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Fort Worth vet accused of using dog for blood transfusions indicted on three counts, including animal cruelty

Millard Lucien Tierce

Six months to the day after authorities raided the Camp Bowie Animal Clinic in west Fort Worth and charged its owner with animal cruelty, a Tarrant County grand jury has indicted 71-year-old veterinarian Millard Lucian “Lou” Tierce.

It’s a three-count indictment, with animal cruelty among the charges — specifically, says the indictment, Tierce failed to “provide appropriate veterinary care.” His clinic was raided on April 29 after a woman told authorities he was keeping her dog alive for blood transfusions long after she had been told he’d euthanized her pet. Tierce called her allegations “a bunch of hooey.”

Not to the grand jury, which also charged Tierce with one count of theft between $1,500 and $20,000 and another count of “misapplication of fiduciary property.”

Those two charges are state jail felonies punishable by six months to two years in a state jail facility. The animal-cruelty charge is a Class A misdemeanor for which he could receive up to a year in jail.

The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office says it will not comment on the pending case.

Tierce is free on $10,000 bond while awaiting trial. No court date has been set.

Just last week the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners suspended Tierce’s license for five years, extending an earlier suspension following an investigation into allegations that this was not a one-off incident.

In May Jamie and Marian Harris sued the vet for $1 million, claiming that Tierce had told them their 4-year-old Leonberger named Sid needed to be put to sleep because of a congenital spinal defect. But a former employee at the clinic, Mary Brewer, told the couple that their dog was still alive and that the doctor was harvesting his blood. Investigators raided the clinic and found not only Sid, but other animals living in what the Star-Telegram referred to as “deplorable and unsanitary conditions.”

Fatal shooting Saturday night in Pleasant Grove to be referred to a grand jury

Staff writer Caitlyn Jones reports:

The fatal shooting of a man Saturday night at Glover Park in Pleasant Grove will be referred to a grand jury, police said Wednesday.

Johnny Rogelio Gomez, 20, shot and killed 19-year-old Alexis Rodriguez around 6:15 p.m. in the 6500 block of Ethel Drive, police said.
Rodriguez was fighting with another man, Alex Hurtado. Rodriguez shot the man in the chest and left shoulder, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

It was then that Gomez shot Rodriguez multiple times, police documents show. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the hospital. Hurtado remains in stable condition at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, police said.

After the shooting, Gomez left the scene in a black Lexus. A witness also videotaped the incident, police records show.

Gomez is not currently in custody and no charges will be filed against him. The case will be referred to a grand jury, police said.

Robbery suspect shot, killed Tuesday night outside Northwest Dallas grocery store

The shooting happened outside the Aldi store on Forest Lane in northwest Dallas. (NBC5)

Staff writer Jehadu Abshiro reports:

A 36-year-old man was shot and killed Tuesday night while he was attempting to rob an elderly couple outside a Northwest Dallas grocery store, police say.

The man, who has not been publicly identified, approached a man and a woman as they walked out of a grocery store and snatched a gold necklace from the woman’s neck, police said. The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. at the Aldi in the 3000 block of Forest Lane near Webb Chapel Road.

The man knocked the woman to the ground and tried to rob her. The woman’s husband, 71-year-old Ronnie Lummus, pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at the man as he was attempting to flee in his car. The man got in his car but died before fleeing, police said.

Detectives interviewed Lummus, his wife and witnesses. Lummus has a valid concealed handgun license. He told officers that he was afraid the man would harm him or his wife during the robbery, police said.

Lummus has not been charged with a crime. The case will be referred to a grand jury.

Man accused of stealing trailer, ramming car, fleeing police in South Dallas

Benny Gonzales

Staff writer Katelyn Hall reports:

A 53-year-old man is accused of stealing a trailer, ramming a car and leading police on a brief chase Sunday.

Benny Gonzales is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest with a vehicle and theft. He remains in the Dallas county jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. He is also being held on a parole violation.

Officers responded to a theft call Sunday in the 7500 block of Elam Road in South Dallas. A tractor trailer filled with $5,000 worth of food was reported stolen near Elam and Jim Miller roads. The owner of the trailer told police he saw Gonzales and another man hitch the trailer to a Toyota Tacoma and flee, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The owner called 911 and began following Gonzales in his own vehicle. Gonzales then rammed the owner’s vehicle and tried to strike the vehicle repeatedly, police records show.

When officers attempted to stop Gonzales, he accelerated and drove eastbound on Red Key Street into Crawford City Park, where the trailer became unattached from the truck and crashed into a tree. The trailer also hit the police cruiser, the warrant says.

Gonzales was arrested while he attempted to climb a 9-foot metal fence. Gonzales told police he had stolen the trailer, the warrant says.

