On Monday, August 23, 2010, Judge Laurine Blake of the 336th District Court presided over two separate jury selections.  Juries were selected in the case of The State of Texas v. Vaughn Ray Bell and in the case of The State of Texas v. William Albert Schatte. 

On Tuesday, Assistant Criminal District Attorney, James L. Moss, prosecuted Vaughn Ray Bell (29) of Dodd City for Possession of a Controlled Substance in an amount of one gram or more but less than four grams, a third degree felony.  By the end of the day, both the State and Defense had rested and closed their presentations, allowing the jury to begin its deliberations.  After breaking for the evening Tuesday, the Bell jury returned a guilty verdict at midmorning Wednesday.  While that jury was deliberating on punishment, the jury selected in the William Albert Schatte (76) of Whitewright cases accepted Schatte’s plea of guilty to four charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and one charge of Indecency with a Child.  The punishment phase of the trial began at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday with testimony from the victim’s mother and the 11-year-old victim who was seven years old at the time of the assault.  That afternoon, the Schatte jury broke for the day and the Bell jury took up the punishment phase of his trial.  At approximately 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, that jury returned its verdict and sentenced Vaughn Ray Bell to the maximum of 20 years imprisonment for his third degree felony which was enhanced by previous convictions.  During punishment, the State proved that Bell had been convicted of nine different felonies over the last ten years, all involving either possession or delivery of controlled substances.

On Thursday morning, the Schatte punishment trial resumed.  Tempers were running high in the crowded Fannin County Courthouse as opposing sides of the Schatte family waited to testify. Ultimately, a disturbance broke out which resulted in Fannin County Sheriff’s Deputy Wayne Walker taking William Albert Schatte, II, to the ground.  Schatte, II, was arrested on view for Tampering with a Witness and Resisting Arrest.  Schatte, II, was later released on bonds totaling $13,000.00.

Schatte faced punishment of 5 to 99 years or life, and a fine of up to $10,000.00 in the 4 charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and 2 to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000.00 on the sole charge of Indecency with a Child.  At 3:30 Friday afternoon, the jury returned its verdict of 99 years in prison in each of the four Aggravated Sexual Assault cases and the maximum of 20 years in the Indecency with a Child case.  The jury also recommended the maximum fine of $10,000.00 in each of the five cases.  Assistant Criminal District Attorney Brad Setterberg expressed his appreciation for the jury’s hard work and diligence stating, “These verdicts send a strong message for the citizens of Fannin County that we will not tolerate such behavior.”

Drugs again dominate Fannin County grand jury

Criminal District Attorney Richard Glaser reports that the Fannin County grand jury heard twenty (20) cases presented for its consideration during their August 25 session resulting in all twenty (20) indictments being returned.  A total of seven (7) drug cases were true billed.  In addition, the grand jury returned indictments in five (5) fail to appear felonies.  So far in 2010, the Grand Jury has returned 161 true bills of indictment.

 The law enforcement agencies filing cases were as follows: 

AGENCY	TOTAL
Bonham Police Department	5 cases
Fannin County Sheriff’s Office	4 cases
Honey Grove Police Department	2 cases
Leonard Police Department	2 cases
Texas Department of Public Safety	2 cases
Criminal District Attorney’s Office	5 cases

It is important to note that an indictment is a formal charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The following people were indicted for the criminal offense and range of punishment indicated:

NAME and RESIDENCE	AGE	OFFENSE/DATE	RANGE OF PUNISHMENT
BESHERSE, TERRY WAYNE HONEY GROVE, TX 75446	47	Aggravated Assault w/Deadly Weapon – Enhanced 06/28/2010	Second Degree Felony 25 Years – 99 Years or Life
CASTILLO, RUBEN LEONARD, TX 75452	31	Driving While Intoxicated w/Child Under 15 Years of Age 06/20/2010	State Jail Felony 180 Days - 2 Years + $10,000 Fine
DOTSON, MELANIE ANN TERRELL, TX, 75161	34	Bail Jumping and Fail to Appear Felony 08/23/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
FLORES, ROCKY, JR. TRENTON, TEXAS 75490	50	Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More – Enhanced 06/27/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
GRAY, FARON DEON HONEY GROVE, TX 75446	31	Burglary of Habitation – Enhanced 03/01/2010	Second Degree Felony 5 Years – 99 Years or Life + $10,000 Fine
HERNANDEZ, LARRY TRENTON, TX 75490	33	Unauthorized Use of Vehicle – Enhanced 03/18/2010	State Jail Felony 180 Days - 2 Years + $10,000 Fine
JOHNSON, MARCUS ANTHONY SHERMAN, TX 75090	24	Man Del CS PG 1 >=1G<4G 04/12/2010	Second Degree Felony 2 Years - 20 Years + $10,000 Fine
KING, ANTON DEJUAN BONHAM, TX 75418	29	Bail Jumping and Fail to Appear Felony – Enhanced 07/29/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 20 Years + $10,000 Fine
KING, ANTON DEJUAN BONHAM, TX 75418	29	Bail Jumping and Fail to Appear Felony – Enhanced 07/29/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 20 Years + $10,000 Fine
LEWIS, JAMIE DEAN BONHAM, TX 75418	42	Bail Jumping and Fail to Appear Felony 07/29/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
LODGE, JOHNATHON TANNER DENISON, TX 75020	19	Man Del CS PG 1 >=1G<4G 04/12/2010	Second Degree Felony 2 Years - 20 Years + $10,000 Fine
LOPEZ, JARED CHRISTOPHER LEONARD, TX 75452	27	Burglary Habitation Intend Other Felony 07/12/2010	First Degree Felony 5 - 99 Years or Life + $10,000 Fine
LOPEZ, JARED CHRISTOPHER LEONARD, TX 75452	27	Assault Family/Household Member w/Previous Conviction 07/12/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
MURPHY, JOEL POSTEN RANDOLPH, TX 75475	35	Hinder Apprehension or Prosecution Known Felon 06/22/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
PATTERSON, DAVID VERNON BONHAM, TX 75418	46	Man Del CS PG 1 <1G 04/21/2010	State Jail Felony 180 Days - 2 Years + $10,000 Fine
PATTERSON, DAVID VERNON BONHAM, TX 75418	46	Possession CS PG 1 <1G Drug Free Zone 05/08/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
RODRIGUEZ, ARMANDO, JR. DALLAS, TX 75201	21	Bail Jumping and Fail to Appear Felony 07/29/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
SEWELL, MICHELLE RENEA POINT, TX 75472	45	Possession CS PG 1 <1G Drug Free Zone 06/10/2010	Third Degree Felony 2 Years - 10 Years + $10,000 Fine
TAYLOR, CASSEY ANN BONHAM, TX 75418	23	Man Del CS PG 1 >=1G<4G 05/20/2010	Second Degree Felony 2 Years - 20 Years + $10,000 Fine
TAYLOR, CASSEY ANN BONHAM, TX 75418	23	Man Del CS PG 1 >=1G Drug Free Zone 02/18/2010	Felony Unassigned 7 Years - 20 Years + $20,000 Fine

 The next grand jury is scheduled for September 23, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.