Liberty Co. crash leaves 1 dead, 1 injured, 1 jailed

  DAYTON, TX (KTRK) -- One person was dead, one was injured and another was in jail Saturday after a three-vehicle accident the day before in Liberty County.

It happened around 2:30pm Friday on FM 1960 about two miles west of Dayton.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a Dodge pickup was eastbound on FM 1960 behind a Nissan sedan. A Chevrolet Suburban was traveling west on FM 1960.

Investigators said the driver of the Nissan slowed to make a left turn onto County Road 614, but pickup struck her car from behind. The impact sent the Nissan into oncoming traffic and it was struck again by the Suburban.

Pamela Melton Raines, 51, of Dayton, was a passenger in the Nissan. Emergency responders transported her to Liberty Dayton Hospital where she later died from her injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt, officials said.

The driver of the Suburban -- a 46-year-old Dayton woman -- was rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital with broken bones. At last check, she was in critical condition. She was also wearing a seatbelt, officials said.

One person was arrested following the accident. We are working to confirm the identity of that person.

We worked with The Dayton News on this story, one of our Houston Community Newspapers partners.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Liberty Co. jail warden, chief fired over assault allegations

  LIBERTY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- Two top administrators at the Liberty County jail have been terminated by the firm hired by the county to manage the jail.

By Friday, the firm -- Community Education Centers -- had replaced former Warden Timothy New and former Chief Kenneth Reid Nunn with a new warden and chief of staff.

The decision to terminate New and Nunn came just days after a notice of claim was sent to Liberty County authorities and CEC by the attorneys of Brandy Nichole O'Brien.

According to court documents, O'Brien was "repeatedly subjected to assault and battery, sexual assault, deviant sexual assault, humiliation, degradation and intentional infliction of emotional distress" while incarcerated in the Liberty County jail for failure to make timely child support payments.

The documents state "Nunn and others" were behind the abuse.

Read more details on this story in The Courier of Montgomery County, one of our Houston Community Newspapers partners.

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Missing Liberty County teen found safe in San Jacinto County

  LIBERTY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- A teenager who disappeared Wednesday night in Liberty County has been found safe.

According to authorities, Amber Georgous, 19, disappeared after a party along the Trinity River off SH 105. Her vehicle was later found near Highway 105. The car was apparently wrecked and had a broken window.

A K-9 unit from Montgomery County Precinct 2 was brought in early this morning to help in the search. According to authorities, a DPS helicopter from Austin has also been dispatched.

Investigators say they believed foul play may have been involved, but shortly after 9:30am Georgous was found safe in San Jacinto County. No further details were immediately available.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Old explosive equipment found in Liberty County

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities are trying to figure out what to do with an old piece of equipment found on some property near Tarkington in Liberty County.

The area is in northeastern Liberty County, where a woman doing some work on her property discovered some wires sticking out of a hole in the ground. She called the Railroad Commission, who sent someone out to investigate.

Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department says officials determined the item was an old seismograph explosive left behind by a demolition company that had once used the property. There were fears the item could be unstable, so the county bomb squad was called to the scene.

Evans says a couple of homes near the site have been evacuated. There are no homes in the immediate area.

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Federal judge rejects Liberty County judge's plea deal

  BEAUMONT, TX (KTRK) -- We have a major update in a story broken by 13 Undercover. A federal judge in Beaumont rejected a plea agreement between the US government and the former Liberty County judge.

You'll remember Phil Fitzgerald was named in a 27-count indictment after 13 Undercover helped expose details of an alleged bribery-kickback scheme involving a Hurricane Ike debris contract.

In October, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to a felony with the understanding he would serve 36 months probation and pay a $75,000 fine.

On Friday, in a rare move, the judge in the case rejected that plea deal, likely sending the case to trial.

You can read much more about this in the Cleveland Advocate, our Houston Community Newspaper partner online. We want to thank them for their help in reporting this story.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more 13 Undercover »

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Search for missing Liberty Co. man called off; authorities are now calling it a criminal matter

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search for a a missing Liberty County man has suddenly been called off and authorities are calling it a criminal matter.

Dennis Rogers was last heard from on last Thursday. He called 911 saying he had gotten lost in a wooded area near his home. Rogers is 54 but has the mental capacity of a 9-year-old child because of a brain injury.

Rex Evans with the Liberty Co. Sheriff's Office says an undisclosed person contacted them and indicted that something criminal may have happened to Rogers. He says search and rescue efforts were suspended Tuesday to allow detectives to pursue the criminal investigation and to interview possible persons of interest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 936-336-4500.

We'll bring you any new developments as they happen.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Authorities looking for missing Liberty County man

Edwin "Clarke" Rogers, 62, has been missing since December 30th.

  LIBERTY, TX (KTRK) -- The Liberty County Sherriff's Office is asking for your help to locate a man who hasn't been seen or heard from in about a week and a half.

Edward "Clark" Rogers, 62, was last seen on December 30. His Jeep Cherokee was later recovered on Highway 321 near County Road 2243 between Cleveland and Tarkington Prairie. Inside the truck, investigators found his cell phone and medication. Family members and friends are concerned because they say he wouldn't go anywhere without these two items.

