Thursday, November 22, 2007
     

 

 

 

 

   Havens guilty on child porn charges
Monitor Staff Reports
TYLER–Harrison Havens Jr., 55, of Mabank was found guilty in federal court last week of possessing and transporting child pornography.
According to published reports, Havens was found guilty in U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis’ court on one count of transporting and shipping child pornography, and four counts of possessing materials involving minors engaged in explicit sexual conduct.
A sentencing date has not been set, but Havens faces up to 20 years in prison for the transportation charge and up to 10 years in prison for each of the possession charges.
Havens was arrested in New York April 10 by U.S. Marshals, following his April 4 federal indictment on one count of transporting and four counts of possessing child pornography.
Havens was originally arrested in Gun Barrel City by the Texas Attorney General’s Cyber-Crimes Unit June 8, 2005.
According to the AG’s Office, investigators conducted a search of Havens’ residence at that time, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Analysis of computers and external media confiscated from his home revealed several videos of child pornography.
In March, 2006, Havens was indicted by a Henderson County Grand Jury on 13 counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of promotion of child pornography and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
According to an AG’s office spokesman, the indictments handed up by the Federal Grand Jury in April stemmed from Havens’ 2005 arrest in Henderson County. The AG’s office exercised “prosecutorial discretion,” Tom Kelley said, and “just decided to pursue the federal instead of state indictments.”
An official with the Henderson County District Attorney’s office said at the time of the federal indictments that although the state indictments were handed up by a local grand jury, the prosecution of the case was completely under the direction of the AG’s office.
The case is one of many pursued under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a national initiative announced by former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales earlier this year.
PSC encourages the use of multi-jurisdictional task forces to investigate the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet.
In addition to tough law enforcement, PSC encourages community-wide campaigns to assist victims and to educate parents, other adults and children about Internet safety.
 

‘Panther Scream’ yearbook ready
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–The 2008 Panther Scream yearbook is on sale.
The 270-page book features color photos of seniors and sports and includes a 16-page color supplement of the last three months of school, prom and graduation.
Four ways to order the Panther Scream are:
• www.buyayearbook.com.
• phone, toll free (888) 298-5063.
• mail, return the order form received from Walsworth or through the school
• call Chris Cary (903) 880-2157 ext. 2131, or cacary@mabankisd.net.
 

 

Awards recognizing ‘fortitude and courage’

Monitor Photos/Pearl Cantrell
American Legion 310 in Gun Barrel City presented its annual Peace Officer awards. Two awards were presented posthumously to Henderson County officers Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt, who fell in the line of duty May 17 near Payne Springs. Accepting the awards on their family's behalf were deputies Sgt. Tracy Dunnington (back row, left) and Billy Jack Valentine. Deputy Ronald Kevin Harris (center back), wounded in the same incident, was named Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year, and his spouse, Alisha (front, left), was also honored. Carl Hockett was named Firefighter of the Year, and his spouse, Karen, was honored too. Police Chief Mabelle Lane-Ross (right front) was named Peace Officer of the Year, and Mark Ramsey was named Paramedic of the Year. Post 310 2nd vice-cmdr. Jerry Cannon and his wife Carolyn presided over the proceedings held Saturday.
 

AT LEFT: The modest Gun Barrel City Police Chief Mabelle Lane-Ross has been trying to avoid the honor for five years, American Legion Post 310 2nd vice cmdr. Jerry Cannon said.