SPARTA REGISTERS TO VOTE IN SJC . . FINALLY

Records show Sparta's very recent SJC Voters registration.    11/  7 /2023   

   The Sentinel does appreciate the multiple constituents in Pc3 that have submitted photograpic evidence and documenting community comments for us but the deceitfulness and all is old hat with Houston. NOTHING demonstrates that fact more the the 30 year old 'hat' picture he is using in his ads and his bill board.   That is offered as a chuckle comment by several along with observing that Pct 3 has two really good candidates for Constable, Eldridge and Freed.  Candidate Freed has an extensive law enforcement background while Eldridge has Emergency management and extensive Jailer experience.   

    One reader submitted photos of sam i am putting his campaign signs on the VFD property in Evergreen.  The Pct 3 voters know but since Houston is running county wide this race, we just want the rest of the county voters to know his cheating tactics.

CONROE/SJC 12/13/2023

SPARTA HOMESTEAD IN MONT GO

SJC PCT 3 Constable candidate, Peter J. Sparta has his 100 percent ownership homestead exemption in Montgomery county but is running in SJC.  Granted the Tax Code does allow someone to move and keep their homestead exemption for up to two years but has the qualifier that the person must  have the intention to return to it as their  primary residence.  That leaves Sparta in a quandry.  Word is that Sparta used his momma's address to sign up and run.  It is not beyond belief that Sparta moved home to momma considering the multiple family violence incidents that have plagued him in recent years.   

   Does his DL reflect that change after thirty days as the law requires?   If he has lived the riequried 60 days in Pct 3 to qualify for the ballot position, he has had time to change his DL.  Or  does he hope to be elected in SJC then live in Montgomery County to keep his homestead?  If your DL has a SJC address on it, I will run it with this story if you submit me a photo of it.  I will redact street name and mumber.  

`/28/2025 COLDSPRING

INEPT SHERIFF'S ENDANGER CITIZENS

The recent capture of Ty Martin by Onalaska P.D. AND Polk Co S.O.  reveals 'inner workings' of corruption by the time he is returned to Sam Houston's sheriff Dept.

    Where the guns and cash go, no body knows?

 The question became "was he or wasn't he armed when captured"?  Ty left threatening to go get a gun.  His family had taken his guns because of his unstable behaviour.  Despite multiple calls and an easily accessible record of felony convictions and even a mental health warrant, Sam's possee missed their man.  He made it to Onalaska and got the gun . . . . or did he?  

     Onalaska P.D. could not, would not, did not answer the question, "Did Ty Martin have a gun on him when he was arrested?"  The arresting officer was quite available to Byron Dunaway but none could answer.    Polk Co S.O. who assisted in the arrest could not, would not, did not answer the question, "Did Ty Martin have a gun on him when he was arrested?"  The most I could get out of Chief Deputy Lowery was, "I don't see an entry in the dispatch log where they called in to run a weapon serial number."   

   Lets fast forward to after Sam Houston took custody of the man they missed once already.  The deputy takes Ty to SJC Jail and Sam has him booked under a misdomeaner weapons charge and minor assault charges with no mention of a gun.  Calls to Sam's jail produced no answers.  Pretty simple, straight forward question.  It is PI and PK that Ty Martin had felony convictions and could not legally posess a gun.  Public Information and Public Knowledge is what it is but the fact that the cops, all of them" had access to the infomation at their finger tips but didn't act as if they knew speaks volumes.  A throw down gun can be a valuable commodity in some circles.  Tammy Heeth made a few bucks at it so it speaks valumes to me. For years before the Rangers finally put the cuffs on Lima for dealing drugs while working for Trinity Co. Sheriff, Woody Wallace. multiple people claimed they were stopped and had gun and or drugs which were taken but only got a speeding ticket, never drug or gun charges. Same thing up through Seven Oaks and Corrigan.  Then the scandalous information that O.P.D> Officer Tammy Heeth was selling stolen guns through her pawn shop in Polk Co.

    Guns taken from evidence. 

    Now, a notorious felon who has been reported for threatening several women and going after another gun is arrested and no one knows where the gun went. Not OPD, not PCSO, not SJCSO.

         Not only that, when a majistrate arrives with no information and the Sheriff does not give them the information about the priors, he sets an attainable bond avg for the low level charge and informs the man that his mother passed, also official duty.

     A bond low enough that someone with a job could pay and he would be out and knows where to go to buy a gun in Onalaska and carry out his threats. 

When made aware that information was with held by Sam Houston, the magistrate made a hurried trip in to increase the bond double. 

