclusion of the Sentinel Alert investigation is that the incoming Sheriff had no part of the failure to charge as he was told not to bother because it would not be prosecuted.  Asst DA Boem's assertions that were the basis of the last update, did not pan out as rock solid and were an apparent attempt to throw the incoming sheriff under the bus.  In the effort of conclusion of this story, suffice it to say that my persistant questioning resutled in an admission from someone in the know, that the whole thing WAS an orchestrated political stunt, planned and executed to a Tee.  In the spirit of anonmymity for my sources, I will conclude the matter here unless any wish to dispute those findings.  Comments welcome.