Jasper County Sheriff's Report

Jasper County Sheriff’s Report

4-15-25

We continue to make progress here at the Jasper County Sheriff's Office. This week we hired Doug Conn as a Training Sergeant and Karli Cherry will be moving from a part-time deputy to a Criminal Investigator. They will both be assets to the Sheriff's Office and I look forward to working with them.

On April 8, 2025, I along with other county officials met with Bikers against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) in Jasper. We are all dedicated to helping create a safer environment for abused children. B.A.C.A. stands ready to shield children from further abuse. We appreciate their partnership and look forward to working with this organization.

On April 8, 2025, Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Bean Road in Buna (Cougar Country) regarding a disturbance. When the deputy arrived, a victim was found to have been assaulted and had multiple injuries. The suspect was identified as Leann Nichole West, 26, of Buna. Mrs. West was arrested and charged with Assault Bodily Injury Family Violence (MA). She was brought to the Jasper County Jail.

On April 9, 2025, Child Abuse and Forensic Services (CAFS) of Beaumont hosted a brunch with area leaders throughout Southeast Texas. In Texas, 2 in 5 women have experienced sexual assault and CAFS offers a safe, confidential, and compassionate environment where victims can receive the medical care and attention they need and deserve. I’m happy to serve on the CAFS board of directors and we service six counties in Southeast Texas, including Jasper County.

On April 9, 2025, a concerned citizen notified us that she witnessed an elderly gentleman throw shingles along County Road 139. He was issued a ticket and had to clean up his mess. We have county trash collection sites all throughout our county, please utilize them. Hats off to the young lady who did not want her neighborhood littered in and notified us.

On April 9, 2025, a deputy with the Jasper County sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at Highway 96 south and CR 899 for a traffic violation. While speaking with James Middleton, 40, of Jasper, the deputy saw a handgun in plain view and had prior knowledge that Middleton was a convicted felon. The deputy confirmed that Mr. Middleton was a convicted felon and placed him under arrest and placed him in the Jasper County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felon (F3).

On April 9, 2025, the Jasper County Jail was inspected by the Health Department and we passed. It is our goal to run a clean facility and keep our inmates safe. Thank you to our jail staff for keeping our facility clean and our kitchen sterile.

On April 9, 2025, I got a call from a concerned citizen stating that there was an intoxicated male at the Shell Station in Buna. There was a deputy close by and he immediately responded. Once he arrived, he arrested Wendell Nichols, 47, of Evadale. He was charged with Public Intoxication (MC) and taken to the Jasper County Jail.

On April 10, 2025, I had the privilege of attending the handicapable rodeo put on by the Jasper County Cowboy Church. Hundreds of special needs kids came from across East Texas to participate. Thank you to everyone who made this event so special for these kids. Everyone enjoyed it, and one thing is for certain, those kids ride a horse way better than me. I’d like to give a shout out to our Jasper County jail trustees for all the work they did out there. Way to go!

On April 10, 2025, a Jasper County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle for a defective taillamp on Highway 96 south near Tractor Supply in Buna. The driver was identified as Arnulfo Hernandez, 40, of Jasper. The deputy established probable cause to search the vehicle and discovered 7.3 grams of methamphetamine and a short barrel shotgun during the search. Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Jasper County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance (F2) and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (F3).

On April 11, 2025, Sgt. Chris Wade received information that a wanted person was at a residence on Woodlawn Park Drive inside the City of Jasper. Sgt. Wade went to the residence and located and arrested Laverrikk Middleton, 24, of Jasper, for a Motion to Adjudicate Guilt for Violation of the Conditions of Community Supervision. Middleton’s original charge was Aggravated Assault causing Serious Bodily Injury (F2).

On April 13, 2025, we were notified that a group of 4-wheeler riders were out riding on CR 826 (also known as Gist Road). We believe they may have been involved in the theft of some deer feeders. Please look at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page to help us identify these individuals. We will be getting a warrant on at least one individual this morning.

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and our dispatchers at the Sheriff’s Office are a vital link between the public and first responders. They dispatch all law enforcement agencies in our county. They are the first people you reach in an emergency, and they remain calm and professional during the emergency. They also communicate with other agencies across the country regarding warrants, arrests, etc. They are the unsung heroes behind the scenes. We appreciate all they do to keep everyone safe in our county.

All persons listed in this report are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

It was a beautiful week outside this past week. I hope you were able to get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. It is an honor to be the Sheriff of Jasper County. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you need us.

Respectfully,

Chuck Havard

Jasper County Sheriff