Two accused in minister's murder appear in court

Devonte Hayes, 18, and Kesley Davis, 19, went before a judge Thursday morning.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men accused in a minister's murder were in court on Thursday.

Devonte Hayes, 18, and Kesley Davis, 19, went before a judge facing charges in the death of Desmond Jones back in July. Authorities say Hayes and Kesley shot and killed the 21-year-old minister in front of his apartment complex, then stole his vehicle.

Hayes has been charged with capital murder. Kesley is also facing a murder charge.

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Teens charged in man's murder appear in court

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two of four teens accused of killing a southwest Harris County father in cold blood appeared in court for the first time this morning.

The two 17-year-olds were arrested for the murder of Victor Quevedo, who was shot and stabbed to death during a robbery in front of his family Saturday night. Two 15-year-old males were also arrested in connection with the fatal shooting.

Christian Alexander Lopez, 17, was in court to hear the charge of capital murder against him. Investigators say he was one of four teenagers present when Quevedo was killed.

Also in probable cause court was Jose Armando Pineda, 17. He, too, faces a capital murder charge.

According to court documents, one of the 15-year-old suspects and another female juvenile were taken into custody after the two teens were pulled over in a stolen vehicle. Police say the 15-year-old male suspect admitting to being involved in Quevedo's murder in a recorded conversation in the back of a patrol car.

While Pineda was in court Wednesday, the prosecution recounted the law enforcement version of what happened.

"At that time, he stopped and Queveda got out of the car and they rushed to the decedent's car and ordered him out at gunpoint and a struggle ensued," said the court clerk.

Quevedo died at the scene.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on this story.

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Suspects in burglary, chase appear in court

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Suspects in a burglary and police chase earlier this month were in court this morning.

The court appearance for all three suspects was brief. Their cases were reset, giving them a chance to hire their own attorneys.

While waiting for the judge, suspects Michael Brown, Harry Gradeny and Danta Smith sat in the jury box. All of them turned away from our cameras, but at least two of them made obscene gestures in our direction. All three are facing burglary charges.

Last week, Eyewitness News Reporter Erik Barajas captured exclusive iPhone video of the three suspects as they led police on a high speed chase with a safe stolen from a Bellaire home in their car.

The video shows the suspects speeding along the Southwest Freeway near Shepherd before jumping out of the car and running through the HOV lanes and into oncoming traffic.

All three suspects were tackled and arrested before their getaway vehicle burst into flames.

The safe was returned to the homeowners.

The three suspects are expected to appear again early next month.

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Man who tried to poison dogs fails to appear in court

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- He tried to poison his neighbor's dogs by feeding them cheese balls laced with strychnine. On Friday we expected to see Qian Feng in court for his punishment. But that didn't happen.

Charlotte Liberda has been waiting one year for action against the man who admits to trying to poison her dogs Austin and Maddie. But she got a devastating blow when her former neighbor, Qian Feng, failed to appear in court for his sentencing.

"Obviously, we were very disappointed today that he did not show," she said.

Feng plead guilty to felony animal cruelty charges last month. Investigators say he tried poisoning several neighborhood dogs with cheese balls laced with the highly toxic chemical strychnine. Austin and Maddie ate one of those cheese balls and immediately got sick, suffering seizures.

"We wanted to see a final chapter to this case, so now justice will have to wait to be served," Liberda said. "But we're hopeful that he will be brought in soon."

Now with Feng a 'no-show' in court, the judge has revoked his bond and issued an arrest warrant. He's originally from China. But prosecutors say they don't believe he'll get too far.

"Fortunately, the state of Texas did ask the judge to surrender his passport back in June of 2011," explained Assistant District Attorney Jessica Milligan. "So we know he doesn't have a passport at this point."

Until Feng is found, Liberda says she'll continue keeping a close eye on Austin and Maddie. And she says she just has one lingering question for the neighbor who nearly killed innocent pets.

"Why? I guess the question we'll always wonder and never have the answer to," Liberda said.

Feng was facing anywhere from six months to two years in prison for animal cruelty. That could all change now. Prosecutors say an active search is on for the man.

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Owners of dogs that attacked boy appear in court

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A young boy is still recovering after a vicious attack by two dogs late last month. The dog owners went before a judge today to plead on behalf of themselves and their dogs.

Those dog owners face charges in connection with the attack that left a 10-year-old boy hospitalized. After emergency surgery, the boy is expected to make a full recovery.

The owners claim it wasn't their fault the dogs got out.

The two dogs in question are pit bull mixes, about 3-4 years old. Their owners, Michael Haynes and Kimberly Shepherd, are accused of failing to secure those dogs properly, leaving them to get loose and attack Mario Lopez back on June 30, causing serious bodily injury.

Haynes and Shepherd say they weren't at their Crosby home at the time of the incident. Witnesses say Lopez was riding his bike in the neighborhood and did not provoke the attack.

Hayes and Shepherd face between 2 and 10 years in prison if convicted. Their defense attorneys says they really thought their dogs were secured and feel terrible about the boy's injuries.

"They're as devastated as anybody over this," said defense attorney Michael Turner. "They have a child of their own. Their concern right now is with the welfare of that young boy who was injured and they thought they had done everything they possibly could have to secure these dogs."

"There were injuries to the face, arms and legs," said prosecutor Belinda Smith. "There was muscle tearing and severe lacerations."

Right now, those two dogs are quarantined in the care of the Harris County Animal Control. It'll now be up to the Harris County Attorney's Office what happens to them.

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Twins accused in mother's murder appear in court

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Twin brothers accused in their mother's murder made their first court appearance Wednesday morning.

Edwin Larry Berndt and Edward Christian Berndt, both 48, are charged with murder in the death of their mother, Sybil Berndt. Prosecutors say Sybil Berndt fell back in January in the house she lived in with Edwin and Edward and laid on the floor for three days without being administered medical care or food. After neighbors called for a welfare check, Houston police officers found her body and took the brothers into custody. The issue of the brothers' mental state was not brought up in court this morning, but both the defense lawyer and prosecutor talked about mental evaluations when we interviewed them. "A lot of evaluation needs to be done in that regard for those two men," said defense attorney Robert Scardino. "Obviously, we're going to want them to do some type of mental evaluation," said prosecutor Samantha Knecht. The judge kept the brothers' bonds at $500,000. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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