Jasper County Sheriff’s Report - 8/19/25

Jasper County Mental Health Deputy Mitch Hanley has been selected as our employee of the month for July. Deputy Hanley came to the JCSO in January of 2025 after serving a long and distinguished career with the Beaumont Police Department. He has a wealth of experience in law enforcement and is an expert with De-Escalation Techniques and Crisis Intervention. He plays a vital role in making a positive impact with people, often when they are experiencing a mental health crisis. His demeanor, patience and experience help him divert people away from jail and into mental health programs. In the 7 ½ months he has been performing his duties on behalf of the citizens of Jasper County, he has been instrumental in giving individuals and their families the hope and inspiration they need to overcome mental health needs and substance abuse issues. I can’t thank him enough for his dedication to duty and for making sacrifices on behalf of our agency and our county.

On August 8, 2025, Deputy Noel was dispatched to Brookeland regarding a commercial burglary alarm. The business owner had observed a subject inside the building via security cameras. However, the suspect had left the scene by the time the deputy arrived. Deputy Noel conducted an on-scene investigation and the suspect was identified as Bryan Sterling Hamburg, 39, of Brookeland. After preparing a warrant for Hamburg’s arrest, Deputy Noel and Deputy Walker arrested Hamburg on August 13, 2025, for Burglary of a Building (SJF). He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 13, 2025, Sgt. Chris Wade and Deputy Jacob Spivey were dispatched to the 400 block of Dorgan Drive in Jasper for an assault. Deputies arrived and learned that Tina Wiesinger, 51, of Lufkin, had assaulted a 14-year-old child on the previous day. Deputies conducted an on-scene investigation and noticed bruises on the child’s arm. Wiesinger was intoxicated at the time. Wiesinger was arrested for Injury to a Child (F3) and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 13, 2025, Sgt. Chris Wade and Deputy Jacob Spivey went to Brookeland to locate Dewie Motes, 57, of Brookeland. Motes was wanted by Jasper County for Terroristic Threat (MA) and Assault Family Violence (MA). Motes was located in the back yard of the residence located on Live Oak Lane and was arrested and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 14, 2025, Kyle D. Fussell, 31, of Kirbyville surrendered to the Jasper County Jail after a warrant had been issued for his arrest on August 13, 2025. On July 25th, 2025, JCSO received a report that Fussell opened an auto insurance policy using his ex-wife’s information without her knowledge or her permission. He was taken into custody for Fraudulent Use of Identifying Information (SJF).

On August 14, 2025, Sgt. Wade and Deputy Spivey went to Kirbyville to locate James Butler, 28, of Kirbyville. James was wanted by Jasper County for Motion to Revoke Probation for Evading Arrest (F3). Butler walked outside his residence and saw the patrol car and quickly went back inside. Sgt. Wade immediately went to the back of the residence and found Butler in the back yard. He complied with Sgt. Wade’s commands and was placed under arrest and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 16, 2025, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received multiple complaints regarding someone impersonating a Jasper County Sheriff’s Deputy. The calls were not valid – they were part of a scam. Remember do NOT give out personal or financial information. Hang up immediately if you receive a suspicious phone call. Report suspicious calls to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at (409)384-5417.

On August 16, 2025, dispatch received a call from a family member regarding a 14-year-old child experiencing a medical emergency at a residence on County Road 269. EMS arrived at the residence and transported the child to Jasper Memorial Hospital. She was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at the hospital. An autopsy has been ordered and a death investigation is being conducted by JCSO CID Investigators at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

