Latest news with #ParkerCounty
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
Grand jury indicts former educators over child abuse allegations at Millsap ISD
A grand jury has indicted several former educators over child abuse allegations at Millsap Independent School District. The indictments come after a video surfaced online and went viral, showing educators allegedly abusing a 10-year-old autistic boy in February. The accusations led to an investigation by the Texas Education Agency and the Parker County Sheriff's Office and a lawsuit filed by three families. The Parker County District Attorney said the grand jury on Thursday returned Class A misdemeanor indictments for failure to report child abuse by a professional for former Millsap ISD Superintendent Mari "Edie" Martin, Jami Riggs, Jeannie Bottorff, and Shannon Krause. Riggs, Bottorff, and Krause were paraprofessionals who worked in the Millsap ISD special needs classroom where the abuse allegedly took place. Defense attorneys Dan Carney and Mark Daniel, who represent Martin, said the former superintendent acted immediately after finding out about the alleged incident. "While the actions of the two educators depicted on the video are unprofessional and very troubling, this case did not involve any claim of physical injury. It was, however, what Dr. Martin believed to be unprofessional conduct, which she dealt with immediately," a statement from Carney and Daniel reads. "The Grand Jury has correctly ruled that Dr. Edie Martin committed no felony conduct at all. We are obviously disappointed in the decision to charge Dr. Martin with a misdemeanor, alleging to fail to report the matter within 48 hours." Another Millsap ISD case was presented to the grand jury on Thursday involving paraprofessional Paxton Bean. This case was not related to the failure to report allegations, though it did come out as a result of publicity on that case. The grand jury indicted Bean for injury to a child. The February incident captured on video appears to show teacher Jennifer Dale striking 10-year-old Alex Cornelius, a student with autism. In the same footage, Bean is seen throwing an object at Alex and yelling at him. "That's the only way I can think of it — traumatizing," said Alex's mother, Carissa Cornelius. "I'm having nightmares. He's having nightmares. Just because I can't trust anybody." In March, Dale was arrested on a charge of official oppression. Bean and Martin were arrested on felony charges. Elementary school principal Roxie Carter, who is Bean's mother, is not facing criminal charges but is named in the lawsuit. According to an email sent to parents, Carter has resigned as principal effective June 30. Attorney Wesley Gould, who is representing the families in a lawsuit against the district, Bean, Martin, Carter and Dale, said the abuse extended beyond Alex. "What makes it so unique is that it didn't stop there," Gould said. "This went all the way up the food chain — to the superintendent, to the principal. The board was aware of it, and you have these people in a position to make changes and stop the abuse, but their hearts and minds weren't there." The lawsuit alleges that other children were subjected to similar treatment, including being locked in unlit closets for extended periods, physically assaulted, and verbally abused. Parker County District Attorney Jeff Swain said the cases on Martin, Riggs, Bottorff, and Krause were transferred to the County Clerk's Office, where they will be randomly assigned to one of two misdemeanor courts. "It is important to remember that the educators that are alleged to have engaged in abusive behavior, Paxton Bean and Jennifer Dale, also face misdemeanor official oppression charges," a statement from Swain reads. "Those cases are, at present, being reviewed by the County Attorney's Office. To my knowledge, no charging decision has yet been made on those cases."
Fox News
16-07-2025
- Fox News
Texas woman accused of plotting ex-husband's murder with fentanyl-laced chocolates under indictment
A Texas woman was indicted last week after investigators say she tried to kill her ex-husband with a box of fentanyl-laced chocolates mailed as a phony honeymoon gift. Pamela Jean Stanley, 63, of Coleman, was arrested on May 30 in Parker County following a sting by the Special Crimes Unit (SCU) of the Parker County Sheriff's Office. According to Sheriff Russ Authier, Stanley allegedly cooked up a plan to send her ex-husband poisoned chocolates disguised as a congratulatory present from a travel agency celebrating his recent engagement. Authorities say Stanley was recorded telling an acquaintance she wanted to inject powdered fentanyl into high-end chocolates and mail the box with a fake honeymoon incentive offer. A tipster alerted deputies, sparking the DENTIST'S ALLEGED INTERNET SEARCH HISTORY TAKES CENTER STAGE AS MURDER TRIAL BEGINS SCU investigators posed as fentanyl dealers and arranged to meet Stanley in the parking lot of the Scottish Inn Motel in Weatherford. She drove several hours from Coleman, Texas, to complete the deal, authorities TOWN DENTIST FACING TRIAL FOR ALLEGEDLY POISONING WIFE'S PROTEIN SHAKE AMID SECRET AFFAIR After she accepted what she believed was fentanyl, she was immediately taken into custody, according to the arrest affidavit. A subsequent search of her vehicle uncovered 11.76 grams of methamphetamine, which tested positive in a field test and was submitted to the Parker County evidence vault, authorities said. Stanley was indicted July 10 on three felony charges: criminal solicitation with intent to commit murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Her bond was set at $450, HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "This investigation moved quickly thanks to our SCU investigators and the information provided by a concerned citizen," Sheriff Authier said.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Scorned woman told ex-husband she was delighted by his engagement while hatching evil plot involving chocolates