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office, along with Equusearch and the Tarkington Prairie Fire Department spent Sunday searching for Rogers. If you have any information about Rogers' whereabouts, you're urged to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at (936) 336-4500.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Liberty Co. deputy constable critical after accident

  LIBERTY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- A Liberty County deputy constable is in extremely critical condition after a wreck Tuesday afternoon.

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office says the Precinct 2 deputy constable was transported via LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann Hospital and was "unconscious and unresponsive." People in the other vehicle were being treated for their injuries as well.

LCSO says the deputy constable pulled into the path of an oncoming vehicle on Highway 90 about a mile west of Devers and his vehicle was T-boned on the driver's side.

The injured deputy constable has been identified as 43-year-old Duwayne Marcolesco. He is a resident of Daisetta.

We worked on this story with one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners, The Cleveland Advocate.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Former Liberty Co. officer gets prison time for mail, firearms fraud

Harry Leroy Kelley, 56, was convicted in February of possession of stolen ammunition and two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A veteran Liberty County police officer was sentenced on Thursday to one year and one day behind bars for firearms and mail fraud violations.

Harry Leroy Kelley, 56, was convicted in February of possession of stolen ammunition and two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He is a former Cleveland Police Department officer and Liberty County Sheriff's Office captain. Kelley was indicted in August 2010 after an investigation determined that he had been exchanging firearms and ammunition manufactured exclusively for the use of qualified law enforcement officers for 86 new weapons that he could sell to customers of his business, K Ventures. He is also convicted of ordering six Glock training pistols under the premise they'd be used by the Cleveland Police Department when they were, in fact, being purchased for a non-law enforcement individual. Kelley also devised the same scheme to purchase laser sights. He made the order, claiming it was meant for the Liberty County Sheriff's Office when the items were bought for someone outside the law enforcement field. This case was investigated by the ATF, the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Police Department. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Liberty Co. judge, two others face new charges

  BEAUMONT, TX (KTRK) -- We have an update to our 13 Undercover investigation of alleged hurricane related fraud by Liberty County officials.

A federal grand jury indicted Liberty County Judge Phil Fitzgerald, his brother-in-law Mark Miksch and former Liberty County Commissioner Herman Groce on new charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, theft, bribery and making false claims. The charges stem from Wayne Dolcefino's reports that the three allegedly created an elaborate bribery-kickback scheme, involving a hurricane debris contract. You can read more about this in the Cleveland Advocate, our Houston Community Newspaper partner. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more 13 Undercover »

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Alleged auto-theft ring in Liberty County busted

   HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives say they've nabbed four suspects in connection to an auto-theft ring being operated in Liberty County.

Billy Smith, 34, Jose Garnias, 23, Alicia McRee, 30, and 20-year-old Laura Wilganowski were all arrested after investigators received tips about two stolen trucks and several stolen auto parts, including wheels and tires, and a copper-melting operation in the Plum Grove area, according to a Liberty County sheriff's Office statement. A fifth person, 24-year-old Michael Carnley, has been identified as a person of interest. Detectives say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible. The investigation was conducted by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office Investigators, Liberty County Constable's Pct. 5 and Pct. 6 offices, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Montgomery County Constable Pct. 4 Office. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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Liberty County teen's body found in ditch

  DAYTON, TX (KTRK) -- The partially-clad body of a 15-year-old girl was discovered Saturday morning on County Road 443 off F.M. 1409 south of Dayton in Liberty County.

Residents in the area found her body in a ditch around 8am.

The teen had been struck by a vehicle and left for dead, officials said. The body was identified as Charlie Gore of Dayton.

According to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, it is believed Gore attended a party by the river in the area Friday night when a fight broke out.

Investigators said Gore was walking away from the fighting, headed down County Road 443 to F.M. 1409, when she was hit by an unknown vehicle and killed.

"It looks like the vehicle intentionally left the roadway and struck her," LCSO spokesperson Rex Evans said. "There are tire tracks in the grass."

Officials said evidence at the scene suggests the vehicle may have been gray or a dark metallic color.

Anyone with information should call LCSO or Crime Stoppers.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Liberty County standoff ends without explosion

  DAYTON, TX (KTRK) -- A tiny spark could have changed the outcome of a Liberty County standoff in a big way Sunday.

A man called 9-1-1 Sunday to report that he was going to take his own life. He told officials he was pouring gasoline on himself, his wife and their home and that he would ignite it.

Neighbors also called police as they watched the incident unfold, officials said.

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office rushed to the man's home on County Road 4262 in the Dayton area and there was an immediate standoff between the man and deputies.

The man told deputies he wanted to end his life and the life of his wife. He also told them he wanted to burn his wrecked manufactured home, which had been damaged by a fallen tree.

He was threatening to ignite the gasoline, plus he was armed with a machete.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and a Dayton Police Department officer arrived to assist LCSO deputies. Westlake Fire Department and Liberty County EMS also responded and a small command post was set up away from the scene.

Officials said that after about 20 minutes of intense verbal negotiations, the man surrendered to LCSO deputies.

He and his wife were both checked for injuries from their skin being exposed to gasoline.

The man was transported to the Liberty County Jail and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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