District court hands down sentences

The district court met in Childress November 10 to hear 20 pleas resulting in four deferred adjudications and 16 convictions. Six of the cases had ties to Donley County
Robert Dale Johnson pleaded guilty to a third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated and was convicted and sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of five years.

Johnson was arrested in Donley County on July 4, 2007, for the offense. Johnson was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on January 25, 2008.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Johnson is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Donley County, $565 in court costs, serve 10 days in the Donley County Jail, suffer 180 days driver’s license suspension, complete a program for repeat alcohol offenders, complete an alcohol education program, and is required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle during the five-year probationary period.

Jorge L Chairez pleaded guilty to a Class A Misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated and was convicted and sentenced to one year in the Donley County Jail, but the sentence was probated for a period of one year.

Chairez was arrested in Donley County on July 8, 2007, for the offense of Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger. Chairez was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on November 12, 2007.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Chairez is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Donley County, $515 in court costs, serve five days in the Donley County Jail, complete a program for repeat alcohol offenders, complete an alcohol education program, and is required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle during the one-year probationary period.

Barbara Gail Brown was convicted and sentenced to two years in the Institutional Division of the Texas

Department of Criminal Justice after pleaing true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant. Brown is required to pay a $1,500 fine to Donley County and $343.00 in court costs.

Brown originally pleaded guilty on March 7, 2005, to the second degree felony of burglary of a habitation and received five years deferred adjudication.

Natalie Cook Bishop was placed on probation for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. Bishop was convicted and sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of three years.

Bishop was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on June 1, 2005. Bishop was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on June 22, 2009. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Bishop is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Donley County and $415 in court costs.

Mario Alva was placed on probation for a period of two years for the third degree felony offense of assault on a peace officer. Alva pleaded guilty to the offense was placed on deferred adjudication for assault on a peace officer.

Alva was arrested in Donley County on July 3, 2005, for the offense. Alva was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on August 19, 2005. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Alva is required to pay a $1,500 fine; and $390 in court costs. If Alva violates probation, he could face up to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Steven Ballard Jr. was convicted and sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of five years after pleaing true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant. Ballard is required to pay $343 in court costs to Donley County and a $733 fine.

Ballard originally pleaded guilty on June 14, 2004 to the third degree felony of injury to a child and received five years deferred adjudication and a $3,000 fine.

Luke Inman, the 100th Judicial District Attorney, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, and was assisted by Assistant District Attorney Greg Buckley, with the Honorable Judge John T. Forbis presiding by assignment.

A total of $23,733 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on November 10. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $7,333.25 in court costs and $7,529 in restitution.