On August 16, 2025, Deputy Shannon Davis was dispatched to Buna Jiffy Mart regarding a suspicious vehicle. The deputy contacted the driver of the vehicle who had moved to Valero prior to his arrival. Deputy Davis investigated and discovered that Cynthia Payton, 43, of Kirbyville did not have a valid driver’s license. Deputy Davis afforded her the opportunity to call for a ride. When the individual arrived to give her a ride, Payton’s driver’s license was checked and it was discovered that she was wanted out of Jefferson County for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon warrant (F2). She was arrested and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 18, 2025, during my campaign for the Office of Jasper County Sheriff, one of my campaign pledges was to do everything I could to put more deputies out on the streets in our county. For many years, our county has needed more deputies. Historically, a common practice has been to assign one patrol deputy on the north end of our county and one patrol deputy on the south end of our county per shift. Obviously, with a county as geographically long as ours, this practice has many challenges such as extended response times, lack of visibility in our neighborhoods, officer safety concerns and many others. Past administrations have done an excellent job of making the most with the resources they had. Upon taking office on January 1st, 2025, I made it clear to our employees that we were going to work hard, make the citizens of our county our priority and hold ourselves to the highest level of transparency and accountability. Since being in office, our men and women in uniform have worked really hard and are making a positive impact in our community. We are far from perfect and we have made some mistakes, but I can tell you first-hand that we have made many good, solid criminal cases, arrested hundreds of criminals, increased our visibility and conducted ourselves with professionalism. Again, we have a long way to go to become more efficient and effective, but we are making steady progress. We have thieves and drug dealers on the move and are doing our very best to protect our citizens and their property.

Several months ago, during budget workshops, I requested three additional deputies from our County Judge and County Commissioner’s. The request was made as a public safety necessity to ensure we are getting as many “boots” on the ground and in our neighborhoods as possible. Yesterday morning, the County Judge and our County Commissioner’s granted the request and provided our agency with the three additional deputies. To my knowledge, this is the most deputies ever granted by any Jasper County Commissioner’s Court at one time. One deputy will be funded initially from our prisoner reimbursement fund and then incrementally absorbed by the general fund over the course of four years. The other two deputy positions will be fully funded by the general fund revenue. They gave our agency the approval to immediately hire the deputy being funded by prisoner reimbursement. The other two deputy positions will be effective on January 1st, 2026. We anticipate all of our positions being filled in the next couple of months by our cadets who are currently in the Police Academy in Jasper. We have identified the cadets that we believe will do an excellent job for our agency and the citizens of Jasper County.

Additionally, all of our employees were given a one dollar an hour raise except for the Chief Deputy and Major- they will get a two dollar an hour raise. (These positions do not allow for overtime/comp pay). The court also authorized an increase in our certificate pay for our deputies, jailers and dispatchers. This increase will go from $150 a month up to $275 a month. Additionally, several months ago we requested the DPS administrative assistant (who is a county employee) be reassigned to our office. The Court approved that request, and beginning on January 1st, 2026, Administrative Assistant Debbie Berry will be assigned to our office in Buna. This reassignment will allow our deputies to spend more time in and around our neighborhoods, businesses and schools. Debbie is an outstanding asset to our county and has many years of experience. She is a fantastic person and we are looking forward to Debbie joining our team. She will continue to assist DPS as needed.

I would like to sincerely thank our County Judge and our County Commissioner’s for their support to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and to the citizens of Jasper County. Their commitment to Public Safety is unmatched and is their top priority. This unprecedented action will significantly increase our visibility and consistently provide more professional law enforcement coverage than any time before.

On August 18, 2025, Evadale Fire and Rescue was responding to a medical emergency when Med Truck 1201 suffered a blow out to its front left tire on FM 105 in Evadale. The fire vehicle left the roadway, struck a culvert, went airborne and then landed on a residential fence. The two firemen inside the Med Truck were transported for non-life-threatening injuries to Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas. DPS is in charge of the crash investigation. We are praying for the two injured firefighters.

On August 18, 2025, Deputy James Roy was dispatched to CR 740 regarding an assault. He arrived and spoke with the female victim who stated her live-in boyfriend Joseph Micheal Griffith, 37, had struck her with his fist on the right side of her face and several times on the right side of her body in her kidney area causing her pain and bruising. Griffith was located inside the home and placed under arrest without incident. He’s had 2 prior arrests for Assault Family Violence, one being within the past 12 months. Griffith was charged with Continuous Violence Against a Family Member (F3). He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

Please note that all persons listed in this report are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

It is a great privilege and honor to be the Sheriff of Jasper County. As always, call us if you need us.

Respectfully,

Chuck Havard

Jasper County Sheriff