Charges possible in fatal motorcycle wreck

Three main lanes on the West Beltway at Eldridge were shut down for four hours Friday because of a four-vehicle accident that killed a motorcyclist.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The driver of an SUV could face charges in a four-vehicle accident that killed a motorcyclist in west Houston Friday afternoon.

The wreck happened around 5:20pm on the northbound lanes of the West Sam Houston Tollway at Briar Forest Drive.

According to Precinct 5 deputies, a motorcycle rider had slowed down for traffic in front of him and was rear-end by a Honda Goldwing. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike, hit the concrete and possibly a vehicle in front of him.

His motorcycle kept going and crashed into another vehicle, while the driver of the SUV also hit another car.

Deputies say the victim appeared to be a middle-aged man. He died at the scene.

Other people involved in the wreck suffered minor injuries.

Deputies say charges against the driver of the SUV are possible, but they don't believe alcohol is a factor. The DA's office was at the scene investigating.

The accident forced crews to close several main lanes of the tollway for four hours Friday evening.
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Man faces charges after allegedly secretly recording woman during sex

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman says she was videotaped having sex with a man in motel rooms without her knowledge, but that wasn't the end of the incident.

The woman told police that on July 27 she went to a bar with a friend and met Le Q. Hung, and then had sex with him at a motel. According to court documents, Hung allegedly recorded the encounter without the victim's consent.

The woman told police that Hung has been using the video to coerce her into continuing a sexual relationship with him for the past two months, under the pretext that he would distribute copies of the video to her husband and co-workers if she refused.

The woman says she tried to break things off with Hung, but he reportedly showed up at her workplace, followed her home and allegedly threatened to assault her husband if she refuses to see him.

The victim said that on one occasion she went to Hung's home in an effort to retrieve all the videos Hung allegedly had of them having sex in motels, and he demanded sex from her. When she refused, she says he pulled a gun on her and threatened to kill her, her child and husband and then shoot himself if she didn't have sex with him.

Court documents state that after the incident the woman pretended everything was alright and she managed to recover some videos and call the police to make a report.

Hung, 41, is charged with improper photography/visual recording and aggravated assault of a family member.

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Passenger killed in crash, driver facing charges

The driver of this car is facing charges after crashing into an overpass pillar in northwest Houston and killing one of his passengers

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A driver faces charges after crashing into an overpass pillar and killing one of his passengers Sunday morning.

It happened around 3am on 43rd Street and Highway 290.

Police say the driver lost control and hit the overpass.

A 20-year old woman in the back seat died at the scene.

The driver and another passenger were sent to the hospital with minor injuries.

Police say the driver is being tested for drunken driving and could face charges of vehicular manslaughter.

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Alleged meth lab fire results in charges

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Three people are facing trouble with the law after an alleged meth lab explosion caused a fire in May.

On May 24, Jason White was burned in a fire in the 17800 block of Paddle Wheel, in north Harris County. White, 32, was taken to Houston Northwest Medical Center for burns received when he was "injured by an explosive chemical reaction during the production of methamphetamine," could documents state.

Officials from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Harris County Fire Marshal and Harris County HazMat all arrived at the scene of the fire. Authorities determined that White had allegedly been creating meth in a bathroom when the accident happened. They say he was shaking a bottle full of chemicals when a reaction occurred and the bottle exploded, burning his face, arms and hands.

Officials found broken batteries, drain cleaner, Sudafed, coffee filters and muriatic acid, all items known to be used in the manufacture of meth. White reportedly told deputies at the hospital that he had been "making meth and it exploded."

Thurman Hall and White's girlfriend, Lindsey Grice, both reportedly told officials at the scene that they knew White was making meth. Charges arson/manufacture of a controlled substance have been filed.

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Man faces charges after girl says he dragged her into his apartment, then hit her

Gutu Abebe, 27, is charged with enticing a child, and assaulting a public servant. (Gutu Abebe)

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A southwest Houston man faces several charges after a girl says he dragged her into his apartment, then hit her.

