Special to The Sun
PANHANDLE – On Tuesday, Aug. 9, 17 pleas took place in the 100th Judicial District Court in Carson County.
District Attorney for the 100th Judicial District Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
Jason Ira Pierce,33,of Borger, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the second-degree felony offense of evading in a motor vehicle, enhanced.
Pierce was arrested on Aug. 26, 2020, by Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry. Pierce was originally placed on probation on April 15, 2021.
The state filed a motion asking the court to adjudicate Pierce’s probation on July 14, 2021, alleging four violations of probation.
Pierce was also ordered to pay the remaining $4,000 in fines, $340 in court costs and $350 in attorney fees.
Jessica Dawn Rankin,33,of Amarillo, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for the state jail felony offense of abandoning or endangering a child.
Rankin was arrested on Nov.2,2016,in Carson County by Panhandle Police Officer Taner Blackburn. Rankin was originally placed on probation on Jan. 6, 2020.
The state filed a motion asking the court to adjudicate Rankin’s probation on May 3, 2021, alleging eight violations of probation.
Rankin was also ordered to pay the remaining $500 in fines, $271 in court costs and $6 in restitution.
Eliza Maureen Moreno,21, of Meza, Ariz., was placed on six years of probation for the second-degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group one, fentanyl.
Moreno was arrested in Carson County by Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper Austin Alrbight on Oct. 29, 2001, and plead to an information filed by the state on June 30.
Moreno was also ordered to pay $6,000 in fines, $180 in restitution, $400 in attorney fees, $500 in out-of-state probation transfer fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If her probation is revoked, Moreno faces up to 20 years in prison.
Alarah Brooke Harbour, 31, of White Deer, was placed on three years of probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group two, tetrahydrocannabinol.
Harbour was arrested by Carson County Chief Deputy J.C. Blackburn on Oct. 13, 2020, and plead to an information filed by the state on Feb. 5, 2021.
Harbour was also ordered to pay $2,500 in fines, $180 in restitution, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 100 community service hours. If Harbour violates his probation, he could face up to two years in the state jail division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
Keith Andrew Britten, 35, of Amarillo, was placed on two years of probation for the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group one, methamphetamine.
Britten was arrested in Carson County by Blackburn on Oct. 13, 2020, and plead to an information filed by the state on Feb. 5, 2021.
Britten was also ordered to pay $500 in fines, $180 in restitution, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 100 community service hours. If Britten violates his probation, he could face up to two years in the state jail division of the TDCJ.
Alejo Ramos, 68, of South Bend, Ind., was placed on six years of probation for the second-degree felony offense of possession of marijuana. Ramos was arrested in Carson County by DPS Trooper Micah Goodrich on Sept. 27, 2020, and plead to an information filed by the state on Oct. 21, 2020.
Ramos was also ordered to pay $6,000 in fines, $180 in restitution, $400 in attorney fees, $500 in out-of-state probation transfer fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If his probation is revoked, Ramos faces up to 20 years in prison.
Austin William Gehringer, 41, of Pampa, was placed on eight years of probation for the enhanced first-degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group one, methamphetamine. Gehringer was arrested by Carson County Deputy Lonnie Leinenweaver on July 8, 2021,and plead to an information filed by the state on July 1.
Gehringer was also ordered to pay $8,000 in fines, $400 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, $180 in restitution and successfully complete 400 hours of community service.
William Jewel Caraballo, 41, of Amarillo, was placed on three years of probation for the second-degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group one, methamphetamine. Caraballo was arrested in Carson County by DPS Trooper Jerome Ingle on March 12, 2020, and was later indicted by the Carson County Grand Jury on June 20,2022.
Caraballo was also ordered to pay $3,000 in fines, $180 in restitution, $400 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If his probation is revoked, Caraballo faces up to 20 years in prison.
Danny Lynn Ware, 52, of Amarillo, was placed on two years of probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group one, methamphetamine. Ware was arrested in Carson County by DPS Trooper Tanner Tyk on May 6 and plead to an information filed by the state on Aug.9.
Ware was also ordered to pay $500 in fines, $180 in lab fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 100 community service hours. If Ware violates his probation, he could face up to two years in prison.
Deborah Sue Dennis, 51, of Dover,Tenn., was placed on two years of probation for Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument. Dennis was arrested by DPS Trooper Alexandrea Moroles on March 4, 2020, in Carson County and plead to an information filed by the state on Feb.18.
Dennis was also ordered to pay $4,000 in upfront fines and fees,$300 in attorney fees,$180 in lab fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 100 community service hours. If Dennis violates probation, she could face up to one year in the Carson County Jail.
Scot Dennis, 53, of Seymour, Mo., was placed on two years of probation for Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument. Dennis was arrested by Moroles on March 4, 2020, in Carson County and plead to an information filed by the state on Feb.18.
Dennis was also ordered to pay $4,000 in upfront fines and fees,$300 in attorney fees,$180 in lab fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 100 community service hours. If Dennis violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Carson County Jail.
Luong Truong Sou, 41, of Fort Worth, was placed on two years of probation for the Class A misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana.Sou was arrested by DPS Trooper Christopher Lambert on Feb. 13, 2020, in Carson County and plead to an information filed by the state on July 19, 2020.
Sou was also ordered to pay $4,000 in upfront fines and fees, $300 in attorney fees, $180 in lab fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 100 community service hours. If Sou violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Carson County Jail.
Anthony Lora,39,of Skellytown, was placed on two years of probation for the third-degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group one,methamphetamine. Lora was arrested by Carson County Matt Wadsworth on Nov. 27, 2021, and plead to an information filed by the state on June 30.
Lora was also ordered to pay $2,000 in fines,$180 in lab fees, $340 in court costs, $350 in attorney fees and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.
Carissa Gayle Bennett, 49, of Groom, was convicted for the Class B misdemeanor offense of eluding or fleeing an officer and was sentenced to two days in the Carson County Jail. Bennett was arrested by Blackburn on Feb. 6 and was later indicted by the Carson County Grand Jury on March 24.
Bennett was also ordered to pay $2,000 in upfront fines, $300 in attorney fees and $340 in court costs.
Luis Lopez Najera, 34, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced to five years in prison for the third-degree felony offense of money laundering.
Najera was arrested on Sept. 23,2014,in Carson County by DPS Trooper Danny Nunez. Najera was originally placed on probation on Jan.22,2015.
The state filed a motion asking the court to adjudicate Najera’s probation on Sept. 30, 2016,alleging four violations of probation.
Najera was also ordered to pay the remaining $4,000 in fines, $340 in court costs and $350 in attorney fees.
Manuel Efren Vasquez, 34, of Amarillo, was sentenced to five years in prison for the third-degree felony offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by felon.
Vasquez was arrested on May 22, 2021, in Carson County by Panhandle Police Officer J.J.Zundt.Vasquez was originally placed on probation on July 26,2021.
The state filed a motion asking the court to adjudicate Vasquez’s probation on Nov. 2, 2021, alleging five violations of probation.
Vasquez was also ordered to pay the remaining $4,000 in fines, $340 in court costs and $350 in attorney fees.