   The Sentinel finally got a reply to open records that answered the question of was there a gun and where is it?  Yes Ty had a gun and it is currently in evidence at SJC Sheriff Dept.   The email address Sam Houston's secretary gave me hasn't bounced back but it  has gone unanswered so far.   An open records request submitted to DA Dillon with an "at his convenience" clause leaving response  time and redaction to his discrection in respect of his tremendous case load were still met within the state's timeframe.  DA Dillon confirmed that Ty Martin has a felony conviction and did have a gun when arrested.  Now the question Sam I am is, "Why not charge a dangerous man witht he dangerous crimes he is committing?   Inept or in cahoots?  Neither answer is good.  We know you really like to keep guns when you can so just let it fall off the radar right up front?  Was that the game plan?  

    Back fire.  Now other people want to know why no felon in posession charges.  Your deputy made it plain that your department "Would not" pursue any higher charges. 

    Why?  Inept?  In Cahoots?  Neither answer is good again.  Both answers endanger the citizens and especially women in SJC.  

2/6/2025 J.P. COURT SAN JACINTO COUNTY

SAM HOUSTON LAWYERS UP . . . . SORTA

The dog theft case filed against SJC Sheriff, Sam Houston was set for trial after Sam showed up to this small claims court pretrial hearing today with a lawyer. He brought the infamous SJC "lady" lawyer, 'Losin Laura' 'Sissy' Pigmore.  

  According to court watchers, The Honorable SJC  J.P. 

2, Harris Blanchett  conducted the hearing with his trademark no nonsense, get the business taken care of decently and in order style.

   Houston bringing 'Losin Laura' to the small claims court speaks volumes.   

    Judge Blanchett, as always, was careful to give the plaintiffs, who have no attorney, a full explanation of the process before them and how his court would operate.  The watchers claimed Judge Blanchett gave them information on their rights and  how to hire an attorney if they decided to do that for the actual hearing.  He  then set the trial for February 27th at 2:PM and it was over for today.

    Am I being too harsh calling Sissy, 'Losin Laura'?  Lets list some of her former clients and/or political allies and you tell me.    Lou Rogers, Bill Law, Keith Black, Mark Price, Bill and Marcella Shaw, Royce Wells, Terry "Candy Jar" Peden, Joe Joe Johnson, Waid WilliamsKelly and Mike Selmer.   I am pretty sure she is politically aligned with that corrupt Pct Chair, Dwayne "take a bribe" Wright too.

4/5/2024 WALLER CO

PATTERN HOLDS FOR SPARTA

Yet another criminal case brought against the beleagured Peter Sparta has ended in dismissal according to documents Sparta sent to The Sentinel.  Both Sparta and an attorney who looked over the document for The Sentinel say the reason given for this dismissal is, "mistaken identity".   

   It was alleged that there was video evidence.  We did request it in the beginning but that request has been ignored.  

   During a recent interview, Sparta not only named the bus driver but claimed he has known her for some time.    In further conversation, Sparta confirmed that his TCOLE Commission is on, "administrative hold", he feels this latest dismissal should break it loose from the current hold.

    At least the reason given here explains more than Mont Co  DA Bret Ligon's rush dismissal of one of Sparta's other domestic arrests involving gunplay which simply says, "Terms met".

     What else is interesting about these latest documents is that they prove two things.  Peter sought a free attorney and the officials could not find him to serve him with a notice of hearing.  That matches all the bogus address issues with Sparta's campaign from day one.  I asked Dwayne Wright if Sparta's DL address matched his ballot application.  "I don't check that I just file it"  We have put in a call to the attorney of record but no answer yet.  

5/7/2024

SPARTA TAKES ISSUE WITH STORY

"The only ones you write about are Lou Rogers, Sam Houston and me." Sparta claimed early in the call.  The line I wrote about Sparta's opponent being a long time law man, "In good standing" seemed to stick in his craw a bit so I asked Sparta if he knew his current standing with TCOLE.  He did not have any current statement on that issue.  I did remind Sparta that my criteria is still the same.  When multiple people make similar complaint about someone who holds the public's trust and I can't find connection, axe to grind or political angle, I investigate.  Then I write about it.  

     When the discussion turned to me helping Mr. Freed, I assured Sparta that I do not know the man.  "But you know me, I did pull his TCOLE".  Freed's TCOLE showed great education, stable job history.  

   We have asked TCOLE for an official statement on the current status of Sparta's TCOLE and will  share that info when it becomes available.  We asked if there were expected change based on the recent dismissal of the charges in Waller Co.  

