News Blotter
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported numerous arrests in Mills County in the month of January through February. On January 18th, 23 year old Dequon Jamar Cole of Brownwood, Texas was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Mills County Court for the offense of failure to appear and motion to revoke probation for fail to identify fugitive from justice. On January 26, 2018, Martin County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24 year old Andrew Wylliam Davis on a Mills County warrant for the offense of possession of marijuana less than 5 pounds. The warrant for Davis was the result of an earlier investigation in a possession case. Then on January 27th, Mills County deputies conducted a traffic stop for a moving violation and made contact with the occupants Mitchell Paden Bilotta (driver) Elle Renae Sage (passenger) both 22 years of age from Abilene, Texas. During the contact deputies detected the smell of burning marijuana emitting from the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted and approximately 4.5 ounces of marijuana were recovered from the vehicle. Both subjects were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana over 4 ounces but less than 5 pounds. On January 30th, 56 year old Coleen Kaye Ingram was arrested for an outstanding warrant for motion to revoke probation for possession of marijuana. Ingram is still in custody serving time for this offense.
On February 7th, 28 year old Erica Nichol Bynum was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of 35th District Court for motion to revoke and failure to appear for felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Bynum remains in the Mills County jail and is awaiting trial. On February 8, 2018, Mills County Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person in car at a local business. Deputies spotted the vehicle traveling east on US 84 and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Deputies identified 47 year old Max Charles Walker of Idalou, Texas. Walker was highly intoxicated on an unknown substance and placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Deputies then searched the vehicle and found a package of methamphetamine in the vehicle. Walker was on his way for a job interview in the medical field and was also in possession of a fake urine test kit to deceive the detection of narcotics in one’s body. Walker was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. On February 7th, 27 year old Naomi Salung Ganaha of Killeen was booked into the Mills County Jail from Lampasas charged with felony injury to the elderly. Ganaha stopped in a local business in 2017 and began shoplifting items. When store employees confronted the individual she assaulted one of the owners who is elderly. Ganaha has not been able to make bond and will remain in the Mills County Jail until her trial. Then on February 9th, Deputies responded to a report of a 911 call of a family assault that was in process. Deputies were advised that the 911 call was disconnected. Deputies responding to the residence saw the suspect, 30 year old Mitchell David Fletcher of Goldthwaite, leaving the residence. Deputies attempted to stop Fletcher but he fled the scene in his vehicle and deputies began a pursuit. Fletcher finally stopped at a residence in the 900 block of Fifth Street where he exited his vehicle but refused demands of the deputies to cooperate. Fletcher was then shot with a Taser and quickly complied with demands. It was then discovered that a minor child was a passenger in the vehicle while the deputies were in pursuit. Fletcher was charged with numerous felonies and misdemeanors to include #1. Interference with 911 call, #2 Assault against family member by strangulation (2 counts), #3 Endangering a child, #4 Fleeing, #5 Criminal Mischief, #6 Resisting arrest and #7 reckless driving. Fletcher is currently free on bond and awaiting trial. On February 16th, Mills County Deputies stopped a vehicle for speeding south of Goldthwaite on US 183. Deputies made contact with the driver, 17 year old Madison Jade Mays of Brownwood, Texas, for the violation and immediately could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. A Probable cause search revealed a small amount of marijuana and prescription pills not belonging to Mays. She was arrested for possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces and possession of a controlled substance both misdemeanor offenses.
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reports numerous arrests through the month of December 2017 and January 2018. On December 1, 2017 44 year old Christopher Edward Payne of Goldthwaite was arrested for Theft over $750. Payne was employed at a local business and obtained some tires from the business without paying for them. On December 3, 2017 Texas DPS Troopers conducted a traffic stop on Paul Anthony Gallardo 29 of Brownwood, Texas. Gallardo was arrested for Credit Card Abuse, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana and Fail to identify fugitive from justice. On December 15, 2017 37 year old Timothy Howard Graham of Little Rock, Arkansas was arrested for motion to revoke probation for credit card abuse. Graham is still currently in the Mills County Jail. On December 17, 2017 Damien Gus Carman was arrested for fail to appear for DWI charge and has since been released. On December 17, 2017, Mills County Deputies responded to a 911 call of a disturbance on County Road 130. Deputies arrived and identified individuals as one male victim and one male suspect 61 year old Henry Thomas Mangham of Mullin, Texas. During the course of the investigation the victim had stated that Mangham had pulled a .44 caliber handgun on him and the victim was able to fend off Mangham during a physical altercation at which point the handgun discharged. Mangham was placed under arrest for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. On December 28, 2017 Mills County Deputies stopped a vehicle in Mullin for a traffic violation. The driver 36 year old Brandi Spivey of Mullin was arrested after a consent search revealed that she was in possession of drug paraphernalia. Further evidence was seized resulting in Spivey being charged with possession of methamphetamine less than one gram.
