Denton Sees Major Crimes Over Matter of Days

‍KTVT-TV reported on December 22, 2020, that Denton Police released a composite of a man they say forced his way into a woman’s apartment last month and sexually assaulted her. Police said on November 11, 2020, shortly after 6:30 p.m., a man knocked on a woman’s door in the 2500 block of Charlotte Street. He engaged the woman in a casual conversation before forcing his way into her apartment and sexually assaulting her. Investigators are requesting the public’s help in identifying this unknown suspect.

Denton Police describe the suspect this way:

• A light-skinned black male in his mid-20s to mid-30s
• Muscular build, and approximately 5’11”-6’0”
• Short dark hair and dark eyes
• A wide nose and black-rimmed, square-shaped glasses
• Discoloration similar to acne scars or freckles on his cheeks below his eyes

Investigators said the suspect’s physical description appears similar to the description of a serial burglar who was active between July and September of 2019. Anyone with information on the suspect can call Detective Marqui Curtis at 940-349-7727.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the Denton County Crime Stoppers’ tip line at 1-800-388-TIPS(8477). Information leading to the arrest of this offender could result in a cash award of up to $1,000 from Denton County Crime Stoppers.

Out-of-Control Vehicle Struck Two Pedestrians.

Two days later, WFAA-TV reported that Lewisville police were dispatched to the 400 block of Highland Drive for a possible drunk driving crash that led to a fatality. A family friend of the victim told WFAA that four boys were walking home from a nearby playground when they were struck by an out-of-control vehicle.

A police press release stated, “A vehicle going east on Highland Drive veered into the oncoming lane, causing a head-on crash with a vehicle going west on Highland Drive. The first vehicle glanced off that crash onto the sidewalk, where it struck two pedestrians.”

The two pedestrians were brothers Hayden and Grayson Hooper. Hayden, 18, died on the scene, and Grayson, 12, is in stable condition with very serious injuries. Police said the 31-year-old driver of Lewisville was arrested on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault charges.

A Twenty-eight-year-old Woman from Fort Worth dies after Sustaining Injuries

That same day, the Cross Timbers Gazette reported that Highland Village Police responded to a motor vehicle injury accident in a parking lot in the 1900 block of Justin Road. A preliminary investigation by police revealed a man and woman may have been involved in an argument in the parking lot.

When the man attempted to drive away, the woman was run over and sustained serious injuries. She was transported to Medical City Lewisville and later died from her injuries.

The victim was identified as a 28-year-old woman of Fort Worth while the 22-year-old driver of Highland Village was arrested at the scene with charges pending for intoxication manslaughter. He was also charged with possession of a penalty group of one controlled substance less than 4 grams. Flower Mound Police are assisting with the accident investigation.

Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Another Highlands Village man had been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes only a few days before that, according to the Cross Timbers Gazette. The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty this year to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.

On February 14, officers in Highland Village surveilled the man’s residence in reference to previously-issued felony warrants for evading arrest in a vehicle. They stopped a vehicle leaving the house for a traffic violation.

The man falsely identified himself, even as officers found his driver’s license that said his name. Police also uncovered counterfeit U.S. currency, a glass smoking pipe, methamphetamine, MDMA tablets and amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and alprazolam pills in his possession.

Days later, officers executed a search warrant at the man’s residence, locating and seizing additional amounts of methamphetamine and counterfeit U.S. currency, as well as items related to the production of counterfeit U.S. currency, including computers and printers.

The man was indicted on March 12. On April 7, police went to Smith’s residence to execute the arrest warrant for the man. The man, who was standing outside near the home, once again falsely identified himself and his mother also claimed that the defendant’s identity was what he claimed. Officers went into the residence to search for the man before realizing he had provided a false name.

The man, meanwhile, fled from police on foot into a wooded area toward Lake Lewisville.  Police pursued him, and he jumped into the lake and tried to swim across. After nearly drowning, the man got to land and attempted to hide in the woods before being taken into custody.

Criminal Defense in Denton, TX

There are a number of different criminal charges discussed in these stories. Two of the stories involved intoxication manslaughter charges. Under Texas Penal Code § 49.08, a person commits this crime when they operate a motor vehicle in a public place, are intoxicated, and by reason of that intoxication caused the death of another by accident or mistake. DWI manslaughter is classified as a second-degree felony, but the charge becomes a first-degree felony if the alleged offender caused the death of a peace officer, a firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel while in the actual discharge of an official duty.

A second-degree felony is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. A first-degree felony, however, is punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

Sex crimes like the sexual assault discussed in the first story can also carry steep penalties. Under Texas Penal Code § 22.011, a person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly:

• causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person’s consent;
• causes the penetration of the mouth of another person by the sexual organ of the actor, without that person’s consent;  or
• causes the sexual organ of another person, without that person’s consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor;  or

A person also commits an offense regardless of whether they know the age of the child at the time of the offense and intentionally or knowingly:

• cause the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of a child by any means;
• cause the penetration of the mouth of a child by the sexual organ of the actor;
• cause the sexual organ of a child to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor;
• cause the anus of a child to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor;  or
• cause the mouth of a child to contact the anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor.

Drug charges like the drug trafficking crime the last person was charged with can also be serious. Most drug crimes are impacted by the penalty group a drug is classified in and the amount of the drug the alleged offender possessed.