A Texas divorcee tried to kill her ex-husband by sending him fentanyl-laced chocolates as a gift after finding out he was engaged, according to police. Pamela Stanley, 63, was indicted last week over the alleged plot to kill her newly-engaged ex, Jeffrey Kauth, 66. Authorities say Stanley was arrested after attempting to purchase the synthetic opioid on May 30 at a motel in Weatherford, in Parker County. The alleged deal, that authorities say she drove three hours to make, was made with an undercover cop with the Parker County Special Crimes Unit. Authorities say Stanley was recorded explaining to a friend that she was looking to inject the killer drug into a box of chocolates that she wanted to deliver to Kauth. Officials say she had planned to mail the spiked confectionery as if it was sent from a travel agency, along with a honeymoon incentive. The Parker County Sheriff's Office said they set up the drug deal after being notified of her alleged intentions by an unknown source. Kauth spoke with NBCDFW, saying: 'It was a pretty ingenious plan. I would have probably ate the chocolates.' He added: 'My fiancé would have ate the chocolate, but even worse, we have two minor children here. 'I'm sure they would have eaten some as well, and she has no remorse. We've been divorced since 2019, but she's just been angry since.' He also told the outlet that he has installed safety measures, including flood lights and surveillance cameras on his property, and only now she is in jail does he feel safe. Speaking with The Independent Kauth also claimed that Stanley had attempted to hire a hitman to assassinate him. Kauth claimed that the 'hitman had a conscience' and subsequently reached out to him to make him aware. Stanley has not been charged with these allegations. He also told the outlet that he believes Stanley wants him to die so she could share in his son's inheritance and move back to their home they once shared. Stanley was indicted for criminal solicitation with intent to commit murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. A search of her vehicle also found 9.5 grams of crystal meth, which she claimed was for a friend, authorities said. Parker County District Attorney Jeff Swain said: 'So essentially, the indictment alleges in two different ways that Ms. Stanley committed preparatory acts that serve to advance the goal of committing a murder. 'In one, that's by a conspiracy with a different person to acquire the fentanyl to commit the murder. 'And then the other count, it's by arranging for and traveling to Weatherford to pick up the fentanyl to use in the commission of the murder.' Stanley remains behind bars in the county jail with a bond set at $550,000. If found guilty, she could face anywhere from two to 20 years in prison. She is to be arraigned on Tuesday inside Parker County District Court. She last had a run-in with the law in 2019 when she pleaded guilty to deadly conduct after unlawfully discharging a firearm, she was sentenced to 12 months' probation and handed 50 hours community service.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
County applying for election reimbursement grant
Parker County could get a little over $31,000 in reimbursement funds. Commissioners Monday gave Elections Administrator Crickett Miller the green light to apply for the 2025 Help America Vote Act election security grant. Ten million dollars has been allocated for the state. Each county can apply, and reimbursements are based on the number of registered voters, with a 20-percent match. 'It can only be used on certain things,' Miller said, noting the most obvious would be the purchase of electronic poll books purchased last year. 'It would be $31,355 and you wouldn't have to put up a match because we've already paid for this item.' Precinct 2 Commissioner Jacob Holt cautioned the elections administrator to keep an eye on the cost associated with moving back to paper ballots, as well, citing examples in Collin County, where voters will use hand-marked ballots beginning in November. 'There's a big number of folks asking the commissioners to continue being vigilant,' he said. Miller clarified that the move to paper ballots came after a presidential executive order eliminating machines that use bar codes tied to a ballot or voter. Machines like the ones Parker County uses from Hart InterCivic, she said, use a QR code that only ties to a precinct. 'Our scanner reads the words on the ballot, they don't read a bar code,' Miller added. 'All Hart counties are good to go, as far as I know.' The court Monday also approved the 2024 annual financial report by Weaver and Tidwell. 'These are very positive results ... each year, we continue to see improvements in processes and timing,' CPA Jackie Gonzalez said.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Two workers die after getting trapped in Parker County water tank, officials say
Two workers died after getting stuck in an underground water tank in Parker County, according to NBC DFW and the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office. Tarrant deputies were dispatched to assist Parker County emergency services with a rescue attempt in the 12000 block of Aledo Road at about 5:15 p.m. Friday, according to a statement. Initial call details indicated that two men who had been performing maintenance on the tank could not be reached by coworkers. The men were unresponsive as crews attempted to rescue them, according to NBC DFW.
