Photo Courtesy of Newton County Sheriff's Office DEWEYVILLE, Texas — A routine traffic stop in Deweyville led to a narcotics and weapons arrest Friday, according to Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard. On Friday, December 26, 2025, Newton County Sheriff’s Deputy Brent Sonnier conducted a traffic stop on a four-wheeler near the intersection of Spur 272 and County Road 4191. During the stop, the driver, identified as Michael Ray Perry, was found to be in possession of a clear,

December 22, 2025 I hope everyone had a great week and was able to watch the Newton Eagles play Thursday night. Although it didn’t end in our favor, the players and coaches did an outstanding job and represented our community well. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Deputy Kiana Dixon responded to a report of a trespasser on County Road 4023. Deputy Dixon determined that Lewis Travis Knighton was trespassing on property after having recently been served notice by the landowner th

Jail Activity Report for December 15, 2025 – December 21, 2025 Gavin Everett Griffith Age: 25 City: Tyler, Texas Custody Status: Not in custody Charges: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 2, less than 1 gram Driving with License Invalid (prior conviction/suspension, no financial responsibility) Bond: $10,000 (drug charge) $4,000 (driving offense) Louis Travis Knighton Age: 46 City: Newton, Texas Custody Status: In custody Charge: Criminal Trespass No bond amo

December 15, 2025 Hopefully everyone is staying warm around the county—but if you give it a couple of days, it will be warm again. We assisted South Newton County Fire with a travel trailer fire on Highway 62 in the Old Champion community. Fortunately, no one was inside the travel trailer, and all residents were accounted for. Friday night, we received a call regarding a husband and wife involved in a disturbance. Long story short, deputies arrived on scene, and the husband w

Jail Activity Report for 12/08/25 through 12/14/25 J. Dolores Arteaga Garcia (Bon Wier, TX) Charge: Driving While Intoxicated 2nd Bond: $4,000 In custody: No Quience Deandre Fowler Charges: Stalking (JCSO); Criminal Trespass (JCSO) In custody: Yes Kenneth Dewayne Henderson (Newton, TX) Charge: Parole Violation In custody: Yes Kyrstie Lorraine Jackson (Kirbyville, TX) Charges: Driving While License Invalid w/ Previous Conviction/Suspension/No Financial Responsibility; MTRP The

NEWTON COUNTY, Texas —  The Newton County Judge’s Office has announced the launch of a new faith-based Christmas outreach initiative: Newton County C.A.R.E.S. (Compassionate Actions Reaching Every Soul) .  The program’s mission is to share the hope and comfort of Scripture with individuals currently incarcerated during a season when despair, loneliness, and separation from family can weigh heavily on the human spirit. Judge Ronald J. Cochran said the program reflects the coun

ETB File Photo The Trout Creek Volunteer Fire Department ended the year on a high note Monday night as Newton County Emergency Service District No. 2 convened its December 8, 2025 board meeting at Station 17400 on Highway 87. During the Fire Chief’s report, commissioners were updated on a recent award notification from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Following the meeting, Trout Creek VFD publicly announced that the department has been granted a $25,000 Fire/Rescue Grant that w

December 9, 2025 Hopefully everyone had a great week! For the last several months, we have been working with a company to develop a smartphone application specifically for Newton County Sheriff’s Office. We are happy to announce that the app was officially launched today. We will post download instructions on our Facebook page, as well as share them with the local news. This app was paid for by our inmate telephone provider, NCIC, and did not cost the taxpayers of Newton Coun

Jail Activity Report for 12/01/25 through 12/07/25 Robert Earnest Haywood, 69, Newton, TX Charge: Delivery of marijuana ≤ 1/4 ounce Bond: $2,500 In custody: No Mazin Sabah Omar, 35, Call, TX Charge: Terroristic threat of family/household Bond: $8,000 In custody: No Enoch Alson Simmons, 57, Bon Wier, TX Charge: Theft of property ≥ $2,500 < $30,000 Bond: $5,000 In custody: No David Angel Vega, 39, Newton, TX Charge: Burglary of habitation Bond: $15,000 In custody: No Brian Jose

