Jasper County Sheriff’s Report - 8/26/25

This has been a busy week at the Sheriff's Office. We were presented with a check in the amount of $125,000 from the Jasper Hospital District by JHD Vice-President Rodney Norsworthy. This generous contribution will greatly help us pay for medical needs of our jail inmates while in our custody. This is not only a great benefit to the Sheriff’s Office, but it also takes a significant load off the taxpayers and the Jasper County Commissioner’s Court. On behalf of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, we would sincerely like to thank the Jasper Hospital District board members for their commitment and support to the people of Jasper County.

On August 19th, 2025, Alexander Thornton, 41, and Jessica Ann Lewis, 45, both of Jasper County were arrested for Criminal Trespass (Class B Misdemeanor) after entering the Melholm Hunting Club located in north Jasper County without permission. Their 2020 Dodge Charger was submerged in mud on a dirt road/trail in the hunting club. The deputy who had responded to the call also found an ATV partially concealed in a wooded area near the stuck vehicle. The deputy also noticed the ATV’s ignition had been removed. A deer lease member recognized the ATV and contacted the ATV owner who submitted a sworn voluntary statement during which time Thornton and Lewis returned to the location, unaware that our deputy was there. Both were Mirandized. They confirmed that they had been in the hunting club for several hours. The hunting club president pursued charges against Thornton and Lewis. Besides the criminal trespass charges, Thornton was also charged with Theft of Property 2 or More Previous Convictions (3rd Degree Felony). The missing ignition key was found in Thornton’s pocket. It was also discovered that Lewis was concealing syringes in her under garments, However, there wasn’t enough residue in the syringes to test for a controlled substance.

On August 21st, 2025, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office hosted a law enforcement reunion. More than 20 current and retired officers came including retired DPS officers, Game Wardens, County Sheriffs, Texas Rangers and local law enforcement. Collectively, the room represented over 670 years of law enforcement experience. Man, you should have heard the stories! It was an honor to spend time with such a distinguished group of professionals.

On August 21st, 2025, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Investigators conducted a Sex Offender Compliance Check. When investigators arrived at the sex offender’s address, they met with individuals at the front door. Our investigators could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the residence. Three young adults and a juvenile were present at the residence and resided at the location under the guardianship of the sex offender, Daniel Ray Vincent, 45, of Buna. He was not present at the time. A safety sweep of the residence was conducted and marijuana was discovered. Vincent returned to his residence and was interviewed by our investigators. Vincent stated he had been providing marijuana for a 15-year-old child. Vincent was placed under arrest for Delivery of a Controlled Substance or Marijuana to a child (2nd Degree Felony) and transported to the Jasper County Jail. The 15-year-old juvenile was also placed in custody and turned over to Jasper County Juvenile authorities.

On August 21st, 2025, Investigator Calvin Starkie arrested Molly Ann Wilson, 49, of Jasper for a felony warrant out of Jasper County for a Motion to Revoke Probation on a Controlled Substance charge (State Jail Felony).

On August 22nd, 2025, a Jasper County Sheriff’s deputy was walking through the parking lot of Buna Exxon when he observed a black male trying to hide in the backseat of a vehicle. The deputy had followed behind this particular vehicle and the subject had not been wearing a safety belt while on a public road. He was detained for not wearing the safety belt. After an investigation, the deputy determined that he had given the deputy a false name. He was identified as Elliot McMahon, 50, of Buna. He had multiple felony warrants – Burglary of a Habitation (F2) and Evading in a Motor Vehicle (F3). He was also charged with Failure to ID – Fugitive (MA). He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 18th, 2025, JCSO Chief Deputy Larry Pulliam was notified of a possible Fraud case through the Jasper County Tax Office in Jasper. Chief Pulliam assigned the case to Sgt. Investigator Karli Cherry who was able to ascertain information that the vehicle was being brought to the Beaumont Task Force Office to be inspected on August 20th, 2025. Chief Pulliam and Investigator Cherry coordinated with Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force, who were able to locate and seize the vehicle. The case was forwarded to Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force for further investigation.