Police say Gutu Abebe grabbed the 10-year-old girl off her bike and pulled her into his apartment on Saturday. The girl says Abebe slapped her when she would not take off her pants.

The girl says she started screaming, then Abebe pushed her out a window. Her mother found her.

When officers arrived, they found Abebe in a closet in the apartment. He's also accused of biting and spitting at police during the arrest.

Abebe, 27, is charged with enticing a child, and assaulting a public servant. He's now jailed without bond.

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Man faces charges after bomb threat hoax

  NEW CANEY, TX (KTRK) -- A man was arrested Wednesday night after he called the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office claiming he placed a bomb under a vehicle at the East Montgomery County Annex in New Caney and was about to detonate it.

Just after 11pm, Troy Don Tindall, 20, of New Caney called the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line. Tindall told a call taker his first name and then stated he earlier placed a "chemical based bomb with shrapnel" beneath a Precinct 4 Constable's Office patrol vehicle parked at the annex. Tindall said he could see the vehicle and had a detonator, according to authorities.

A perimeter was established and the entire annex building was evacuated, officials with the Precinct 4 Constable's Office said. The annex contains multiple law enforcement offices, whose officers are in and out throughout the night, including the Precinct 4 Constable's Office, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol. Members of the county's custodial staff are also on duty at the annex overnight and the East Montgomery County Jail facility is staffed by the Sheriff's Office 24 hours a day and serves as a holding facility for inmates awaiting transfer to the main jail in Conroe.

Shortly after the perimeter was established and the evacuation was completed, Precinct 4 deputies noticed a white male, who turned out to be Tindall, walking east on McCleskey Road, which is near the annex. When deputies approached Tindall, he ran, at first continuing east on McClesky, then heading north into a wooded area. Precinct 4 deputies then pursued Tindall on foot, as Tindall yelled to them saying he had warrants. The foot pursuit lasted about 100 yards before one of the deputies apprehended Tindall. After his arrest, Tindall admitted making the bomb threat.

There was no bomb.

Troy Tindall is charged with false alarm or report of emergency (state jail felony) and evading arrest/detention (class B misdemeanor).

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ABC13 report leads to charges against two suspects in jewelry store theft

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men have been charged for allegedly stealing from a jewelry store after tipsters saw an ABC13 report.

On August 12, the owner of a jewelry store inside the Food Town Grocery Store at 2770 N. Sam Houston Parkway in north Houston told Harris Co. Sheriff's deputies that three black males came to his store, gained access to his showcase with a key and stole jewelry worth nearly $50,000, including 72 diamond gold rings, 108 gold rings and 75 gold bracelets.

The incident was captured on surveillance video. Court documents state that Undrake Delon Clark and Jody Tyrone Evans, along with a third unidentified male, were the alleged thieves. In the video, police say Clark could be seen removing keys from his pocket and trying to open the showcase while Evans and the other suspect were seen acting as lookouts.

Several attempts were unsuccessful and the suspects could be seen leaving, then returning with new keys and opening the showcase. Clark is then seen removing jewelry trays and loading them into a grocery bag being held by Evans.

Store owner Jacob Cho told Eyewitness News, "It was locked when he tried to steal it, so I had no idea they can unlock the jewelry showcase like this."

After that Eyewitness News report aired on August 20 showing the surveillance video of the suspects, authorities say they received numerous leads in the case.

Police say the store owner was able to pick out both Evans and Clark from a photo array, and that surveillance video of the getaway minivan is possibly the same make and model as a Chevy Venture Van registered in Clark's name.

If you have information on the third unidentified suspect, you are asked to call the Houston Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Court documents show Evans has prior convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in 2003 and robbery in 1994.

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Elderly man charged with sexual assault now facing child porn charges

Theogil F. Cuttler, 73, is charged with sexual assault of a child under 17 years of age

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An elderly man already facing charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy is now facing additional charges including child pornography.

In May, Theogil F. Cuttler, 73, was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy who was doing odd jobs around his house. Court documents state on May 16, a 15-year-old boy who was an acquaintance of Cuttler's went to his Webster residence to do some odd jobs for money, when the boy says Cuttler told him that he could make an extra $5 for engaging in a sex act.