Three Dallas residents indicted for conspiring to obstruct justice

Three Dallas roommates were indicted Tuesday on charges of conspiring to obstruct justice, perjury and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Chaddrick Darrion Ashley, 25, Daisy Emerson, 24, and Ofelia Nunez, 19, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, said Sarah Saldaña, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

If convicted, they could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Ashley was arrested March 26 and accused of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to court records. After his arrest, he conspired with Emerson, whom he was dating, and Nunez to have them file a false affidavit claiming the gun belonged to Nunez, Saldaña said.

Nunez testified at Ashley’s trial alleging that she was riding in the car with her boyfriend and that they picked up Ashley and another friend, Saldaña said. She also claimed she had only met Ashley on the night of the incident, Saldaña said.

Emerson also testified in Ashley’s trial, claiming she did not help Nunez file the false affidavit. According to the indictment, Emerson helped coordinate the plan with Ashley while he was in jail.

Emerson and Nunez also face perjury charges.

Emerson is charged with one count, and Nunez with three counts, of making a false declaration before the court. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and carries a $250,000 fine.

27-year-old Tennessee man charged with simple assault, public intoxication for last week’s assault at D/FW Airport

We now know the name of the man seen grinning at the bottom of that pile at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport last week: McCleish “Mac” Christmas Benham.

According to the (redacted) police report just released by the airport, the 27-year-old from Shelbyville, Tenn., was charged with public intoxication and simple assault following the October 23 altercation in front of Gate C30. If convicted of the Class C misdemeanors, he’s looking at some small fines — up to $500 for each count — but no time behind bars. We have asked why he wasn’t charged with something more serious and will update if and when we hear back.

The report, written by Officer Derrick Niblett, contains a narrative that recounts what Andrew Kennedy captured on video. But it also provides some heretofore missing background on what led to the brawl.

The man seen being assaulted in the video told officers that he’d seen Benham “verbally assaulting a female American Airlines gate agent.” The man said he told Benham to calm down, that the police were on their way. At that point, the man told police, “Mr. Benham called him a ‘San Frisco Faggot’ and then punched him in his right eye.” He told police that Benham “then began threatening a different male passenger.” Again, he tried to get Benham to calm down. But, clearly, that didn’t work — because as Benham told another witness, he’d had a lot to drink. Specifically: “100 drinks.” Which may not be entirely accurate.

McCleish Christmas Benham

As for the assault itself, here is Niblett’s blow-by-blow:

On Thursday, October 23, 2014 at approximately 1825 hrs, Terminal C Officers D. Niblett #752 and R. Mister #772 were dispatched to the Terminal C, Gate C-30 area in reference to an intoxicated male subject. While en route to this call, Officers were informed via the radio that the intoxicated subject punched a passenger. As I approached the C-30 gate area, I could see a white male subject matching the description that was broadcasted. This subject was talking to an older white male. I then observed the subject in question kick the older white male in the groin and hit him on the top of his head with a closed fist. At this time a group of approximately three to five male passengers tackled the subject, knocking him to the floor.

I intervened to control the situation but the subject in question continued to struggle with me and the unidentified passengers while he was on the floor. Due to this subject being the obvious aggressor, I moved to place this subject under arrest for the assault that I observed. I was able to place a handcuff on the subject’s right wrist but he continued to struggle. Officer Mister arrived on scene and assisted with getting the subject’s left wrist cuffed. The subject continued to be belligerent as Officer Mister and I assisted him to his feet. As the subject was talking, I noticed his speech was slurred. I also noticed that he had glossy, blood shot eyes. The subject was deemed to be a danger to himself and others and was placed under arrest for Public Intoxication and Simple Assault.”

The officers transported Benham to airport jail.

As for the man whose left ankle sounded like it had been broken during the take-down, the report says he received medical treatment from paramedics and was able to board the plane. Continue reading →

Brothers convicted in large synthetic marijuana ring with tentacles in North Texas

A federal jury in Dallas convicted two brothers Monday of running a large synthetic marijuana operation that did business in smoke shops and convenience stores across the nation, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Barry Bays, 43, and his brother, Jerad Coleman, 28, both of Fort Wayne, IN, made and sold “spice” and other drugs marketed as “incense,” “potpourri,” “air freshener,” and “aroma therapy products,” in at least 38 states, prosecutors said.

Seven others, including two from North Texas, have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the operation, which was busted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Project Synergy that targeted such organizations.

The brothers were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue following a nearly two-week trial.

Bays also was convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony. Bays and Coleman remain in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set yet.