Then on December 31, 2017 Mills County deputies responded to a report of a 911 hang up call at a residence on Farm Road 572. Deputies made contact with a pregnant female (victim) and Marc James Daniel Meyer 22 of Goldthwaite, Texas. The victim was attempting to call 911 due to a disturbance at the residence and Meyer interrupted the call. Deputies arrived on scene and found that the victim had been assaulted. Meyer was arrested for assault causes bodily injury to a family member and interference with a 911 call. On this same date, deputies responded to a report of a one vehicle accident on TX 16 south of Goldthwaite. Deputies arrived and found no one around the vehicle. A short time later a male individual arrived at the office stating that he was the driver of the vehicle and that the passenger was at a house in Goldthwaite and might possibly be hurt. Deputies went to a residence in 1300 block of Fisher Street to conduct a welfare check. When the occupants of the home answered the door deputies could smell the strong odor of marijuana emitting from inside the house. Deputies gained consent and recovered several items related to possession and use of narcotics. Tanya Jo Norton 43 of Goldthwaite was arrested for possession of cocaine and the other male occupants of the house were not arrested at the time. Investigators will be seeking warrants for the other individuals involved and they will be identified in a press release after their arrest.
On January 2, 2018 Mills County Deputies responded to a report of an unwanted individual at the Senior Center located on the square. Deputies arrived and identified the subject as 54 year old Roy Edward Bennett of Goldthwaite. Bennett had previously been warned not to enter the property resulting in his arrest for criminal trespass. On January 4, 2018 Mills County Deputies were on routine patrol when they found a female subject staggering in the middle of the 1400 block of Trent Street. The 37 year old female, Brandy Marie Johnson of Seabrook, Texas was found to be intoxicated on some sort of narcotic and placed under arrest. During the arrest the female directed deputies to a residence in the same block where she had just left. Deputies then went to the residence and met with 34 year old Brad Weldon Tucker of Goldthwaite where he admitted to being in possession of illegal narcotics and gave deputies consent to search the residence. Tucker was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone due to the residence being in proximity of GISD Middle and High Schools. This same date 20 year old Brandon Wayne Horton of Mullin was arrested for a parole violation warrant for felony evading arrest. On January 19, 2018 Ronnie Myers 43 of Goldthwaite was arrested on a warrant for violation of a protective order. On January 20, 2018 Texas DPS Troopers conducted a traffic stop on 23 year old Cristian Guadalupe Arredondo of Goldthwaite. During the contact Troopers discovered, based on Arredondo’s admission, that he had thrown marijuana out of the vehicle prior to being stopped. Arredondo was arrested for felony tampering with evidence and has since made bond. Michael Gonzalez 22 of Goldthwaite was arrested on a warrant for criminal mischief involving an earlier investigation. On January 20, 2018 Michael Butler 45 of Goldthwaite was arrested after being indicted by a Mills County Grand Jury for felony cruelty to non-livestock animals. Butler turned himself in and bonded out the same day.
Finally on January 21, 2018 Mills County Deputies and Texas DPS Troopers responded to a report of a 911 call in the 1600 block of Priddy Road in reference to a man with a gun. Officers met with the caller in the yard and stated that 47 year old Jarred Lee Williams of Goldthwaite was in the house with a gun and that she feared he was going to harm himself. The caller stated that it was her husband and that he had discharged a gun in their bedroom. Officers made entry into the residence and were able to place Williams into custody. Officers noted that there were several bullet holes inside the bedroom and that Williams was extremely intoxicated. Williams was charged with felony deadly conduct and placed in the Mills County Jail.