Now Cuttler is facing a charge of sexual performance by a child and a charge of possession and promotion of child pornography. According to court documents, a 15-year-old boy told Webster police that Cuttler photographed and took video recordings of him nude in return for small amounts of money.

A search warrant executed on May 18 at Cuttler's residence discovered a digital camera containing many photos and videos of the boy as well as multiple other young boys, court documents show.

Bond has been set at $50,000 for each of the two new felony charges.

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Mother faces murder charges in baby daughter's death

  CUT AND SHOOT, TX (KTRK) -- A mother accused of being drunk during a car crash that killed her baby is now charged with murder.

Ashli Heil, 28, was initially charged with intoxication manslaughter for the April accident in Cut and Shoot. Prosecutors say Heil was legally intoxicated, speeding, lost control and crashed her SUV into a tree, instantly killing her 8-month-old daughter.

Heil is now charged with first degree felony murder, which carries a possible life sentence if she's convicted.

Prosecutor Warren Diepraam says he hopes the seriousness of the charge sends a message that the Montgomery County District Attorney's office takes crimes against children seriously because children are truly innocent victims, deserving of our strongest protection.

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Lating singer seeks tougher charges against alleged drunken driver

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A five-time Latin Grammy nominee says he wants tougher charges against a man he accuses of hitting him with a car.

Jessee Camacho was walking near El Franco Lee Community Center Park when he was hit by the vehicle. He suffered broken bones.

Eyewitnesses say they had to chase down the driver to get him to stop. In the end, the driver - Andrew Cross - was charged with public intoxication.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and LULAC held a news conference, saying the driver had been drinking at a BBQ cook off that day.

"When I found out it was just a PI. I was shocked because he was driving, that to me is a shocker," Jesse Camacho said.

According to the police report, officers didn't have a witness at the scene that placed cross behind the wheel, which is why he was only charged with public intoxication.

LULAC says the best witnesses were never interviewed by police.

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League City man arrested on child porn charges

Kevin Ferguson, 54, was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, with a total bond of $120,000.

  LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- An area man is under arrest in connection with allegations of child pornography.

The League City Police Department, along with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, executed a search warrant in the 3000 block of Mystic Port Lane on Tuesday morning. The warrant is the culmination of a joint investiation into the downloading and sharing of child pornography.

Kevin Ferguson, 54, was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, with a total bond of $120,000.

According to police, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that any local children were involved and the investigation is ongoing. Persons who may have information related to Ferguson are asked to contact Detective Marty Grant.

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Former Rocket Jordan Hill facing charges, accused of choking family member

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Former Rockets forward Jordan Hill is accused of choking his girlfriend of two years during an argument at his Houston area residence.

According to court documents, his girlfriend told police that Hill, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, assaulted her and choked her, causing bruising to her body and restricted her breathing on February 29, when he still played for the Rockets. He was traded to LA on March 15.

Hill's girlfriend says she flew into Houston from Florida to see him and they got into an argument while discussing their future. During the argument, she says she threw his cell phones to the floor. She told police that Hill then punched her in the legs, grabbed her, pulled her off the couch and dragged her to where the phones were, and threw her against the wall.

Court documents state Hill demanded that she pick up his phones, and when she turned away from him, Hill grabbed her from behind and put her in a chokehold in which she couldn't breathe.

His girlfriend told police that she told Hill she wanted to go home and he booked her a flight back to Florida. Police say her friend picked her up from the airport and stated she was not herself and that she saw bruises on her legs and upper body.

According to police, they obtained photos of the injuries from Hill's girlfriend that were consistent with her and her friend's statements.

Hill, 24, is charged with assault of a family member. No bond has been set yet in this case.

Hill is in Los Angeles now with the Lakers where they have an off day in the playoffs. He is charged with the third degree felony, but has not been arrested.

He will have to make an appearance in Houston to face the charge. The Harris Co. District Attorney's office says Hill faces up to 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if he's convicted.

