Archive for May, 2009

Annals of Bastrop County crime: Man jailed for armed robbery after drug buy plan goes awry

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–An attempted drug purchase in Bastrop County a week ago ended with one man hospitalized with stab wounds to the arm and another man in jail on charges of robbery with a deadly weapon, according to public records obtained by Bastrop-News.com on Monday.

The alleged victim in the case told criminal investigators he contacted Clarence Edward Nealy, 43, about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3 to buy drugs. But before dawn the next day the victim was being treated in the Smithville Regional Hospital emergency department for stab wounds to his right forearm, he was apparently missing $100 and and authorities were trying to track down a robber.
Nealy was booked into the Bastrop County Jail just before 3 a.m. May 6. He was still being held there late today under $20,000 bail.

The victim told Sheriff’s Department investigator Wayne Wood that he went with Nealy and a female companion to an area just west of Bastrop where he and the woman “were to wait on the side of the road for Mr. Nealy to return with the drugs,” according to a court document obtained today under the Texas Public Information Act. However, Nealy grabbed $100 from the complaining witness, the woman jumped back into the vehicle they were riding in and she cried “go” as the auto drove along Shiloh Road toward FM 20, according to the officer’s sworn statement.

The alleged victim told investigators he then reached through the open driver side window of the vehicle, grabbed the steering wheel and was dragged toward FM 20 before being stabbed repeatedly in the arm with a knife, the court document says. At the intersection of Shiloh Road and FM 20 Nealy and the woman abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby woods, the statement says.

The victim told Investigator Wood that he then attempted to drive the vehicle to the Smithville hospital but wrecked it, apparently on FM 535, after which a relative took him to the hospital, according to the court document. Wood said he was called about 2 a.m. May 4 about a stabbing victim at the Smithville hospital.

In his sworn statement, Wood said he subsequently found “a large amount of blood” at the intersection of FM 20 and Shiloh Road as well signs of blood “on the front seat and driver and rear passenger doors of the vehicle,” which is registered to a relative of the woman allegedly present during the incident.

Kesselus, McAnally, Peterson win Bastrop city council seats

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Former Calvary Episcopal Church rector Kenneth Kesselus was the only easy winner Saturday in elections for three open seats on the Bastrop City Council. With 551 votes, Kesselus easily outpolled Christy Kosser, a five-year member of the city planning and zoning commission, who tallied 339 ballots.

The other two council races were far closer. Kay Garcia McAnally brought in 461 votes to defeat Camillo “Cam” Chavez who took 417 ballots.

In the third open race, Bill Peterson won with 467 votes to outdistance Tommy Oates who received 426 votes.

Former council members Terry Sanders, Dock Jackson and Willie DeLaRosa were ineligible for re-election because of a term limits provision of Bastrop’s city home rule charter.

Bastrop school board president retains seat, incumbent Halladay ousted

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop school board president James Allen won re-election Saturday to a second term as a school trustee, while Karen Halladay lost her bid for a second term to Ty McDonald, wife of Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald.

In a light turnout, Allen took 925 votes while challenger Jim Clark, a Manor school counselor who lives in Bastrop, garnered 856 ballots.

Ty McDonald, a former Bastrop High School teacher of English, won 984 votes to unseat Halladay who gained 836 ballots.

The winners were elected to three-year terms on the school board.

Elgin man gets 20 years for domestic assault

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–An Elgin man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison Thursday for the assault of a domestic partner on March 14, 2008, the maximum penalty under the law.

Dennis Davis, 53, could have been sentenced to as little as two years behind bars, but he was not eligible for probation because of a prior conviction and two-year prison term for a similar offense.

The new sentence was returned Thursday morning by a jury in 423rd District Court in Bastrop after hearing testimony in the case for roughly two days this week. On Wednesday, the same jurors found Davis guilty of the alleged family violence assault last year. Later in the day they heard testimony pertinent to a decision on punishment and began deliberation Thursday morning.

Jury says Davis guilty in family assault

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–A jury found Dennis Davis guilty of assaulting a family member in 423rd District Court in Bastrop shortly after noon today.

Testimony in the punishment phase of the trial began about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Because of a prior conviction for a similar felony offense, Davis faces 2 to 20 years in prison. Assistant District Attorney Phil Hall began his punishment evidence with testimony that Davis previously was sentenced to two years in state prison for a related crime. Davis admitted the prior offense in open court.

The defendant is not eligible for a probated sentence. Defense attorney Trey Dunne asked the jury to consider a sentence close to the 2-year minimum.

The trial is expected to conclude this week.

Early voting ends May 5 in Bastrop school, city elections

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Early voting in races for open Bastrop school board and city council seats has already drawn significant interest from area residents. Today is the last opportunity to vote in the contests before the May 9 election to determine two school trustees and three city council members.

Bastrop County Elections Administrator Nora Cano said Monday that voters had cast 715 early ballots by May 1 in the school board elections. Another 350 early ballots had been cast in the city council voting, said Cano.

Early voting polls are open through May 5 at most Bastrop school district campuses, including the central administration building on Farm Street in Bastrop, between Pecan and Hill Street. The Farm Street polling location will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Four candidates are seeking the two open seats on the school board. Six candidates are vying for three open seats on the city council.

Bastrop County robbery under investigation

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–A reported robbery involving weapons early Monday on FM 535 is still being probed, and investigators for the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department released few details later in the day.

One unidentified person was confirmed as having been injured in the incident. The affair was reported to sheriff’s department dispatchers at 1:20 a.m. Monday at 3079 FM 535 in southern Bastrop County. Sgt. Investigator Rick Cole declined to indicate the seriousness of the victim’s injuries, the amount of money or goods involved or other details, including possible suspects.

Auditor clears Bastrop County animal shelter accounts

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Suspicions that some private donations to the Bastrop County animal shelter may have been improperly applied appear to be unfounded, according to Bastrop County Auditor Lisa Smith.

“Everything’s accounted for,” Smith said in a Monday interview in her Courthouse office.

The suspicions were raised in public last week when members of People for Animal Care and Education (PACE), an animal welfare group, spoke to county commissioners about conditions and practices at the county-run shelter for dogs, cats and other domestic animals. Following the comments presented by PACE members and allies last week, Smith said she reviewed the animal shelter accounts for the third time in the past 18 months.

Smith said she did recommend some changes in financial record-keeping at the shelter as a result of her review. Shelter officials will continue to receive payments for various services and routine animal control fees, but all checks for refunds and other transactions arising from shelter operations will now be issued from the Bastrop County Treasurer’s office, said Smith.

Jury picked in family violence case

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–A 12-member jury was seated Monday to decide the guilt of a Bastrop County resident accused of multiple incidents of family violence assault.

Dennis Davis faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted in the felony case being tried in 423rd District Court before Judge Chris Duggan.

Because of prior convictions involving similar incidents, Davis is not eligible for probation, according to court officials.