On August 22nd, 2025, Deputy Matt Harrell was dispatched to a Family Violence Assault in Buna. After an investigation, it was determined that the suspect, Kenneth Powers, 69, of Buna, allegedly assaulted his sister and then fled the scene. Deputy Harrell learned that Powers went to his home and retrieved a rifle. A short time later, Deputy Harrell located Powers and confronted him. Powers who was in his vehicle produced the gun and at one point, aimed it at his own head as the deputy was attempting to de-escalate the situation. Deputy Harrell continued to reason with Powers for several minutes. Other law enforcement officers arrived and assisted Deputy Harrell. They eventually talked Powers down and placed him in custody. Powers never pointed the rifle at Deputy Harrell during the incident. Powers was booked into the Jasper County Jail for various Class C charges. He was also charged with Assault-Family Violence with Injury (MA).

On August 22nd, 2025, Lt. Chad Ainsworth observed a suspicious vehicle sitting on the side of the road in Evadale. He made contact with the driver of the vehicle who was identified as James Wallace Middleton, 40, from Jasper. During the conversation, Lt. Ainsworth developed reasonable suspicion that narcotics were in the vehicle and asked for consent to search, which Middleton freely gave. During the search, a small bag of methamphetamine was found along with prescription pills that Middleton did not have a prescription for (Sildenafil). Middleton was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1<1G (SJF) and Possession of Dangerous Drugs<28G (MA). He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 22nd, 2025, a Jasper County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a Criminal Trespass. Upon arrival, Alishia Robin Blevins, 58, of Kirbyville, had a male sitting on the public roadway in front of his vehicle. Blevins stated the male subject was an illegal immigrant who was trespassing on her property. After an investigation was conducted, it was determined the male suspect never entered her property. He was parked on a public road. Despite this fact, Blevins approached the victim with a handgun and ordered him to produce his proof of insurance, name, cellphone and keys. Blevins made the victim exit his vehicle and sit down on the roadway until the deputy arrived. The victim and a witness submitted who later submitted Sworn Voluntary Statements stated she heard Blevins state she was a police officer when she called the victim’s wife from the victim’s cellphone and told her that her husband was going to jail. Blevins placed a large German Shepherd dog (she claimed was a Harris County K-9 dog) in the victim’s vehicle to ensure he would not flee on foot. The deputy placed Blevins under arrest for Terroristic Threat – Cause Fear of Serious Bodily Injury (MA) and transported her to the Jasper County Jail.

On August 23rd, 2025, two Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call that a robbery had occurred in the parking lot of the Buna Little League Ballpark. During the investigation, deputies learned that Kenneth Phelps, 21, of Vidor, assaulted the mother of his child while stealing her cell phone causing pain and injury. He struck her several times with a closed fist to the left side of her face. Though much smaller than Phelps, the victim fought back and attempted to get her phone but was unsuccessful. While conducting the investigation, the suspect reached out to the Sheriff’s Office to make his own report. He was subsequently taken into custody without incidence and transported to the Jasper County Jail. He was charged with Robbery (2nd Degree Felony).

On August 24th, 2025, a Jasper County Sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop for an expired Texas Motor Vehicle Registration. The driver was identified as Jeremy Kyle Smith, 32, of Pineland. There was also a white female passenger who was not wearing her safety belt. The deputy also observed a handgun in plain view between the driver seat and center console upon making contact with the occupants. Both subjects seemed nervous and both admitted drug paraphernalia was located in a magnetic box beneath the dash. The passenger retrieved the box and handed it to the deputy. A small zip lock bag of a crystal-like substance that the deputy knew to be methamphetamines, several syringes containing residue and Smith’s debit card were located inside the magnetic box. Smith confirmed all the contents in the box belonged to him. Smith was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance PG1<1g (State Jail Felony) and Unlawful Carry Weapon (Class A Misdemeanor) due to being engaged in criminal activity above a Class C Misdemeanor. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail. The vehicle was released to the passenger.

On August 25th, 2025, I spent the morning at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office gun range meeting with representatives from Sig Sauer Firearms. Hopefully none of our personnel will ever have to use their firearm, but good firearms are essential tools for ensuring officer and public safety. Often, we operate in extreme and unpredictable conditions and equipment failure is not an option. It is imperative that we tested a Glock and a Sig Sauer handgun for various reasons. With that being said, and after careful consideration, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office will soon transition to a Glock, model 45, 9 mm handgun. This is an excellent weapon and very cost effective for our agency. These weapons will be paid for 100% with proceeds secured from a weapon exchange program between our agency and GT Distributors. This allows our deputies to carry a standardized weapon platform that each deputy will be familiar with and receive extensive training with.

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

We will continue to keep the citizens of Jasper County informed and updated with operations at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. 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