Posted in Press Release

Repeat Offender Sentenced to 60 years in Prison for Assault Against a Family Member by Choking

On Tuesday March 4, 2025, a Burnet County jury found Keith Aaron Blundell, originally from the Houston area, guilty of the felony offense of assaulting his girlfriend by choking her. Following the recommendation of the jury, Judge Allan Garrett of the 33rd District Court, sentenced Blundell to 60 years in prison and imposed a fine of $10,000. The case was prosecuted by Bill Price and Michael Walker for the office of District Attorney, Perry Thomas.

The evidence presented to the jury showed that on June 16, 2024 deputies with Burnet County Sheriff’s Office were called to an address off of County Road 304, to check on the welfare of a female. The victim showed clear physical signs of having been assaulted, sustaining injuries to her face, head and eyes. Injuries to her neck were consistent with having been strangled. The victim told deputies that Blundell, whom she was dating, had assaulted her and choked her until she passed out. While in Burnet County Jail awaiting trial, Blundell called the victim and urged her not to come to court to testify against him. Prosecutors discovered the phone calls and played them for the jury when the victim did not appear for trial. The phone calls, along with the victim’s previous statements to deputies at the scene of the crime, were sufficient for the jury to find Blundell guilty.

At the punishment phase of trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing that Blundell had previously been convicted of two prior felony offenses, including a previous conviction for aggravated assault against a family member from Harris County, Texas. The two prior convictions meant that Blundell faced a minimum of 25 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

In closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Bill Price asked the jury to do its part to help protect victims of family and dating violence in Burnet County. Price stated after trial, “This verdict shows that our citizens will protect victims of violent crime with lengthy prison sentences for their abusers.”

District Attorney Perry Thomas stated that he was “grateful to this Burnet County jury for a sentence that will keep this abuser from hurting anyone else for a long time. This case demonstrates this office’s commitment to doing everything we can to protect those that have been victims of violent crime.” Thomas also praised the hard work performed by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Department for their dedication to investigating the case and excellent work in testifying during the trial.

Posted in Indecency with a Child • Press Release

Kendall County Man Sentenced to 40 years in Prison for Indecency With a Child and $20,000 in fines.

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, pursuant to the jury’s verdict, Judge Allan Garrett sentenced Daneil Mathew Bible, also known as Mathew Bible, to incarceration in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 20 years on each of two counts of the offense of Indecency With a Child by Sexual Contact. Then upon a motion by the prosecution stacked the sentences so the sentences run consecutively for a total of 40 years in prison.  Bible will have to spend 20 years, day for day, before being eligible for parole.  In addition, the jury returned a maximum fine of $10,000 for each county for a total of $20,000 in fines.  The defendant was represented by Zachary Hudler of Johnson City in Blanco County.  The case was prosecuted by Wiley “Sonny” McAfee working as a special prosecutor for District Attorney, Perry Thomas; Assistant District Attorneys (ADA’s) Camilla Cutbirth, and Kelly Bazie.

The trial began with jury selection on Monday, January 13, 2025 and concluded on Thursday, January 16, with the jury’s verdicts.  The evidence at trial demonstrated that Bible had previously lived in the City of Blanco, in Blanco County, Texas.  The indictment in this case charged Bible with touching the breasts and genitals of a girl under the age of 17 on or about January 1, 2011 in Blanco County.  Evidence at trial also showed the child was actually around 5-6 years old and in the first grade at the time of the incident.  The child was 16 when she finally told a friend what had happened to her when she was younger.  The child’s friend told the victim’s mother, and the mother immediately took action the next morning by contacting law enforcement at Blanco Police Department.  An investigation ensued and it was learned there were three other victims of abuse at the hands of the defendant over a period of time that spanned 30 years.  Two of those persons testified at trial about the abuse to which they were subjected over a period of years.  The third victim passed away before she was able to testify as to what happened to her when she was 12 years old in 1994 at the hands of the defendant.  However, the defendant actually entered a plea of guilty to three offenses against that victim and was placed on 10 years of probation for the offenses against the now deceased victim.  The judgment in that case listing the offenses and the plea of guilty to those offenses was admitted as evidence at the defendant’s trial.

The jury deliberated less than an hour before reaching a guilty verdict.  The punishment phase of trial began shortly after the verdict, and the jurors sent out a note at one time during their deliberations which suggested they would like the sentences to run consecutively or one after the other.  Again, jurors deliberated slightly less than an hour before reaching a unanimous verdict assessing the maximum punishment in prison along with a maximum fine on each offense.   The judge immediately sentenced the defendant to 20 years on each offense, and agreed when the prosecution requested those cases be “cumulated” or stacked.  Bible was 50 years old at the time of sentencing so he will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 70. 

