69 People Indicted in May: Arson, Murder, Child Sexual Abuse, Walmart Assault/Chase and More

The grand jury met for two days this month, on May 4 and 5, at the Tom Green County Courthouse. Overall, 69 people were indicted on a variety of offenses, including possession of drugs, burglary, aggravated assault, arson, and more.

Out of the 69 people indicted, here are the more noteworthy indictments.

A Big Bag of Crazy

In November 2015, we wrote a story about Chelsea Jo Strube, 33, who is accused of arson (see the story here). According to court documents, on or about Sept. 8, 2015, Fire Marshal Investigator Karla Steppe was dispatched to the parking lot of 210 S. Chadbourne. Upon arriving at the scene, Steppe found a grey 2008 Volkswagen Jetta with a broken gas tank and burnt paint down the side of the vehicle below the gas tank. A piece of green melted plastic that resembled a plastic soda bottle was melted into the pavement of the parking lot next to the vehicle, and a white piece of cloth with burned edges appeared to have been a remnant of a white t-shirt.

Additionally, the front passenger tire had been cut in multiple locations, and the tire was flat. Upon inspecting the scene, Steppe suspected the fire was intentionally set. The inspector asked the victim if she had any idea who would have set her vehicle on fire, she identified Strube and described the car she drove, a red Mustang. A witness at the scene said he saw a 2008-2010 model Mustang parked about 30 to 40 yards down the alley with the lights off. The witness notified San Angelo Police about the fire.

Later, the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office and Steppe went to Strube’s residence and located her red Mustang parked in her garage. Steppe found a white canvas bag with the words “big bag of crazy,” and the inside of the bag contained several fire-related items.

Strube was indicted for Arson on May 4, a Second Degree Felony.

Murder

Thomas Gene Riddle, 29, was indicted on May 4 for murder, a First Degree Felony. According to court documents, on or about March 19, 2016, Detective Jason Chegwidden was called to an address in the 3300 block of Rock Brook Drive regarding an assault victim.

San Angelo Police Officer Eric Tabone told Chegwidden he found a subject, identified as Jerry Don Barr, deceased inside of a closet, possibly from head trauma.

A witness at the scene, Patti Riddle, told another officer, Nicholas Franchuck, that Barr was her fiancé. Riddle also told Officer Franchuk that she had just seen Thomas Riddle, who is her son, shortly before she found Barr. She suspected Thomas may have had something to do with the death. Riddle said she saw her son about two blocks away, near Texas Road House restaurant.

Riddle provided police with a physical description of her son, and shortly after, Sgt. Richard Tinsley located Thomas near the Olive Garden on the West Houston Harte Expressway.

During an interview, Riddle said she saw her son near Texas Road House shortly before 4 p.m. She asked him where he was walking to, but he never gave her a clear answer. She also noticed what appeared to be “red droplets” on his pants, and he had a bible and a gallon of milk with him.

Riddle said Thomas then took off walking again while she made her way back to her apartment at the Rock Brook address. She then walked up and into her apartment and called for her fiancé; however, he didn’t respond. She eventually went to her closet and opened the closet door. That’s when she found Barr face down in a pool of blood.

Riddle said she knelt next to Barr and shook him in an attempt to revive him. When he didn’t wake up, she called 911.

At the scene, Chegwidden located a blunt metal object lying on top of Barr in the closet. There appeared to be blood on it, and he noted that the injuries were consistent and similar in size and shape.

When Det. Chegwidden and Det. Gaeta conducted a Mirandized interview with Thomas, he initially denied being in the apartment. However, he later admitted that he had been inside the apartment to fetch a gallon of milk. Thomas also explained that he cut his hand on a knife while cutting a piece of meat, which is how he got blood on his clothing. When asked if he saw Barr inside the apartment, Thomas said he had not seen anyone, and that Barr “was dead to him anyways.”

During the interview, Det. Chegwidden observed small red dots on Thomas’ face, in addition to his pants and shoes, and, based on his training and experience, he noted that they were consistent with blood spatter. Thomas also had a cut on his hand in the center of his palm.

Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Victim Under 14

Also, on May 4, Joseph Prestiano, 40, was indicted for the continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14.  According to court documents, this occurred from Jan. 5, 2015, through about Dec. 23, 2015.

On Jan. 5, 2016, Det. Elrod was made aware of a sexual assault case by Child Protective Services. The victim had made an outcry to her mother that Prestiano, a family friend for approximately 21 years, and who babysat the victim since she was born, had sexually abused her several times.

The victim said Prestiano “penetrated her mouth with his male sex organ numerous times.” She was unsure when the abuse began, but stated it started after her fifth birthday. The victim was also able to confirm the last time Prestiano abused her, which was Dec. 23, 2015. The victim confirmed all incidents occurred while Prestiano babysat her.

Hence, Prestiano faces three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under six years of age, a First Degree Felony.

The Walmart Assault and Chase

We have covered mostly all the cases mentioned here, but many people may remember the case of David Ray Salas, 20, who, on the night of March 30, 2016, assaulted a woman inside Walmart, and when SAPD officers attempted to detain him, he fled in a vehicle.

According to court documents, Officer Daniel Welch was dispatched to Walmart at 5501 Sherwood Way in regards to a domestic disturbance. Officer Welch was informed that Salas and the victim left in a black passenger car at a high rate of speed.

Officer Welch observed the vehicle, a black 2017 Chevrolet Cruz, drive toward the Lowe’s parking lot at a high rate of speed. He attempted to stop Salas by initiating his emergency lights and siren; however, Salas failed to stop. Salas then turned eastbound onto Sherwood Way and reached speeds over 100 miles per hour. Salas also disregarded the red traffic light at Sherwood Way and West Avenue N. He proceeded eastbound, avoiding spike stripes deployed by patrol officers. Salas ended up losing control of the vehicle and struck a police patrol unit at Stripes, 2718 Sherwood Way. Once stopped, officers took Salas into custody.