UPDATE 5/9/2024

TCOLE has always been one of the most responsive Texas agencies but this return was the fastest one ever.  In less than one hour, TCOLE responded with the information at left.  Sparta seems to think that the recent dismissal of the felony charge in Waller Co will shake his commission loose in time for the election but I don't share his optimism.  When you consider that the Administrative hold on Sparta's TCOLE was applied well before the most recent arrest, it doesn't seem likely that the dismissal will effect his status with TCOLE>  

5/6/2024 COLDSPRING

CONSTABLE DEBATE MOVES FORWARD

Pct 1 constable candidates, Rae Lynn Phillips and Lonnie Thomas Were able to face off in a question/answer format but Pct 3 candidate Sparta got a pass.  Sparta's run off opponent did not attend the event.  As a years long full time law man in good standing working in Mont gomery County, SJC resident and Pct 3 constable candidate, kevinFreed had been subpoenaed to testify in a court case according to two seperate sources.  

    All the road and bridge closures have made travel difficult.

    According to some in attendance, the event was well moderated and was orderly but boiled down to two main questions.  "What makes you think you are qualified to be a constable?" and, "What are the duties of a constable?"

SAN JACINTO COUNTY 5/18/2018

SPARTA LABELS SENTINEL 'SOCIAL MEDIA'

After dating his O.R. request response letter to The Sentinel for the day BEFORE we published the story below in which he then references our story, Capt Sparta makes several other claims that just don't ring true. 

    Our request asked for 'any document' related to the stop which Sparta blanketly denied having since, "no arrest were made" yet he was able to glean the victim's name and phone number from somewhere to call her the day our story was published.  In that call, Sparta assured her that they would rather handle the complaint there in his office rather than on "social media".   Here is Merriam Webster's definition for 'Social': a : marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with friends or associates  

    That doesn't describe The Sentinel Alert - Town Crier publication in the least.  It does describe the posts you  made to friends on social media site. 

     The Sentinel is a hard-core investigative journalist news site.  As the graph depictes in the attached photo, nearly two thirds of our readers have a 'favorites' direct link to our web site.  The majority of the remaining readership searches for us on search engines with the phrase, "Sentinel" to find us.  We don't advertise or even pass out cards so it is all word of mouth and relevant news that has built our following.  You can see that it is a minimal amount of our readership that is routed to us via 'social media'.  You may wish The Sentinel was 'social' in nature but alas, we are not. 

     On another note regarding your lying answer letter, our research shows that LEO body cams come with an extra battery, can be charged in the car and are advertised to be able to record for 12 hours straight without recharging.   My sources say that dash cams are hardwired into the patrol unit's electrical system.  Are you or your deputy tampering with evidence Capt Sparta?

SJC PCT 3 5/17/2018

PCT 3 CONSTABLE IGNORES O.R. REQUEST

Allegations of a non consent search and unwarranted stop were made to The Sentinel Alert by a 50+ year old woman, a tourist, who was driving alone and in the vicinity of Shell Oilfield Road searching for the 'Hunter's Camp' that is located there.  She alleges that there was no reason to stop her and that Pct 3 Constable office performed a non consent search of her vehicle by threatening her with arrest if she did not let him search.  According to the lone female, there was no citation issued.  Her allegations were accompanied by a video clip she provided that does showPct 3 rifling through her car. 

    As is our method of investigation, The Sentinel filed an open records request with Constable Sam Houston after reviewing the video and a lengthy interview with the woman in order to get some answers.  In another blatant expression of his, "above the law" mentality so often displayed by this corrupt constable, he has ignored the request.  To his detriment, most will surmise that he and his department have something to hide.  It NEVER fails that when elected officials ignore or resist open records requests and we take the issue higher up, there is evidence of wrong doing that they are trying to suppress.

    Constable Houston, in a spirit of fairness, we give you until Monday next to reply to the request before we advise the OAG of your violation of the law.

CLEVELAND 1/7/2018

CROOKED CONSTABLE STRIKES AGAIN

SJC Pct 3 Constable Sam Houston was spotted by a Sentinel Investigator illegally parking in the fire lane in front of the Cleveland Walmart.  A blatant violation of the law that he has sworn to uphold, Houston just piles another example of his elitist 'above the law' mentality that he has become known for.  From his abuse of official capacity for harrassing a young woman to meet with him one on one to hiring a convicted sex offender as a deputy, Houston was just as blatant in this crime today.  Granted there is a clause in the law for emergency vehicles to park there but unless needing a 30 pack of Busch Beer is an emergency, Houston is just another criminal with a gun and badge.  Houston carried out a bag of dog food and as the photo shows below, Houston's companion has a 30 pack of beer.   It wasn't too long ago that SJC Judge John Lovett was caught breaking the same law at the same spot.  Can we say birds of a feather?  The common denominator is that both men profess a staunch alliance to that fraternal order that teaches they are 'perfect' and better than the 'profane' ie: all the rest of us.