The Lakers say they're not commenting on the incident and referred questions to Hill's representative.

Hill issued a statement Monday afternoon which read:

"I'm saddened to learn of the accusations that were filed against me today. A this time I cannot comment further other than to say that my attorneys are working to gather all of the facts and evidence and I plan to cooperate completely with the authorities.
"I'd like to apologize to the Lakers organization and to all their fans for the untimeliness of these accusations. I promise to keep my focus and attention on the playoffs during this time and to helping my team win another championship."

Hill added that he doesn't expect to miss any practices or games for the Lakers.

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Charges filed against couple accused in crime spree

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Charges were filed Saturday against a couple authorities believe was behind a county-wide violent crime spree.

Bobbie Grubbs and his wife, Deedra Grubbs, were arrested Friday after 10 days on the run.

They're accused of three home invasion robberies and a deadly shooting at an East Texas motel.

Deedra Grubbs is charged with aggravated robbery and burglary of a habitation.

Bobbie Grubbs is charged with capital murder in Shelby County. He also faces several charges in Harris County, including aggravated robbery.

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Former Houston firefighter Jane Draycott cleared of shoplifting charges

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A former Houston firefighter once at the center of a sexual harassment case was cleared Friday of shoplifting charges.

Police say Jane Draycott stole a DVD player, two movies and a bag of ice from a Walmart in Spring back in 2010. A judge today ruled Draycott successfully completed terms of her plea deal and dismissed her case. Months before her arrest, a federal report stated Draycott was the victim of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment at HFD's Station 54. She and another firefighter said they found racist and sexist graffiti in their locker room area.

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Owner of Texas City animal shelter Whiskerville facing animal cruelty charges

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- Two people, whose jobs are to care for animals at a local shelter, are charged with animal cruelty.

The owner and employee from the Texas City facility are charged with four counts each of animal cruelty. The woman who turned them in says it appeared no one had checked on the cats for days.

On a website, there are pages of furry faces and names to go with them. Anson, Jared, Erin are waiting to be adopted at Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary in Texas City.

"I was heartbroken because I never dreamed it was that bad," said the woman who called authorities.

She asked not to be identified but says it appeared the cats were also waiting to be cared for.

"I'll be honest with you, I didn't know there were dead cats when I called, I just said there is something terribly wrong," she said.

The woman who turned the owner in only saw animals inside for days and noticed cats were not moving in a bassinet.

"All the cats were just in a big, giant circle in a pile. I tapped on the window and only two came over, so I came in and I called immediately and said there is something terribly, terribly wrong," she said.

Earlier this month, animal control found more than a dozen dead cats and hundreds in distress.

"I knew nobody had been coming, but I didn't realize they had been suffering, that's what is so sad," the woman said.

The owner of the no-kill shelter. Wydell Dixon doesn't dispute the conditions the cats were found in. What her attorneys argued in court, though, was it was one of her employees who let the shelter fall apart while she was gone for a month. Prosecutors fault both of them, charging the 56-year-old founder and her 48-year-old employee Kimberly Paskert with four counts each of felony cruelty to animals. Both women turned themselves in Wednesday night.

Those who say they witnessed the conditions are actually glad to see this shelter sitting empty now.

"I'm just thankful that everybody's eyes are opened and I pray to God that she is not allowed to do that again," the woman said.

The surviving cats are being nursed back to health under the care of the state for now. If convicted, the two could spend up to two years behind bars on each count.

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Japanese firm to pay $54.6M over bribery charges

  HOUSTON -- Justice Department officials say a Japanese company that helped a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary bribe Nigerian officials to win more than $6 billion in construction contracts has pleaded guilty to federal charges and agreed to pay nearly $55 million in fines.

Officials announced Tuesday that Tokyo-based Marubeni Corp. had been hired by a joint venture of four companies, including Houston-based KBR. It was to bribe Nigerian government officials in order to win engineering and construction contracts for a liquefied natural gas plant on the African nation's Bonny Island.

The bribery scheme occurred for about 10 years, through 2004.

Prosecutors will drop charges against Marubeni in two years if it follows a corporate compliance program.

The four companies in the joint venture have previously pleaded guilty in Houston federal court.

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Former tech executive acquitted on bribery charges

  HOUSTON -- A former Texas-based executive has been found not guilty of federal charges that he arranged bribes to a state-owned utility in Mexico.

John O'Shea was acquitted Tuesday in Houston by a judge's order, but other charges such as money laundering and conspiracy are pending.

O'Shea was the general manager of a Sugar Land-based unit of the Swiss company ABB Ltd. Prosecutors say O'Shea arranged to have bribes paid to a Mexican state-owned utility company in order to win contracts.

But Judge Lynn Hughes declared O'Shea not guilty on 12 charges brought under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act before the case could go to a jury.

ABB Ltd. has admitted to paying bribes and was hit with a $17 million criminal fine.

A spokesman for prosecutors did not return a message.

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Man shot by police outside night club facing charges

Edgar Moran, 23, is charged with aggravated assault of a public servant.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man who was shot at by Houston police is now facing charges in connection with the incident.

Investigators say Edgar Moran started a fight with the off-duty and uniformed HPD officer who was working security at the El Portal night club on Lawndale in southeast Houston on Wednesday. According to police, Moran allegedly pulled a handgun and that's when the officer opened fire. Moran was not hit and fled the scene.

Moran, 23, was arrested nearby and is charged with aggravated assault of a public servant.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shootings in the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions.

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Charges filed in deadly home invasion case

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There are new details about a deadly home invasion from a couple weeks ago in west Harris County. Three people are now facing capital murder charges, but only one of the suspects is in custody.

Officials describe the murder of Russell Lopez in violent details, saying he was beaten to death with a hammer while his own children were in the house on December 20. The woman involved in Lopez's attack is behind bars, but two men are still on the loose.

On the front door of what had been the Lopez family home is a sign; a farewell message from friends to a neighbor killed in his house nine days ago. Two young children inside were tied up by intruders and the neighborhood hasn't been the same since.

"It's like really shocking, really sad. I never expected it," said neighbor Vivian Padron.

Now one of three people charged is in custody and in jail. Amber Thornton, 22, appeared in probable cause court Thursday morning.

"Miss Thornton... you are charged with capital murder," said the judge.

It was not, county detectives believe, a random robbery. According to a court document, Thornton says she and two others -- Tony Escobar and Joseph Facundo -- went to buy drugs from Lopez. The probable cause warrant states that Lopez's wife suspected he might have sold drugs, but never saw it.

Court documents go on to say that Thornton saw Facundo hit Lopez in the head with a hammer while Escobar tied Lopez's young son and niece to a bed, saying they were playing cops and robbers.

Investigators say Thornton told them she held Lopez's infant daughter while the house was ransacked. She saw the two teens load various pieces of property into Lopez's SUV and they fled the scene in the vehicle, which was later recovered two days after the murder in a nearby body of water on Morton View Dr.

Thornton told police Facundo and Escobar paid her money and told her "not to say anything."

According to the document, Lopez kept his drugs hidden in a false bottom in a kitchen cabinet -- a secret he kept from his family and his neighbors, and one that eventually cost him his life.

"We miss him and I feel bad for the kid cause he'd always knock on my door and see if I could come out," said young neighbor Irvin Chagoya.

Thornton is being held in Harris County Jail. No bond has been set.

Facundo, 18, and Escobar, 17, are also charged with capital murder, but they are still at large.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Facundo and Escobar is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

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Source: Justice Dept. preparing charges in BP case

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Justice Department is said to be getting ready to file what would be the first criminal charges against BP employees in connection to the Gulf oil disaster.

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April of 2010, killing 11 workers and triggered the worst oil spill disaster in US history. People familiar with the case say prosecutors are preparing felony charges against several Houston-based engineers and at least one of their supervisors.

Prosecutors believe the employees may have provided false information to regulators about the risks associated with the well while its drilling was in progress.

BP declined to comment about the potential charges against its workers. The Justice Department is also refusing to comment.

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