Plea deals return four convictions

The 100th District Court heard four pleas resulting in four convictions when it met in Clarendon last Friday.

A total of $8,700 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on January 22. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $1,863 in court costs and $1,700 in restitution.

Donda Michelle Simpson was convicted and sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after pleading true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant. Simpson is required to pay $390 in court costs to Donley County and a $2,200 fine.

Simpson pleaded guilty December 22, 2008, in Donley County to the state jail felony of forgery and received two years deferred adjudication.

Simpson also was convicted and sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the offense of possession of a controlled substance, a first degree felony. Simpson is required to pay $443 in court costs to Donley County and a $1,000 fine.

Ebony Butler was convicted and sentenced to four years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after pleading true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Guilt of Defendant. Butler is required to pay $640 in court costs to Donley County and a $3,000 fine.

Butler originally pleaded guilty on November 6, 2008, in Donley County to the second degree felony of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault and received six years in the Institutional Division, TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for three years.

Jessie James Cariveau was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after pleading true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant. Cariveau is required to pay $390 in court costs to Donley County; a $2,500 fine; and $1,700. in restitution.

Cariveau pleaded guilty on January 12, 2009, to the state jail felony of criminal mischief and received three years deferred adjudication.

Assistant District Attorney Greg Buckley, prosecuted the above cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.