Jasper County Sheriff’s Report - 12/23/2025

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you and your family have a safe, wonderful holiday season.

Recently, Assistant Communication's Supervisor Pat Erath was promoted to Communication’s Supervisor. Operator Tiffany Hollyfield was promoted to Assistant Communication’s Supervisor. Both Pat and Tiffany have consistently demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, integrity and skills to perform the various duties associated with our Communication’s Division. They are now accepting roles with a significant amount of responsibility for our agency and the public. Without a doubt, they will do a great job for the citizens of Jasper County and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. We are lucky to have them and are looking forward to working with them in their new positions. Congratulations to them both.

Miss Blue Santa Pageant raised over $1,000 for the program on Saturday, December 13th, 2025, at the Pavillion in the Pines in Jasper. The queens are:

• Baby Miss- Preslie Wood

• Tiny Tot- Delilah Kemp

• Petite- Chandler Barlow

• Little - Parker Bergstrom

• Junior- Charley Sparks

• Young- Laney Lane

• Teen- Kimber Smith

• Miss- Kamrynn Lloyd

Congrats to all the queens and contestants. Also, a big shout out to all the volunteers for making the pageant a success!! I would sincerely like to thank the people of Jasper County and across Southeast Texas for making this year’s Blue Santa program such a success. We attended many events and conducted or benefited from numerous fundraisers, all so we could assist needy families throughout our county with providing Christmas gifts to children. Because of the generosity of people throughout Jasper County and East Texas, between the toys (other items) collected and the money we received through donations, we were able to take in approximately $50,000.00 to help hundreds of families in Jasper County. Most of the applications have been processed and families have been picking up their gifts. We still have a long way to go, but all of the toys will be distributed before Christmas. We are grateful for the hard work and kindness of so many people. Without their involvement and goodwill this success would not have been possible. I would also like to personally thank all our employees, especially Nola James and Tiffany Hollyfield. These two ladies spend a lot of time on this program throughout the year. They work very hard coordinating these events, processing applications, collecting toys and doing many other things-most of which is done on their own time. They do not rest until it all gets done. Additionally, we would like to thank Clint Wade, Jared Bishop, Dr. Ray Callas, Kirbyville PD Sergeant Josh Hancock, Judge Mike

Smith, JCSO Captain Joe Pomponio, Kandi Davis, Texas Wine Shop, Buna Family Dollar, Jasper VFW and Jasper Wal-Mart. There are many, many others as well. We are blessed to have so much involvement from the community and are extremely grateful for the outpouring amount of support for this program. From the bottom of our hearts at JCSO, THANK YOU.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office was proud to escort the Newton Eagles football team through Jasper County on Wednesday morning, December 17th, 2025, as they traveled to Dallas to play in the state championship against Wall. Even though they didn’t win, the Eagles played a heck of a game. You represented all of us well and we are so proud of you!

Over the past month, multiple Jasper-Newton Electric Company electrical substations were targeted by copper thieves in Jasper County. A lengthy investigation was started by Jasper County Sheriff's Office Investigator AJ Noel into these thefts. Numerous items of evidence were collected including photographs, statements, and interviews which led to the discovery of numerous suspects involved in the thefts. The suspects appeared to have been operating a large-scale copper theft operation that included electrical substations, as well as other businesses within Jasper County. The investigation revealed the suspects stealing copper, taking it to numerous residences, burning the protective covering off of it, and selling it to a local scrapyard. Two suspects have been selling large amounts of copper that was stolen by the group to the scrapyard over the previous weeks while using separate ID's as to reduce their involvement. It is believed that this was a coordinated operation of organized thefts. Subsequent interviews were conducted and three suspects were arrested for the offense of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a 3rd Degree Felony. Dustin W. Ross, 41, and Melissa Loudenslager, 34, both of Jasper, were arrested on 12-16-25. Joseph D. Arnold, 62, of Jasper, was arrested 12-15-25. An anonymous tip on December 17th, 2025, regarding the possible whereabouts of the fourth fugitive Trey Price led Jasper Police Department and Investigators with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office to respond to the location given, and Price was located inside the residence. Price was taken into custody without incident and was booked into the Jasper County Jail for a Felony Organizing in Criminal Activity warrant.

On December 17th, 2025, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a wanted fugitive. The caller provided information that the individual was staying at a residence in San Augustine County. It was verified that the individual was wanted on a felony warrant out of Jasper County. San Augustine County Sheriff Robert Cartwright was contacted. Sheriff Cartwright sent his deputies to the location. The individual was found and arrested. She was identified as Jennifer Rose Bebee, 41, of San Augustine. She had a Felony warrant for MTRP/Fraud Use/Poss Identify. San Augustine County deputies released her to a Jasper County Sheriff’s Deputy and she was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

It was an honor to attend the Brookeland I.S.D. School Board meeting on December 18th, 2025, on behalf of JCSO Investigator Calvin Starkie. The Board of Trustees honored Investigator Starkie and Texas Game Warden Brooks Yeates for their investigation regarding the theft of several thousand dollars’ worth of property owned by the school district on

October 9th, 2025. Because of their hard work and dedication, two suspects were arrested and most of the property was recovered and returned back to the school district within days. (Investigator Starkie could not attend due to a prior family engagement).

On December 18th, 2025, Lt. Chad Ainsworth was contacted by a business owner in Evadale about someone trying to sell property the business owner believed was stolen. Shortly afterwards, a complainant contacted Lt Ainsworth about a burglary that just occurred that was captured on video in Evadale. The actors of the burglary matched the description of the subjects trying to sell property earlier. Using the contact information left at the business, Lt Ainsworth contacted the actors and pretended to be a buyer for some of the items. The actors returned to Evadale with the stolen property. Lt Ainsworth, Sgt David Lampman, and Deputy Tony Tipton took the actors into custody. The stolen property was recovered, some of which was returned to the owner. Billy Wayne Bailey, 53, of Lovelady, and Tristen Keith Justice Loftin, 25, of Silsbee, were both arrested for Burglary of a Habitation Felony 2. Loftin also had a confirmed warrant through Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a parole violation. Both subjects were transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On Friday, December 19th, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Jasper County resident, John Thomas Loyd, 52, of Kirbyville, was traveling southbound on State Highway 62 near FM 2802, just north of Mauriceville when the vehicle he was driving struck a white colored horse. Mr. Loyd was killed during the collision. Due to the overwhelming responses from the public, Texas DPS Troopers were able to quickly identify the owner of the horse.

Everyone listed in this report is innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

We are here for you and your families, 24/7. It is a privilege and honor representing the people of this county.

Respectfully,

Chuck Havard

Jasper County Sheriff