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reported that the recent months deputies had been busy focusing on sex offenders in Mills County with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Mills County Deputies served several warrants on local sex offenders for numerous violations of their reporting standards. Sheriff Hammonds stated that all of the sex offender charges are felonies and he and his staff will continue to monitor these offenders to ensure they are in compliance. On October 19, 2017 Geneva Costello 38 of Temple, Texas was arrested for several Surety Withdrawal warrants for Possession of Methamphetamine and fail to identify by giving fictious information. Also on this same date John Westley Gossett 40 of Mullin, Texas was arrested for failure to appear for possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone and failure to register as sex offender. On October 20, 2017 26 year old John Thomas Hopkins of Lometa, Texas was arrested for driving while license suspended and 23 year old Andrew Wylliam Davis of Comanche was arrested for possession of marijuana over 4 ounces but less than 5 pounds. On October 25, 2017 David Kendall Gossett 44 of Mullin, Texas was arrested for unlawful possession of firearm by felon. Then 22 year old Michael Allen Moore of Clovis, New Mexico was extradited back on a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On October 31, 2017 32 year old Stephanie Lee Cisneros of Goldthwaite was arrested on a warrant for Assault against family member surety withdrawal. Trevor Dotson Williams 38 of Goldthwaite was arrested on a warrant for failure to comply with sex offender registration. On November 2, 2017 26 year old Adalberto DeLeon of Dublin, Texas was arrested on a Mills County Warrant for the felony offense of theft of livestock valued at over $10,000 but less than $150K. On November 8, 2017 Matthew James Jackson 48 of Goldthwaite was arrested on a warrant for failure to comply with sex offender registration. Then on November 13, 2017 21 year old Haley Phillips was arrested on a warrant for motion to adjudicate probation for prohibited sexual conduct. On November 15, 2017 54 year old Roy Edward Bennett of Goldthwaite was arrested for disorderly conduct on Sixth Street in Goldthwaite. Shortly afterwards Mills County Deputies were at a residence in the 1700 Block of Earl Street assisting family protective services in the removal of a child. During the removal 44 year old Victor Bostick of Goldthwaite approached the residence in a vehicle from the public street and narrowly missed deputies and bystanders. Bostick became very volatile towards deputies and was shot with Taser multiple times. Bostick was charged with Reckless driving, resisting arrest. Once in the patrol car Bostick kicked the patrol car door causing damage to the door. Bostick at that point was also charged with criminal mischief.
Sheriff Clint Hammonds reports several arrests for the month of September and the beginning of October. On September 6, 2017, Sharon Kay Johnson of Gatesville, TX was arrested on several Mills County felony warrants for Forgery Financial Instrument and Forgery Financial Instrument Elderly. The warrants stemmed from an investigation that began in June after the Mills County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Mills County State Bank regarding a transaction they believed to be a forgery. On September 13, 2017 as a result of a sentence imposed by County Judge Fulk, Whitney Faye of Austin, TX was arrested on a Class B Misdemeanor Motion to Revoke for failing to abide by terms of her probation. On September 14, 2017, deputies responded to the Driver’s License Office at the Mills County Courthouse where Hanna Marie Couch of Azle, TX was arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Parker County. On September 22, 2017, Investigator Stephanie Brown took a report of Injury to a Child. As a result of her investigation, an arrest warrant was issued and, Jacob Carlton of Mullin was arrested at his residence. On September 23, 2017 after initiating a traffic stop, Deputy Johnny Brown arrested Charis Lamar Threats for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana and a Misdemeanor traffic offense. The vehicle Mr. Threats was operating along with cash located in the vehicle was seized and will be subject to forfeiture for being used during the commission of a felony. On October 10, 2017 dispatch received a call of a disturbance on Lee St. Upon arrival, contact was made with the individual in question who was visibly intoxicated. Laythan Allen Wallace of Goldthwaite was arrested for Public Intoxication and transported to the Mills County Jail. On October 12, 2017, based on ongoing narcotics investigations, 3 people were arrested at a residence in Goldthwaite; Janet Frances Johnson of Goldthwaite for 2 counts of Felony Theft of Firearm, Misdemeanor Possession of Dangerous Drug and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Jeffrey Joseph Cancel Jr. of Goldthwaite for 2 counts of Felony Possession of Controlled Substance along with Misdemeanor counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Jessika Marie Delgado of Goldthwaite was also arrested for 2 Felony counts of Possession of Controlled Substance and Misdemeanor counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A Mills County Grand Jury recently issued an indictment against Roque Gonzales of Goldthwaite for Theft of Property. A warrant was issued, and Gonzales was arrested at his residence on October 15, 2017.