UPDATE 10/23/2017

TCOLE STALLS ON RECORDS REQUEST

No correspondence yet from TCOLE on the requested records. 

UPDATE 9/28/2017

TCOLE DIRECTOR CALLS SENTINEL

With Peter Joseph Sparta's conviciton for attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child occuring before he was an adult, those criminal records are judicially sealed and cannot be used to deny Sparta a law enforcement commission in the State of Texas.  "I don't know how you got those records", T.C.O.L.E. Director Kim Vickers stated, "but you could be sued over them" was the conclusion of the director.  "We can't use them to deny his commission and never would have even known they were there without your email", Vickers said summarizing the situation.  The Sentinel then asked Director Vickers about a misdomeanor theft conviction on Sparta when he was 17 and an adult by state law.  "That conviction fell off of his record after ten years", Dirctor Vickers stated, "and will not show up on a pre employment criminal history check."  "I put my best investigator on this case and I understand your concern but we cannot not pull his T.C.O.L.E. license over either of those incidents." 

UPDATE 9/26/2017

T.C.O.L.E. ASSIGNS INVESTIGATOR

An early morning call at the direction of Kim Vickers, Director of TCOLE, in response to a late Friday afternoon email to his office assured The Sentinel that an investigator had been assigned to follow up on the evidence delivered to them.

SAN JACINTO COUNTY 9/20/2017

PCT 3 CONSTABLE ENDANGERS COMMUNITY

   With full knowledge of his background, Republican party darling, Pct 3 Constable, Sam Houston gave a badge and gun to a man who was, as a teenager, CONVICTED of Agg Sexual Assault of a Child (attempted) according to the documents obtained by a Sentinel Investigator.  Those documents (below) list the felony offense that occurred in Harris County along with the conviction and time served, age and gender of his victim. 

    A story that has been a matter of investigation by The Sentinel since rumors first surfaced, it was only after an open records request for county records gave us the exact legal name of the convicted sex offender, Peter Joseph Sparta, that a simple yahoo search yielded the lower set of page snips about the criminal history of Sam Houston's "Captain Sparta".   The thing that proves Houston knew the whole time was the manufactured lie that it was Sparta's twin brother that was convicted of the sexual assault that Houston has propagated to too many people to back up from now. 

     These violations of the public trust by Sam Houston are enough to call for his resignation but further investigation has revealed that Houston is allowing Sparta to moonlight in Harris County and San Jacinto County behind his Pct 3 badge and gun.  Holding only reserve status, according to official county documents, it is a crime for Houston to allow Sparta that moonlighting priviledge other than funeral escorts.  That lucrative opportunity to make 50 dollars an hour is reserved, by law, for real LEO's. 

     Houston has proven his criminal character over and over in this county.  It is time for him to be prosecuted for his crimes.

SAN JACINTO COUNTY 9/16/2017

CONSTABLE SAM HOUSTON HARASSES YOUNG WOMAN

The link in the headline is to a battery of images of actual email messages given to The Sentinel as evidence while we were investigating the crimes Sam Houston has committed behind his badge and gun.  This evidence has remained in The Sentinel files for a couple of years because the young lady (to remain unnamed) would not come forward in person to file charges against Houston. 

   It is reported to The Sentinel that Houston and his gang made warrantless entry into her home late at night among the other violations of the law he committed as outlined in the text messages. 

  The young and quite attractive mother of two ended up revoked and back in jail not long after these threats were made by Constable Houston.  We, after much soul searching, decided to come forward with this evidence to the public despite the lack of formal charges after

   Houston recently hired a deputy who himself was charged and prosecuted for harrassing a young lady in a north texas jurisdiction.   The Sentinel did make the documents available to every law enforcement agency two years ago, the prosecutors office and known to judges in our county.  Houston has proven he has a penchant for holding himself above the law. 

   Check out the handle of Houston's gun illustrated in this campaign photo of his.  There is that pesky fraternal order again protecting criminals in positions of power and no one gives a damn about it.  All I can do is sound the alarm.  Pct Three, if you elect this man again, it is on your shoulders.   

UPDATE 2/22/2016 7 p.m.

