Four take plea deals in District Court here

Four pleas took place when the 100th Judicial District Court met in Clarendon on Monday, January 27, 2014.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

A total of $14,000 in fines were assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on January 27. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $1,895 in court costs and $1,845.30 in restitution.

Rickey Lewis Row, a 55-year-old resident of Clarendon, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate. After the plea of true, a contested punishment hearing was held and Row was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On September 3, 2009, Row originally pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance that occurred on July 29, 2009, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 31, 2013, alleging seven violations of community supervision.

Row pleaded true to the some of the violations contained in the State’s motion. Inman called one witness, Mark White with the 100th Judicial District Community Supervisions and Corrections Department, who testified that Row had been given many opportunities for his drug and alcohol abuse.

“This Defendant was afforded many opportunities by the probation department to get clean and off drugs and alcohol,” said Inman. “Unfortunately for him, he could not abstain from the drugs and alcohol and that is what resulted in him receiving the maximum punishment today.”

After hearing all the evidence, the court sentenced Row to ten years. Row is also required to pay $465 in court costs to Donley County, a $6,000 fine, and $140 in restitution.

Dealonie Whitehurst, a 32-year-old resident of Sacramento, CA, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was convicted and sentenced to eight years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On December 6, 2012, Whitehurst originally pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance that occurred on October 30, 2012, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 2, 2013, alleging four violations of community supervision.

Whitehurst pleaded true to the violations contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to eight years. Whitehurst is also required to pay $443 in court costs to Donley County, a $4,000 fine, and $1,705.30 in restitution.

Jeffrey Lynn Franklin was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of criminal attempt of sexual assault. Franklin pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Franklin, 43-year-old resident of Grand Prairie, Texas, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place October 7, 2013 by Donley County Deputy Vincent Marasco. Franklin was indicted by a Donley County grand jury on November 12, 2013.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Franklin is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Donley County, $599 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If Franklin violates probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Jonathan Mark Yankie was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of assault family violence. Yankie pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Yankie, 30-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place June 22, 2013 by Marasco. Yankie was indicted by a Donley County grand jury on November 12, 2013.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Yankie is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Donley County, $388 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If Yankie violates probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.