Two of the conspirators are from Denton: Samuel Madeley, 22, and Holden Bownds, 23. Four are from Fort Wayne: Aaron Parrish, 31, Jennie Miller, 41, Kyle Boyer, 31, and Brandon Zerler, 26. And David Muise, 23, is from Londonderry, NH.

Miller was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for acting as a “straw purchaser” of the firearm Bays used.

The other defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in coming months.

Bays sold the drugs through a company he set up in Indiana and Ohio. He bought the chemicals from Madeley and Bownds and mixed them with leafy plant material to create spice, court records show.

Bays sold it under the names, B2 Da Bomb, V8, Roses and Street Legal.

Bays hired Muise to create YouTube videos in which he reviewed Bays’ spice products, prosecutors said.

Arlington police: Man injured during robbery attempt after Alcoholics Anonymous meeting

A man coming out of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Arlington was shot in the abdomen during an attempted robbery Monday night, police say.

Four men were standing outside a business in the 600 block of Woodcrest Lane after their AA meeting, when an armed man approached them and demanded money, police said.

During the robbery, the robber shot one of the men and fled on foot. It is unclear whether he took any items or money.

The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Arlington police said they are investigating the incident.

Authorities say UT Dallas grad who works for Google sought nude pics from classmates for ‘breast inspection study’

Nicholas Rotundo (Facebook)

A UT Dallas alum is accused of running a breast study scam and threatening to publish a former classmate’s nude pictures if she didn’t send him more explicit photographs.

Nicholas Joseph Rotundo, a Google employee according to his LinkedIn profile, was charged with two counts of cyberstalking and one count of intrusion, according to documents filed Oct. 6 in the U.S. District Court’s eastern Texas division.

Rotundo graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2013 with a bachelor’s of science in management information systems, according to his LinkedIn profile.

In a letter to current students last week, UT Dallas Police Chief Larry Zacharias said Rotundo received “inappropriate” videos and photos from four former and current students.

On Monday, police sent the notification to alumni who attended the school between 2009 and 2013, asking them to identify other potential victims.

Continue reading →

Two men jailed for killing a South Dallas pastor in 1999 had their convictions overturned Tuesday morning

Stanley Mozee (from left), Opelea Smith, her grandson Dennis Lee Allen and Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins addressed the media after their release Tuesday. (G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer

Two men convicted of murder in the 1999 slaying of a South Dallas pastor walked out of the courthouse Tuesday, free on bond after their convictions were overturned because of prosecutorial misconduct.

Stanley Mozee, 55, and Dennis Allen, 52, had been serving life sentences since 2000 for the death of Rev. Jesse Borns Jr., who was stabbed 47 times in his wood working shop. The men, who were homeless and battling drug addiction at the time of their arrests, will now await a new trial.

The Innocence Project took on their cases and sought a new trial based on DNA evidence and the fact that a prosecutor obtained witness testimony from jailhouse informants in exchange for reductions in their sentences.The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office agreed to overturn their convictions, but Tuesday’s hearing didn’t amount to an exoneration. The men must wait for rulings from an appeals court and a new trial date.

Mozee and Allen were greeted with applause when they entered the courtroom Tuesday. Mozee wore a navy collared shirt and dark slacks, while Allen wore a gray suit with a gray-and-black polka-dotted tie.

“Look around,” a man shouted from the standing only audience. Mozee turned around, and his loved ones clapped and waved. One woman stood and blew a kiss. He smiled.

About 15 exonerees were in the audience, and State District Judge Mark Stoltz asked them each to stand and say how long they had been wrongfully incarcerated: 10 years, 30 years, 24 years and seven months.

Stoltz set a $25,000 bond for Mozee and Allen. The hearing lasted just 5 minutes. Then, the judge told the men, “you’re free to go.”

The crowd exploded in applause.

After many kisses and hugs and handshakes, the men stood in the hallway alongside Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins. In front of a horde of media and TV cameras, they thanked Watkins for being an advocate for exonerees and people who had unfair trials, and spoke about how it felt to walk out of the courthouse without chains, wearing regular clothing, with their families by their side.

“Freedom for me, it’s like being in heaven,” said Allen, who stood next to his 90-year-old grandmother. Heaven is a “place of joy and happiness, and that’s what I feel right now.”

The men planned to dine afterward at Ellen’s Southern Kitchen downtown, with their loved ones and members of The Innocence Project.

When asked what he wanted to eat, Mozee was frank: “I’d like a salad to flush me out.” He said he also looked forward to getting a clean shave.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, Mozee made his way out of the courthouse. Cameramen surrounded him, backpedaling toward the elevator. Jurors and lawyers stopped to ask who he was. But Mozee just kept walking and smiling, with his attorney and daughter on either side.