STATE AND FEDERAL LAW TRUMPS CONSTABLE'S EFFORTS

In what should have been a lesson learned 4 years ago, Pct 3 Constable Houston had to have it hammered home this time around.  With a track record of verifiable actions that prove his attitude is that he is above the law, pressure from his constituents, Federal and State law enforcement and a keyboard and camera proved that the law is above him.  Constable Houston removed his illegal sign from Federal and State property just before it was officially confiscated.  According to Sentinel Sources within his precinct, Houston’s sign was removed from its illegal location and moved to the fence by the neighboring store where all of the other candidate’s signs were legally placed. 

UPDATE 2/22/2016 noonish

CONSTABLE MOVES SIGN

In what can only be seen as a thumb in the eye of his constituents, Constable Houston has removed the illegal sign from the Forest Service land and put it farther out toward the road where it is definately in the state highway R.O.W.   Our guess is that he is falling back on his permission from four years ago from "so and so" at TxDoT to justify this blatant violation. 

UPDATE PCT 3 2/18/2016

CONSTABLE DEFENDS ACTION

In a ‘deja vous’ effort to get some answers, The Sentinel contacted the Pct 3 constable with a simple question.  “Did you not know the laws regarding political sign placement or do you just not care?  In Houston’s original campaign, he began placing signs out on our roadways before the legal time allowed by the election laws.  His response on the record back then was that “so and so” at TxDot told me it would be ok.  Much to my no surprise, he did the exact same thing when I enquired about this sign.  He threw about 4 or 5 forest service employees under the bus by name with no hesitation as having given him permission to violate the law.  One of them that I know and care about, I let know.  The rest will have to figure it out.  Then he assured me that the Republican Party Chairman had ok’d the sign placement.  Houston never denied knowing the sign was illegal.  At one point, his defense was, “Everybody breaks the law everyday”.   Not knowing if that was an admission on himself or an accusation against me, I paused to ponder the point before replying, “No Sir”.  His next step was to assert that his forest service blameees told him the sign was not on the forest because it was not nailed to a tree.  A little reminder of the obvious that the state highway r.o.w. was just as illegal nipped that tack in the bud.  Then there was the accusation I was only picking on him about signs for personal reasons.  He offered to contact his local forest service buddies to reaffirm their permission before he would remove the sign.  At this point, we discussed the fact that game wardens, nor forest service rangers can give anyone permission to violate the statutes or laws of this state or nation.   The next tactic was to blame it on my anger.  I assured the constable that it was not anger because it was not personal but only the principle that mattered to me.  At this point, I admitted to becoming somewhat cynical because I expose corruption after corruption and so few care.  Houston bowed up with, “You call this corruption?”  My reply was, if you are telling me you can violate the law or another LEO can give you permission to violate the law, that is the definition of corruption. 

WEBSTERS Dictionary

CORRUPTION; dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers)

With both of us agreeing it was time to go eat dinner, I requested the constable call the tallest hog in the trough in forest service law enforcement (like I did) then call and give me a statement after you think it over.  “I am not giving you a statement” was his terse reply.  “You just did for about 20 minutes” I reminded the constable.  Today we will see what happens.  I want to make one thing clear.  It was not me that brought the issue up.  It is your Pct 3 constituents that pressed me to do so.  The ones that love the beauty of our national forests and don’t care to see illegal political sign clutter at their turn off of the main road to get home in our beautiful timberlands.  They are calling you down.  I am just their spokesperson.  An exact quote from them was, “Who does he think he is?"  Constable is running unopposed this election, he was quick to point out.  Earlier in the conversation when he accused me of picking on just him, my reply was, "If you read my website, you would know that is not true."  "I don't read your stuff", Houston retorted.  I assured him that was fine and his perogative but I did have 800 pages viewed just yesterday.  It is true that it may be a little thing, a little trangression of the law but if you are not willing to defend the laws of this great state, will you stand up to defend the constitution at crunch time?  It is a sign of elitism when you think the laws don't apply to you.  We (your constituents and I) are here to prove that they do.

Steve Watson

UPDATE LUFKIN 2/18/2016

CHIEF US FOREST SERVICE LEO ASSURES SENTINEL THE ILLEGAL SIGN WILL BE REMOVED

"We reomove illegal campaign signs all the time".

SJC FM 2025 AND FM 945 2/2/2016 

LOCAL LAW MAN BLATANTLY VIOLATES LAW

But why not?  It is a great corner.  The intersection of two state highway right of ways and federal forest land PRECLUDE the possibility or eliminate any question of what side of the line the sign is on because it doesn't matter.  The sign is illegally placed.

COLDSPRING 3/1/2016

CONSTABLE DISPLAYS DISDAIN FOR LAW

Pct 3 Constable Sam Houston demonstrated his disdain for the 'little laws' once again as he illegally parked with full display of his name and office being sought from within the the 100' stand back line from the door of the polling place.