Sheriff Clint
Hammonds reported several arrests from the end of July through August 2017. On
July 25th, Deputies were conducting a narcotics investigation and were able to
gain probable cause for a traffic stop on 25 year old Anthony Calderaz of
Goldthwaite. During the stop Calderaz consented to a search of his vehicle and
also admitted to being in possession of a syringe that he had used recently to
inject methamphetamine. Calderaz was arrested for possession of methamphetamine
less than one gram and placed in the Mills County Jail. On July 30th Cristian
Guadalupe Arredondo 22 of Goldthwaite was stopped for speeding in the
Goldthwaite City Park. During the contact it was discovered that Arredondo was
wanted for motion to adjudicate probation for a previous driving while
intoxicated. It was discovered that Arredondo was in possession of marijuana
during the arrest. Arredondo was charged with possession of marijuana in a drug
free zone and driving while license invalid. Subject is released on bond
pending trial. On August 2nd, Mills County Deputies responded to a domestic
disturbance on Farm Road 575. After arriving and beginning the investigation it
was discovered that 26 year old Jonathan Tyler Vazquez was in possession a drug
called “Shatter” which is potent THC extract. Vazquez was arrested for felony
possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2 over 4 grams but less than
400 and possession of pain pills less than 28 grams. On August 3rd, Mills
County Deputies received a tip that there was an individual wanted on Federal
Drug Charges working on a ranch in Mills County. Deputies conducted
surveillance on the property and were able to identify 40 year old Nathaniel
Jeremiah Salazar on the property. Deputies executed the warrant and took
Salazar into custody for a warrant for drug related offenses. The United States
Marshall’s Service came within hours and took custody of the individual. On
August 4th Mills County Deputies and Texas State Troopers conducted a traffic
stop on US 84 in Goldthwaite for a traffic offense. Occupants of the vehicle
were identified as 33 year old Justin Gibson of Llano, Texas and 41year old
Barbara Jean Kirkland of Llano, Texas. During the stop officers became
suspicious that the individuals were possibly transporting narcotics. A Texas
Department of Public Safety K-9 was called to the scene and alerted to the
vehicle for the odor of illegal narcotics. Officers searched the car for
approximately 2 hours and discovered approximately a quarter pound of
methamphetamine hidden in the air conditioning duct work of the vehicle.
Kirkland and Gibson have been charged with manufacture and delivery of
methamphetamine over 4 grams but less than 200 grams. They both are still in
custody and remain in the Mills County Jail awaiting trial. Mills County
Deputies spent most of the week of August 21st through August 25th in the jury
trial of 73 year old Michael Holley of Mullin, Texas. Holley was charged with
aggravated sexual assault of a child and 63 counts of possession of Child
pornography. The trial lasted all week and the jury returned with a guilty
verdict on all charges. There was emotional testimony by victims and family
through this process. 35th District Judge Stephen Ellis sentenced Holley to
Life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a child and 10 years for each count
of child pornography which totals 630 years. Sheriff Hammonds stated that he
was very proud of the deputies on this case who have spent countless hours over
the past two years going through these horrific images of children being
victimized and sold on the internet. “I hate that our citizens that were chosen
for this jury had to sit and view these images” Sheriff Hammonds said. Sheriff
Hammonds stated the 35th District Attorney’s Office did super job on
prosecuting this case. “This was again a fine example of Mills County Sheriff’s
Office and the 35th District Attorney’s Office diligently working together to
bring closure to the victims affected by this case” said Sheriff Hammonds.
