NCSO News

On Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at 12:15PM, numerous law enforcement officers converged at a house in Sweetwater addressed as 1006 Oak Street. The high risk search warrant was the result of a joint investigation between Nolan County Sheriff’s Office, 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office – Criminal Investigators, Nolan County Constable’s Office, and Texas State Technical College Police Department.

The execution of the actual raid was a combined effort involving approximately thirteen officers from the agencies represented above. The criminal investigation was first initiated by NCSO Deputy Gary Clark and then he was assisted by Sgt. James Villanueva with the Sheriff’s Office. “I am very proud of my staff for working so hard on this growing problem.” said Warren.

A very significant amount of suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin was seized along with a small quantity of marihuana, several guns, thousands of dollars in cash and many other packaging and sale related items. “This was a prolific dealing operation here in Nolan County.” said Sheriff David Warren.

“We appreciate the people in this area of Sweetwater for being patient with us while we conducted our investigation and built our case. I know that sometimes citizens feel that these operations take a long time. We (law enforcement) also feel the same way at times, but we must gather as much evidence as possible, make the very best case we can and then hope for the strictest punishment that we can obtain for these drug dealers.” Warren emphasized.

A total of three people were arrested Tuesday out of the residence, but the investigation is ongoing and there will likely be other arrests in the future.

Those arrested Tuesday were:

1. Lewis Junior Perry, age 46, of 1006 Oak St., Sweetwater.

• Perry is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony, with bond set at $60,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (heroin) – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony, with bond set at $60,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) – Penalty Group 1, 3rd Degree Felony, with bond set at $20,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony active warrant out of Howard County, with bond set at $50,000.00
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor, bond set at $1,500.00.
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, 3rd Degree Felony, bond set at $20,000.00
• Parole Violation Warrant, no bond, from the Texas Department of Pardons and Parole.

2. Jessy Jane Dauel, age 18, of Sweetwater.

• Jessy Dauel is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony, with bond set at $60,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (heroin) – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony, with bond set at $60,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) – Penalty Group 1, 3rd Degree Felony, with bond set at $20,000.00
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor, bond set at $1,500.00.

3. Josey Jean Dauel, age 21, white female, of Sweetwater.

• Josey Dauel is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony, with bond set at $60,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (heroin) – Penalty Group 1, 1st Degree Felony, with bond set at $60,000.00
• Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) – Penalty Group 1, 3rd Degree Felony, with bond set at $20,000.00
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor, bond set at $1,500.00.

Sheriff Warren emphasized, “I truly appreciate all of those citizens that helped by supplying information on these drug dealers. This is a great example of how it should work; citizens and law enforcement working closely together to get rid of a problem.”

A missing 16-year-old Sweetwater teen that was the focus of a multi-county search has been located and reunited with her family, at the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office.

A joint investigation between the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office and Lubbock Police Department developed information that led to the missing teen at an apartment complex in Lubbock County and the arrest of 18-year old, Jonathan Davis, of Lubbock.

The missing teen that was last seen on Saturday, November 19, 2016 in Sweetwater was located today, November 22, 2016 in Lubbock.

The investigation would not have been as seamless without the help of Lubbock, Texas law enforcement and everyone involved.

On Saturday, November 05, 2016, at approximately 1:45 AM, a Nolan County deputy stopped a gray Chevrolet coupe, in 7-11 Convenience Store parking lot located in the 1000 block of East Fourteenth, for a minor traffic infraction. Contact was then made with the driver, Amanda Slaton, of Sweetwater who was accompanied by Eddie Campos, also of Sweetwater.

During a roadside investigation, the deputy detected indicators of criminal activity that subsequently lead to the discovery of suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia used in its consumption.

Mrs. Slaton and Mr. Campos were placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where they were charged with the felony offense of possession of controlled substance in a drug free zone. Mr. Campos was charged with an additional felony offense of Tampering with Physical Evidence. These cases will be filed with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2016, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a local resident, who had received a voice message from a man with a heavy foreign accident. In the phone message, the man posed as an Information Technology Specialist and reported that a security breach of their home computer had been detected. He requested that he be contacted at (855) 654-9090, so that the issue be resolved immediately.

After returning the phone call, the resident spoke with a man, who reported that a software, which his company had previously installed on their computer, detected the breach and would need for the machine to be turned on so the issue could be resolved. After refusing to turn it on, it was reported that the man became extremely stern, and continued to request that the affected computer be turned on. Fortunately, the would-be victim refused, hung up on the man and called this office.

Nolan County Investigators followed up on the report and found that it to be a phone scam.

It was reported that after calling the number (855) 654-9090, contact was made with a man who had a heavy foreign accent. While speaking with the man, the investigator made him aware that he had no home computer. The man then asked the investigator if he had a computer at work. After the investigator told him that he did, the man then told the investigator that his business network was showing to have been compromised. The investigator reported that after advising the man the network was secure and was on a government entity, the man immediately ended the phone call.

We want everyone to be vigilant as some of these scams sound real; do not ever give your personal data to some person who calls you, emails you, or offers to fix something for you which you have not requested. Also, be aware that an information technology company that you have not employed, will not call you unexpectedly to notify you of any computer issues or help you with a virus.

Law enforcement officers from the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and 32^nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office executed a search warrant at a house in north Sweetwater on Thursday afternoon, October 20^th. One person was arrested and a quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana and various packaging materials and paraphernalia were seized.

Sheriff David Warren said that the investigation was the result of joint efforts by Sgt. James Villanueva with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and Criminal Investigator Billy Sides with the 32^nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The person arrested was Ashley Michelle HEADSTREAM, age 33, white female, of 1005 View Street, Sweetwater. Headstream was transported and booked into the Nolan County jail. As of Friday afternoon, Headstream remains in jail with a bond set at $8,000.00.

The Thursday afternoon search warrant was executed at a private residence addressed as 1005 View Street in Sweetwater. The occupant of the home was placed under arrest for the offense of Manufacture or Delivery of a Substance in Penalty Group 1 (methamphetamine). Additionally, there was marijuana, assorted drug paraphernalia and various sale & packaging materials seized from the home. Due to the suspect’s property being within 1,000 feet of an elementary school property, the potential penalty for the methamphetamine offense is enhanced to a 3rtd degree felony punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of 2-10 years and a possible fine of up to $10,000.00 dollars.

On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at approximately 2:00PM, a Nolan County deputy stopped a gold SUV, in the 900 block of East 3^rd Street for a minor equipment violation. Contact was then made with the driver, Tatiana Torres Castenada, of Sweetwater.

During a roadside investigation, the deputy detected indicators of criminal activity that lead to the discovery of suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia used in its consumption.

Castenada was placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where she was charged with the felony offense of possession of controlled substance. This case will be filed with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.