District court sets sentences in three cases

Three local cases were settled in district court resulting in sentencing on December 22, 2008, according to District Attorney Luke Inman’s office.

Donda Simpson was placed on deferred adjudication for a period of two years for forgery. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the State, Simpson is required to pay a fine and restitution for this offense in the amount of $2,200, among other regular conditions of probation.

Simpson was indicted for forgery by a Donley County Grand Jury in October of 2008. In exchange for Simpson’s plea of guilty to the state jail felony offense of forgery, the state agreed to dismiss other pending forgery offenses in the 100th Judicial District.

If Simpson violates the terms of her probation, she could face up to two years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, State Jail Facility.

Kaleb Shadle was placed on deferred adjudication for a period of three years for evading arrest in a motor vehicle. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the state, Shadle is required to pay a fine and restitution for this offense of almost $2,000, among other regular conditions of probation.

Shadle was indicted for evading arrest by a Donley County Grand Jury on November 10, 2008. If Shadle violates the terms of his probation, he could face up to two years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, State Jail Facility.

Sylester Thomas was placed on probation for a period of two years for possession of marijuana. Thomas was sentenced to two years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, State Jail Division; but that sentence was probated for a two-year period.

Thomas was indicted by a Carson County Grand Jury on August 28, 2008. Pursuant to the plea agreement with the State, Thomas was convicted and placed on probation for the offense, where he is required to pay a $2,000 fine, restitution of $140, and $313 in court costs.

“All fines imposed on defendants in this district go directly to the county where the offense occurred,” said 100th Judicial District Attorney Luke Inman. “It is a form of punishment to the defendant, which in turn benefits the counties in this district when they are imposed.”

Inman prosecuted each of the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.