crime

The District Court heard five pleas when it met in Clarendon on Tuesday, November 2.

District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Bryant Joel Stewart, 31 from Memphis, was sentenced to five years in prison for the third-degree felony offense of tampering with physical evidence.

Stewart was arrested on January 23, 2022, by Memphis Police Officer DeWayne Griffin. Stewart was originally placed on two years’ probation on February 22, 2022, and the State filed a motion asking the Court to revoke Stewart’s probation on May 5, 2022.

Stewart was also ordered to pay the remaining $500 fine to Hall County and $295 in court cost.

James Alan Miller, 39 from Childress, was placed on ten years’ probation for the enhanced first-degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.  Miller was arrested by Childress Police Officer, LeRoy Rodriguez on January 19, 2022, and plead to an information filed by the State on June 28, 2022.

Miller was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 to Childress County, $340 in court costs, $180 restitution, and complete 400 hours of community service.  If his probation is revoked, Miller faces up to 99 years in TDCJ.

Donald David Privitt, 33 from Hereford, was placed on seven years’ probation for the enhanced second-degree felony offense of assault family violence.  Privitt was arrested by Hall County Sheriff’s Deputy Kristin Dwight on August 16 and was later indicted by a Hall County Grand Jury on October 6.

Privitt was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 to Hall County, $340 in court costs, and complete 300 hours of community service.  If his probation is revoked, Privitt faces up to 20 years in TDCJ.

Eric Daniel Bennett, 30 from Beaumont, was placed on four years’ probation for the enhanced third-degree felony offense of burglary of a building.  Bennett was arrested by Donley County Sheriff’s Deputy, Vincent Marasco on October 19, 2022, and plead to an information filed by the State on November 2, 2022.

Bennett was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 to Donley County, $340 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service.  If his probation is revoked, Bennett faces up to 10 years in TDCJ.

Jose Luis Rangel, 53 from Lakeview, was placed on two years’ probation for the third-degree felony offense of stalking.  Rangel was arrested by Memphis Police Officer David Yochum on June 25 and was later indicted by a Hall County Grand Jury on October 6.

Rangel was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 to Hall County, $340 in court costs, complete 200 hours of community service, and no contact with the victims.  If his probation is revoked, Rangel faces up to 10 years in TDCJ.