SAN ANGELO, TX -- A suspect described as deeply involved in the double homicide last fall in north San Angelo had his bond slightly reduced by a District Judge during a hearing Wednesday afternoon.
According to court records, 39-year-old Shannon Alan McGhee, Jr. was arrested on three separate occasions beginning in Oct. 2018 and is charged with six felony counts; three manufacture and delivery of drugs, one felony possession of a prohibited weapon, and one count of possession of a controlled substance. His bonds totaled $205,000 since his last arrest in March and he requested a bond reduction hearing through his attorney. The bond reduction hearing took place Wednesday afternoon before District Judge Ben Woodward. McGhee was present wearing an orange Tom Green County Jail jumpsuit and was represented by his court appointed attorney Tommy Lafon. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Knight represented the State and the District Attorney's office as prosecutor.
Judge Woodward was juggling several cases Wednesday including two divorce cases, an adoption, a name change for a minor by his adoptive parents and a motion to revoke probation hearing.
As we reported shortly after the murders of Jared Lohse and Chubby Harris, McGhee stands accused of participating in the murder.
According to an affidavit, 36-year-old Dwayne Chance Chadwick is charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of Lohse and Harris. According to court documents, Chadwick visited a residence on Guadalupe and talked to a man there named Shannon McGhee. According to multiple witnesses police interviewed, Chadwick told McGhee he shot and killed Jared and Chubby and needed McGhee to go to the house and burn it down.
The affidavit states that McGhee left the home on Guadalupe with Ruben Lira in his vehicle. Lira told police they drove around the house several times before heading to a Stripes south of there on Chadbourne. While Lira was in the Stripes purchasing two drinks and a candy bar, Lira said McGhee stayed outside. The video surveillance police reviewed do not show McGhee, the affidavit states.
Lira told police as the two were traveling south on Chadbourne from the Stripes, fire trucks with lights and sirens were speeding north.
McGhee was booked into the Tom Green County Jail that Friday morning accused of possessing one to four grams of cocaine and between four and 200 grams of meth.
At the bond reduction hearing Wednesday, McGhee's attorney Lafon called McGhee's mother to the witness stand in the small courtroom. She testified that her son grew up in Grape Creek and went to Lake View High School. She said he worked in the oilfield before starting his own tree trimming and landscaping business. She also testified that he had one client left in his tree trimming business and if he was released on bond he would have a job in the oilfield and he could return to his tree trimming business.
Prosecutor Knight asked McGhee's mother under oath if she knew where he got his money and if he would attend drug treatment as part of the conditions of his release. She said, "I want him to be in (drug) treatment rehab and he wants rehab too."
Knight proceeded to outline McGhee's criminal history which is public record. Knight asked McGhee's mother if she knew he was sentenced to probation in 1999 for forgery. She said she wasn't sure. Knight asked her if she knew his probation was revoked in 2005 and he was sentenced to six years in prison. She said she knew he did time.
The defense rested its case. Prosecutor Knight called one witness, San Angelo Police street crimes detective Tony Lopez to the witness stand.
Lopez testified he knew McGhee and was present at each of the three arrests. Lopez testified that he was part of the team that executed a search warrant signed by Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Fred Buck at a mobile home on Bell St. on Oct. 10, 2018. Lopez testified that search followed McGhee's arrest at the Sonic on Knickerbocker Rd. where McGhee dropped a pair of brass knuckles while he was being searched. The search of the north side mobile home yielded 1.1 grams of met, other drugs and paraphernalia in containers designed to hide drugs from law enforcement. Officers also found 'zip guns' or illegal home made guns in the trailer along with surveillance cameras and equipment.
McGhee bonded out on Oct. 10, 2018 according to court records.
McGhee was arrested again in Feb. 2019 and was charged with possession of 81 grams of meth, a small quantity of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was released on bond again.
McGhee was arrested a final time on March 21, 2019 and charged with manufacture and delivery and possession of drugs during a traffic stop. According to Detective Lopez, McGhee had meth, a digital scale for measuring drugs and unique plastic bags for his drugs which read, 'say high.'
At the end of the hearing, Judge Woodward told the court that he had considered the evidence and the statutes pertaining to the bond reduction request.
Judge Woodward reduced McGhee's total bond from $205,000 to $180,000.
McGhee remains in the Tom Green County Jail at this time.
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