Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Breaking News

Local News

Related Photos

Discussion

March 12, 2009

Hearing set for convicted businessman

DA’s Office will argue for the revocation of Cook’s probation

By Art Lawler Staff Writer

The District Attorney’s Office took the first step to having the probation of a Gun Barrel City businessman revoked.

A status hearing for Curtis Cook was held on Thursday morning before 173rd District Judge Dan Moore.

Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee is handling the case for the state, and Scott Williams was appointed this week as Cook’s defense attorney.

Judge Moore, after listening to both attorneys, set a hearing for April 16 at 9 a.m.

Cook, 59, was picked up by GBC police on warrant for probation violations on Feb. 6. The warrant was for failure to register as a sex offender after a change of address.

Cook is accused of not reporting a move from Kemp to GBC. Terms of his probation require him to re-register every time he moves from one address to another for the rest of his life.

Cook was placed on probation last year for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Cook, a Gun Barrel City optician, pled guilty to sexually assaulting a child younger than 14 years of age.

He was given deferred adjudication and a 10-year probated sentence at the time.

Cook admitted the sexual assault allegations against him in exchange for the deferred adjudication ruling.

At the April hearing, McKee will introduce evidence to support the allegations made in the state’s motion to adjudicate.

“We will allege the defendant violated certain terms of his probation,” McKee said. “We have to prove one, or more, of those allegations. If the judge adjudicates him, he can then find him guilty. If he does, he’ll be sentenced to a term in the state penitentiary for a length of time to be determined by the judge.”

That prison term, according to law, could be anywhere from five to 99 years.

Williams said the state is alleging in its motion to revoke the deferred adjudication ruling.

“At this juncture I have some questions as to whether the allegations are true, and so our intent is to defend vigorously the allegations that have been made against him,” Williams said.

Cook is just one of several sex offenders who have been confronted by McKee and new county Sheriff Ray Nutt.

Jerry Don Wilson, of Eustace, was arrested on March 9 for failure to register as a sex offender.

Last Thursday, an arrest was made in Eustace for a Bay City man, Michael Keith Luera, for violating probation of a child sexual assault conviction.

Judge Moore revoked Luera’s probation for indecency with a child, and Luera was sentenced to four years in prison.

“This is a new administration, and we are not going to tolerate child predators in our community,” Assistant District Attorney Lenda Burnett said at the time. “I hope this sends a message to offenders that our office is working closely with the probation department to identify and prosecute those who are not complying with their court-ordered conditions.”

Text Only
Local News
  • Fair Park sound system gets AEDC boost

    The Athens Economic Corporation Board took formal action Thursday morning that should result in a stipend of up to $35,000   to match a Ginger Murchison Foundation matching grant for helping finance the Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex new sound equipment.

    February 9, 2012

  • Scout big boy.JPG Scouts ready to knock doors locally

    Once again Athens will be seeing these Scouts Saturday as they knock on doors to collect food in BSA’s National Scouting for Food Drive. Shown are Tiger Cub Hunter Kaufman and Eagle Scout Michael McCluskey. Also shown is Sierra Kaufman, one of several American Heritage Girls who will be joining the boys in their efforts to collect food.  In the past few years, despite the economy, over 1,000 cans each year have been collected and donated to Henderson County’s Food Pantry.  So when you see these boys and girls in uniform this weekend, open your hearts and help feed the hungry in Henderson County.

    February 9, 2012 3 Photos

  • CROSS ROADS.jpg ‘National Red Wear on Friday’ day in Cross Roads

    It was last Friday that Cross Roads High School staff and students participated in “National Red Wear on Friday.” The first Friday in February was dedicated for heart-disease awareness.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Churches to join with community at Cain Center

    Churches from across Henderson County will come together on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Cain Center in Athens to provide services to all members of the Henderson County community. 
    “This all grew out of the community coming together during the nativity scene controversy in December,” said the Rev. Eric Graham from Sands Springs Baptist Church.

    February 9, 2012

  • HCSO, Trinidad Police arrest man for meth possession

    TRINIDAD – Henderson County deputies and Trinidad police arrested a Henderson County man for possession of a controlled substance Tuesday in this community.

    February 9, 2012

  • Downed airplane located

    The Henderson County Sheriff's Office and Texas Department of Public Safety Game Wardens assisted in locating an plane that went down in Lake Palestine early Thursday. The Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash.

    February 9, 2012

  • City hears presentation for new apartment complex

    The Athens City Council heard a presentation, Wednesday, from a group that hopes to obtain a grant to build an apartment complex in south Athens.
    Jay Oji, of Sphinx Development Corporation, said the 80-unit complex called Robbins Villas would be built on a tract of land where Robbins Road intersects with Loop 7. The affordable housing units would cost about $12 million to construct.

    February 8, 2012

  • 2-8 Coach Johnston.jpg Coaches tell Kiwanis about programs

    Two of Trinity Valley Community College’s newest coaches spoke to the Athens Kiwanis Tuesday at the Country Club.
    Trinity Valley Community College Head Softball Coach Ashley Johnston, and Volleyball Coach Tosha Spain, also head up two of the newest programs on campus.

    February 8, 2012 2 Photos

  • Adams addresses Chamber

    The Athens Chamber of Commerce brought in Hue Adams Wednesday at its monthly luncheon to remind local business leaders of the finer points of being a leader.

    February 8, 2012

  • Sory.JPG Athens Hornet now flying Hornets

    A former Athens High School student Bryan Sory is now flying FA-18C Hornets, the U.S. Navy’s frontline fighter plane.  Lt. Commander Sory flies for VFA-151, The Vigilantes, based in Lemoore, Calif.  VFA-151 deployed aboard the U.S.S. Lincoln in December, 2011, and is currently flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the overarching operation that encompasses, among other things, ongoing counter-terrorism and nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. 

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo