Latest news with #DallasCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dallas Police Nab 98 Repeat Offenders In Major Crime Sweep
Dallas police arrested 98 fugitives during a month-long operation targeting violent felons. The suspects had a combined arrest history 700 prior arrests. Operation Justice Trail represents a key component of the department's strategy to reduce violent crime by focusing on repeat offenders who drive much of the city's criminal activity. The Dallas Police Fugitive Unit partnered with the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force for the May sweep. Together, they cleared 167 warrants and tracked down suspects across Dallas and beyond state lines. Police Chief Daniel Comeaux launched the initiative as part of the department's Violent Crime Reduction Plan. The strategy recognizes that a small group of criminals commits most violent offenses. The Dallas County District Attorney's Office also participated in the coordinated effort. Their involvement helped expedite warrant processing and case preparation. Department officials released a comprehensive report detailing each fugitive's charges and criminal background. The document underscores the extensive rap sheets of those captured during the 31-day operation. By removing these repeat offenders from the streets, police aim to create a measurable impact on public safety. The arrests target individuals with histories of violent crimes rather than low-level offenses.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Judge won't remove Dallas County DA from Randy Halprin's ‘Texas 7' retrial
The Brief A judge ruled against removing the Dallas County District Attorney's Office from the case of "Texas 7" inmate Randy Halprin because of a conflict of interest. Halprin was granted a new trial for the 2000 death of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins. An appeals court ruled that the judge in his original trial held a strong bias against him because he is Jewish. The retrial process can now continue as planned. DALLAS - The judge overseeing the retrial for one of the "Texas 7" inmates has decided not to remove the Dallas County District Attorney's Office from the case. What's new Judge Lela Mays denied District Attorney John Creuzot's motion to be recused. Last week, prosecutors from the DA's office argued that they should be removed from Randy Halprin's retrial because of a possible conflict of interest within their office. One of the DA's chief prosecutors worked for the law firm that filed Halprin's first challenge to his 2003 conviction. She also visited him in prison back in 2007. "We've been accused of purposeful delay. But, your honor, we filed this motion to recuse within seven weeks of counsel's appointment here. We have made this decision to file the motion with an eye toward having a fair trial," Assistant DA Shelly Yeatts said during the motion hearing. What's next It's unusual for a judge not to accept a DA's request for a recusal. But doing so would have required Judge Mays to appoint a special prosecutor, and the trial would have been reset. It can now move forward as planned. One of the next steps will be for Judge Mays to rule on a separate DA motion to have one of Halprin's defense attorneys thrown off the case for a similar conflict of interest. The backstory Halprin, who is now 47, was one of seven inmates who became known as the "Texas 7." In December of 2000, they escaped from a South Texas prison and then committed several robberies, including one at an Irving sporting goods store where they shot and killed 29-year-old Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins. Halprin is one of only two members of the "Texas 7" still alive. Larry Harper killed himself before the group was arrested. Four others – Joseph Garcia, Donald Newbury, Michael Rodriguez, and George Rivas – have been executed. Patrick Murphy is still awaiting execution. What we know The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted Halprin's execution in 2019. This past November, the court overturned the conviction and ordered that Halprin be given a new trial. New evidence supported the argument that Judge Vickers Cunningham, who presided over Halprin's original trial, held a strong bias against the defendant because he is Jewish. "The uncontradicted evidence supports a finding that Cunningham formed an opinion about Halprin that derived from an extrajudicial factor — Cunningham's poisonous antisemitism," the appeals court wrote in its ruling. Cunningham is now retired from the bench and works as an attorney in a private practice. He has not commented on Halprin's case. The Source The information in this story comes from Dallas County court records, an April 17 court hearing, Associated Press coverage of the appeals court's ruling, and past FOX 4 News coverage.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
'Texas 7' Retrial: Dallas County DA argues for removal from Randy Halprin's case
The Brief The Dallas County District Attorney's Office is asking to be removed from the case of "Texas 7" inmate Randy Halprin because of a conflict of interest. Halprin was granted a new trial for the 2000 death of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins. An appeals court ruled that the judge in his original trial held a strong bias against him because he is Jewish. The current judge will rule on the DA's request soon. DALLAS - A judge could soon decide if the Dallas County District Attorney will be recused from the case of Randy Halprin, one of the "Texas 7" inmates. What's new During a hearing on Thursday morning, prosecutors from District Attorney John Creuzot's office argued that they should be removed from Halprin's case because of a possible conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety. One of the DA's chief prosecutors worked for the law firm that filed Halprin's first challenge to his 2003 conviction. She also visited him in prison back in 2007. "We've been accused of purposeful delay. But, your honor, we filed this motion to recuse within seven weeks of counsel's appointment here. We have made this decision to file the motion with an eye toward having a fair trial," said Assistant District Attorney Shelly Yeatts. Judge Lela Mays said she would take arguments under advisement, and the court would reconvene another day. If she grants the DA's motion, she will need to appoint a special prosecutor, and the trial will be reset. The backstory Halprin, who is now 47, was one of seven inmates who became known as the "Texas 7." In December of 2000, they escaped from a South Texas prison and then committed several robberies, including one at an Irving sporting goods store where they shot and killed 29-year-old Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins. Halprin is one of only two members of the "Texas 7" still alive. Larry Harper killed himself before the group was arrested. Four others – Joseph Garcia, Donald Newbury, Michael Rodriguez, and George Rivas – have been executed. Patrick Murphy is still awaiting execution. What we know The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted Halprin's execution in 2019. This past November, the court overturned the conviction and ordered that Halprin be given a new trial. New evidence supported the argument that Judge Vickers Cunningham, who presided over Halprin's original trial, held a strong bias against the defendant because he is Jewish. "The uncontradicted evidence supports a finding that Cunningham formed an opinion about Halprin that derived from an extrajudicial factor — Cunningham's poisonous antisemitism," the appeals court wrote in its ruling. Cunningham is now retired from the bench and works as an attorney in a private practice. He has not commented on Halprin's case. The Source The information in this story comes from Thursday morning's court hearing, Associated Press coverage of the appeals court's ruling, and past FOX 4 News coverage.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yella Beezy arrested, charged with capital murder after allegedly hiring shooter to kill fellow rapper MO3
Dallas rapper Yella Beezy has been arrested and accused of arranging a murder-for-hire in the death of a fellow hip-hop artist. The "That's on Me" musician, whose real name is Markies Conway, was arrested Thursday following a grand jury indictment and charged with capital murder while remuneration in connection with the 2020 death of Melvin Noble, the rapper who performed as MO3, according to court documents reviewed by Entertainment Weekly. Conway allegedly hired Kewon White to kill Noble, who died in November 2020 following a shootout on Interstate 35 in Dallas. A representative for Conway didn't immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment Friday. Representatives for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office and the Dallas Police Department declined to comment on the case. Related: Blue Bloods and SVU actor Isaiah Stokes convicted of second-degree murder after New York shooting Conway's grand jury indictment alleges that he "intentionally and knowingly" caused Noble's death by employing White "for remuneration and the promise of remuneration, namely: United States currency." His bond was set at $2 million. White was arrested in December 2020 on a firearm charge, and has also been charged with Noble's murder, according to the United States Attorney's Office. He is currently serving a nine-year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2022. Conway had previously been arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana. Both of those charges were later dismissed, according to court documents. Additionally, Conway was arrested and charged with sexual assault and child endangerment in 2021, but those charges were dismissed as well, according to CBS News. Related: What really happened to Gabby Petito? Unpacking the true story behind Netflix's American Murder documentary and the case that captivated the nation Yella Beezy is best known for his song "That's on Me," which hit No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spawned a remix with 2 Chainz, T.I., Rich the Kid, Jeezy, Boosie Badazz, and Trapboy Freddie. He also opened for Beyoncé and Jay-Z at the Dallas and Houston shows on their On the Run II Tour in 2018. The rapper later collaborated with Quavo, Gucci Mane, Chris Brown, Lil Baby, Young Thug, and Ty Dolla $ign, and most recently released the track "Hit," featuring Lil Wayne. Related: Louisiana woman charged with second-degree murder in death of Super Bowl reporter Adan Manzano MO3 rose to prominence with his 2019 song "Errybody," which featured Boosie Badazz. The duo later collaborated on the album Badazz MO3, which rose to No. 136 on the U.S. Billboard 200. His posthumous 2021 single "Outside" hit No. 92 on the Hot 100. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Garland drunk driver who killed girl, 13, accepts plea deal for 17 years in prison
The Brief Jeremy Spencer accepted a 17-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal for killing 13-year-old Brooklyn Moran in 2022 while driving drunk. On Monday, Spencer pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. All the sentences will run concurrently for a total of 17 years. Spencer will be formally sentenced on March 3. As part of his plea deal, Spencer will be eligible for parole. GARLAND, Texas - A Garland man who was drunk when he struck an SUV head-on, killing a teenager, took a plea deal nearly three years after the crash. The girl's family is heartbroken that he was even allowed to take a plea deal. What we know In 2022, 13-year-old Brooklyn Moran was killed when she was hit by Jeremy Spencer, who was drunk behind the wheel of his SUV. Monday morning, Spencer accepted a plea deal for a 17-year prison sentence. The Dallas County District Attorney's Office says the intoxication manslaughter penalty range was 2-20 years. Spencer also pleaded guilty to two counts of intoxication assault for injuring Brooklyn's mother, Brittney Moran, and a young friend in the vehicle. Spencer pleaded to two 10-year sentences for those crimes, but they'll run concurrently with the 17. As part of his plea deal, Spencer will be eligible for parole. Dig deeper At the time of the crash, Spencer did not have an eligible driver's license because of a previous DWI conviction in Collin County. Since the crash, he's mostly been out on bond even while accused of violating bond by failing drug test patches for cocaine and methamphetamine and being at unauthorized locations. What's next Spencer will be formally sentenced on March 3. What they're saying Brittney and David Moran will have the opportunity to face their daughter's killer at his sentencing hearing and formally tell him how they feel. "We are prepared for it. We are ready for it," said Brittney. "We have an idea. We just have to get mentally prepared for it." FOX 4 spoke with Brittney after she first got out of the hospital. She was driving but did not recall the crash. Spencer crossed a center line and hit their SUV head-on in Garland. "I don't even remember getting hit," she said in a March 2023 interview. "Next thing I know, I wake up at the hospital like 4 or 5 days later and didn't even know I was in a wreck." Brittney was wheeled on a stretcher to Brooklyn's funeral. Now, Brittney says she's ready to face her daughter's killer and finally get some closure. "You never heal and move on from grieving and stuff," she said. The Source Information in this article comes from Dallas County court records, interviews with the victim's parents and previous FOX 4 coverage.
