Local News
Death of GBC man draws 20 year sentence
Tracey Dewayne Johnson Sentenced to 20 years for Intoxication Manslaughter
3rd District Court Judge Mark Calhoon sentenced an Athens man to the maximum of 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for an Intoxication Manslaughter charge arising from a June 2008 wreck that killed 33 year old Billy Eric Thompson of Gun Barrel City. Also injured in the wreck were Thompson’s two children ages 4 and 2, both were care-flighted to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Johnson’s blood alcohol level which was measured shortly after the wreck was over three times the legal limit. District Attorney Scott McKee offered this evidence along with evidence of Johnson’s two prior DWI convictions during the trial.
During the sentencing phase of the trial, Thompson’s mother and widow testified about the impact the wreck has had on their and the children’s lives. Thompson’s wife testified that her husband and children had just left her job where they had brought her ice cream during her break and were heading back home. She stated that when she got the call that her husband was killed and her children were being care-flighted to Dallas she broke down.
Johnson testified during sentencing and read from a prepared statement expressing his sorrow and apologies for his actions that led to the wreck. The Defense also called Johnson’s wife who testified that since the wreck her husband had changed and stopped drinking.
During closing arguments, Defense Attorney Hank Skelton asked the judge to consider placing Johnson on probation because Johnson had changed his life since the wreck. District Attorney Scott McKee told the judge during his closing arguments that the scars the children have from the wreck don’t even come close to the emotional scars they will suffer for the rest of their lives. “It is apparent from his past that he did not learn his lesson from his first two DWIs and I am asking this court - actually I am pleading and begging you not to place this defendant on probation”, said McKee. “He did not change his life until he took another life. He needs to go to the penitentiary”.
Calhoon also sentenced Johnson to the maximum of 10 years in prison for Intoxication Assault.
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BREAKING NEWS: Two die from collision injuries
GUN BARREL CITY — A motorist from Edgewood either didn’t see, or ignored, a stop sign at the intersecton of State Highway 334 and U.S. Highway 175 Wednesday afternoon, resulting in her death, along with the passenger in her vehicle.
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BREAKING NEWS:Chase ends with arrest
Police chased a vehicle and its driver from the offices of the City of Kemp to a location on U.S. Highway 175 in Mabank near the intersection of County Road 2922. The chase began about 4:30 p.m., Thursday.
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BREAKING NEWS: Seven Points saga continues
SEVEN POINTS — The Mayor of Seven Points, and one of the candidates who wishes to replace him in this year’s election, Seven Points Fire Chief Joe Dobbs, have suspended each other.
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Cedar Creek Pilot gets new website
The Cedar Creek Pilot announces it has a brand new website for all visitors, new and old, to enjoy.
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Major crash
A black Chevrolet Blazer driven by Linda Smith, Gun Barrel City, attempted to make a left turn when it collided with a Honda driven by Don Powell Bone.
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Family Resource Center needs community’s help
The Family Resource Center is asking for assistance from the community.
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State officials travel Henderson County
Dist. 4 State Rep. Betty Brown showed Texas House Speaker Joe Straus around Henderson County Thursday.
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Parable takes dinner theater audience to Hell
EUSTACE — A group of young people who comprise Parable, the youth creative arts team at First Baptist Church in Eustace, took a dinner-theater audience straight to Hell Thursday evening.
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Car chase ends in Henderson County
GUN BARREL CITY — It was a scene right out of Dukes of Hazard after Henderson County Sheriff's Drug Enforcement Investigators attempted to stop 44-year-old Britt Hambrick of the Cedar Creek Lake area.
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Former police chief pleads guilty
Former Log Cabin Police Chief Rebecca Baskin pled guilty to a theft by a public servant charge, a third degree felony, on Jan. 22.
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