December 1, 2025 Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had an extremely busy week at the Sheriff’s Office. We are continuing to investigate leads pertaining to the dog fighting investigation. Friday night we had the annual Deweyville Christmas parade. I appreciate everyone that makes it happen year after year. Saturday night I attended the lighting of the Newton County Courthouse. Great job to everyone that made this happen. It’s always a great time seeing the c

Jail Activity Report for 11/24/25 through 11/30/25 Jordan David Boykin, 20 Residence: Bon Wier, Texas In custody: No Charges: No driver’s license when unlicensed Failure to maintain financial responsibility (no insurance listed) Christopher Allen Jarrell, 43 Residence: Bon Wier, Texas In custody: No Charges: Assault causes bodily injury – Bond: $3,500 Terroristic threat causing fear of imminent serious injury – Bond: $2,000 Tonya Renea Shields, 64 Residence: Call, Texas In cu

November 24, 2025 Let’s keep the family of former Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles in our thoughts and prayers, as they mourn the loss of his beloved wife, Jamie Rowles. We were honored to help with the funeral escort. Sunday morning, we had a man from Vidor running around Bleakwood, knocking on people’s doors. Callers reported he was highly intoxicated, and he was. He went to jail for Public Intoxication and as I am writing this report, deputies are currently responding to

Jail Activity Report for 11/17/25 through 11/23/25 Acosta, Zachary — Houston, TX (Age 36) In Custody: No Charge: Dog Fighting — Owns/Trains Dog in Fight / As Spectator Bond: $5,000 Alexander, Jarrad Tyrone — Houston, TX (Age 47) In Custody: No Charge: Dog Fighting — Owns/Trains Dog in Fight / As Spectator Bond: $5,000 Antwine, Arin Laron — Beaumont, TX (Age 38) In Custody: No Charge: Dog Fighting — Owns/Trains Dog in Fight / As Spectator Bond: $5,000 Armstead, Tinia Trashell

According to Newton County Sheriff Colton Harvard all were charged with Dog Fighting and most were now out on bond.

Two Pitbull dogs were transported to a regional mid-county veterinarian clinic and treated for their wounds, as a result of Operation Pitbull in Newton County Saturday night. According to Sheriff Colton Havard both of the dogs that were actively fighting during the raid have been sent for medical care. A total of 10 dogs were either tied up or caged at the location of Saturday evenings raid. Havard said “A total of 8 dogs remain at the site and will be transported upon the of

Newton County Sheriff releases Official Report: 🚨”Operation Pitbull"🚨 In March of 2025, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into an alleged dog-fighting ring in the Call community. Over the last several months, numerous complaints and tips have been received regarding dog fighting. Throughout the investigation, probable cause was established, and a search warrant was signed by a Newton County Justice of the Peace. On the evening of Saturday, November 2

JASPER, Texas - East Texas Mutual Aid Association - Family Night The East Texas Mutual Aid Association met at the Jasper County Annex to hold their annual "Family Night" on Thursday for regional emergency organizations. The event is held once a year for emergency services, volunteer fire departments, Sheriff and Police Departments and their families as an evening of appreciation. Jasper County’s Emergency Management Homeland Security Program Manager Administrator Billy Ted Sm

Photos of the four men charged in connection with the disappearance of Joshua Larkin were displayed at Monday’s joint press conference in Newton. Photo by East Texas Banner Newton, Texas — Newly released probable cause affidavits reveal disturbing details surrounding the 2022 disappearance and death of Joshua Ian Larkin, leading to criminal charges against four men in a case that has spanned three years, multiple agencies, and an exhaustive investigation across Newton and Ja

Photos of the four men charged in connection with the disappearance of Joshua Larkin were displayed at Monday’s joint press conference in Newton. Photo by East Texas Banner Newton, Texas — In a major development announced Monday afternoon, law enforcement officials from Newton and Jasper counties confirmed the arrests of four individuals in connection to the disappearance of Joshua Ian Larkin, who was last seen exactly three years ago today on November 17, 2022. During a join

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a violent disturbance early Saturday morning that resulted in the arrest of a local man on multiple felony and family-violence charges. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on November 15, 2025, NCSO dispatch received a call from a woman at the Sabine ATV Park reporting that her husband was threatening to kill her and her son. Deputies immediately responded to the scene. According to investigators, Earl Lynn Jarrell had assaulted his wife