Salas admitted to fleeing the police during his interview.

He faces one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a Second Degree Felony, and Evading Arrest Detention with a Vehicle, a State Jail Felony.

Possession of Child Pornography

In another noteworthy case, Dustin Carnes, indicted on May 4 for Possession of Child Pornography, faces seven counts, a Third Degree Felony.

Det. Andrew Alwine, on Sept. 15, 2015, was referred an open investigation by the Texas Office of the Attorney General Law Enforcement Division. When Det. Alwine read the NCMEC Cybertip, he found digital images and video depicting children younger than 18 years of age engaging in sexual conduct. He then began an investigation into an email account associated with the case, which belonged to Carnes.

Alwine verified that Carnes had moved to a different address in November of 2015. He obtained a search warrant from the 119^th District Court, Judge Ben Woodward, to search Carnes’ resident for evidence of child pornography. The search warrant was executed on Nov. 16, 2015.

During the execution, Alwine spoke with Carnes, who admitted to possessing child pornography on a black iPhone belonging to him. Det. Alwine also learned where the child pornography had been stored on the phone’s digital storage. Carnes showed him an application used to store digital media on the phone’s home screen, and Alwine viewed several video files of pornography.

At that point, Det. Alwine seized the phone and had Sgt. Gary Cole forensically search it. Sgt. Cole used the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office Cellbrite Computer to produce a report of the media stored within the cellular phone. Det. Alwine verified that the images and video did indeed depict children younger than 18 engaging in sexual conduct.

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

In another indictment on May 4, Kurt Lynn Sword, 18, faces Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a Second Degree Felony.

According to court documents, Sword, on or about March 3, 2016, threatened another man with “imminent bodily injury.” He pulled a handgun, “which in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury, during the commission of said assault.”

On March 3, the victim observed Sword outside of his business on Sherwood Way. Sword was checking door handles on the property to see if they were unlocked. The victim approached Sword and told him to leave the vehicles alone. At that point, Sword produced the handgun from his pocket and pointed it at the victim, who immediately feared for his life. In his attempt to get away, the victim fell to the ground.

Video footage of the event proved Sword’s actions, and a witness who saw him flee the scene identified him in a lineup. Det. Dye, with SAPD, contacted Sword’s uncle, who also identified him in a still photo. Det. Dye and Sgt. Doug Thomas located Sword at a residence on Glenna Drive, and they also located a revolver handgun in the passenger compartment were Sword was located. Sword was also wearing the same clothes as the suspect in the security video.

Aggravated Kidnapping

Jeremy Michael Herrera, 34, also indicted on May 4, faces Aggravated Kidnapping charges, a Second Degree Felony Enhanced to Habitual.

On or about May 26, 2016, Officer Jose Villalobos responded to Giz and Hums at 1425 W. Beauregard for an unknown problem. Villalobos learned from a witness that the victim, Damon Sinnott, had been abducted by knife point. Herrera was the suspect. During the initial investigation, Herrera called another witness on a phone and told him he was headed back to the Desert Shadow Apartments with the victim. Villalobos headed that way, and made contact with both the victim and Herrera.

In speaking to the victim, Villalobos learned that Sinnott had ridden with Herrera in his car from the apartments to Giz and Hums. Sinnott had been asked to leave the bar because his ID was not valid. Once he stepped outside, Sinnott was confronted by Herrera, who accused him of stealing money from his car when they rode together to the bar. Sinnott denied taking the money, but Herrera pulled out a knife and threatened to assault the man with it if he didn’t give him his money. When Sinnott continued to deny stealing the money, Herrera told him “to get into his car and they were going to go to the lake and take care of this.” Sinnott said he felt he had no choice but to do so.

During the drive to the lake, Herrera continued to verbally threaten him while holding a knife in his hand. When they arrived at Lake Nasworthy, Herrera exited the driver’s seat and tried to attack him. Another individual who was with them thwarted most of Herrera’s attacks, but on one occasion, Herrera was able to get through that individual and placed a knife to Sinnott’s throat.

Sinnott said he felt as though his life was going to end.

Unauthorized Absence from a Community Correction Facility

Deanna Kay Weeaks, 27, on or about Feb. 25, 2016, was required, as a condition of community supervision to submit a period of detention and treatment in a community corrections facility.

However, Weeaks is accused of “intentionally and knowingly” leaving the Concho Valley Female Community Corrections Facility without the approval of the community supervision and corrections department supervising her, nor without the approval of the director of the facility.

Weeaks was also indicted on May 4 for Unauthorized Absence Community Correction Facility, a State Jail Felony.

Additional Indictment Information

In addition to these cases, here are the other indictments to make this list.

• Possession and Man of Controlled Substance: 30
• Tampering/Fab. Physical Evidence: 1
• Evading Arrest Detention: 4
• Engage in Organized Criminal Activity: 3
• Family Assault: 3
• DWI 3^rd or More: 3
• Forgery: 1
• Unlawful Possession of Firearm: 2
• Obstruction or Retaliation: 1
• Theft: 3
• Sex Offender Duty to Register: 1
• Harassment of Public Servant: 1
• Stalking: 1
• Burglary of Habitat and Other Felony: 1
• Injury to a Child/Elderly: 1
• Burglary of a Building: 1
• Theft of Firearm: 1
• Unauthorized Absence Community Correction Facility: 1
• Prohibited Weapon: 1

Indictments_May 2016