District Attorney Perry Thomas praised the work of the jury in arriving at their decisions on guilt and sentencing, saying, “It is very clear these jurors sent a message to Blanco County that sexual abuse of children would not be tolerated to any extent.  They did a great job in having to listen to the horrible evidence in this crime and then deciding on such a strong sentence to hold Daneil Mathew Bible accountable for his crimes.  Judge Garrett also made a huge statement in my opinion, by stacking the sentences and giving this man the maximum punishment the law allowed.  Stacking sentences is solely within the discretion of the judge in a case like this, and Judge Garrett didn’t hesitate to show the defendant he would be held accountable for his conduct. 

ADA Cutbirth said it was a long road to get here and she’s proud of the victims for sticking with us and believing in the prosecution team. She appreciates the jury for listening to the often times difficult evidence and handing down swift justice for these women. 

Prosecutor McAfee said he appreciated the hard work of the jury as well.  McAfee then added, “I can’t say enough about the courage of the two people that were previously sexually abused by Bible and the one victim that was described in this indictment.  Those three women demonstrated they were not just victims but they were courageous survivors as well.   Their courage in being able to get up in front of this jury and explain what happened to them decades ago was amazing and I am proud of each one of them.  Additionally, the one person that was deceased and who wanted to testify at the trial but passed before the trial started was incredibly brave as well.  I spoke with her last year, along with her mother, and she made it plain that she wished to testify, so the jury could know what happened to her back in 1994 and 1995.  Her mother spoke on her behalf to the jury during trial and did an excellent job.” 

McAfee also thanked the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center whose forensic interviewer recorded the initial outcry of the youngest victim in 2021.  He said the interviewer did an exceptional job of asking questions in a nonthreatening manner that provided important information about how this offense occurred.  ADA Cutbirth added that a counselor with the Children’s Advocacy Center “explained to the jury why many children do not outcry immediately, and the effects of trauma on children that are sexually abused.” 

Evidence in the trial reflected that Victoria McMain, former Lieutenant with Blanco Police Department before joining the Attorney General’s office as an investigator, acted quickly when the mother contacted her about the offenses.   She began an investigation that helped prosecutors locate information imperative to prosecution of the case.  According to prosecutors in the case, the combined efforts of the women abused, the families involved, and law enforcement, the prosecution was able to present a comprehensive case that told the jury who this defendant was and some of the horrible things he has done over his lifetime.  They said the jury followed through with the necessary verdicts and punishments to finally hold Bible accountable.

Posted in Drug • Press Release

Man Sentenced to Thirty-Eight Years for Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, Judge Evan Stubbs sentenced Jonathan Tarbet to thirty-eight (38) years in prison for the first-degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The range of punishment for that offense is from 5 to 99 years in prison.

Tarbet was stopped by Llano County Sheriff’s deputies for a traffic violation in Kingsland, Texas on August 10, 2022, and was found to be in possession of more than 13 grams of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty on October 5, 2023, confessing that he had possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others.

The State entered into an agreement for the court to defer finding Tarbet guilty and instead place him on community supervision for a term of ten years. After only three months, the State filed a motion to revoke Tarbet’s probation, alleging that he had violated the conditions of his probation

At a hearing before Judge Evan Stubbs on October 24, 2024, Assistant District Attorney Kelly Bazie presented evidence showing that Tarbet had continued to test positive for methamphetamine and had failed to report to his probation officer as required by the court. Bazie requested that the court revoke Tarbet’s probation, adjudicate him guilty, and sentence him to prison. When a judge revokes a defendant’s deferred adjudication probation, the judge can sentence the defendant to any term of confinement within the range of punishment for the charged offense. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Stubbs sentenced Tarbet to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a term of 38 years.

District Attorney Sonny McAfee praised the result, saying, “This defendant was given a chance to show us that he could be trusted in our community, but he threw that chance away and the Judge sentenced him accordingly. We’re grateful to the Llano County Sheriff’s office for continuing to work to get methamphetamine off our streets.”

Posted in Aggravated Sexual Assault Child • Press Release

Man Sentenced to Life for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

On Wednesday, September 18, a Burnet County Jury sentenced Jackey Martin to Life in prison after finding him guilty of the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and Judge Allan Garrett of the 33rd District Court sentenced Martin in accordance with the jury’s verdict.  

Martin abused the 8-year old victim while he was living with the child’s mother.  Martin was caught by the victim’s mother immediately following the assault, and the incident was reported to law enforcement.  The jury heard compelling testimony from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, who noted injuries to the child and recovered DNA samples. A DNA analyst testified that the DNA sample recovered from the child matched Martin.

Assistant District Attorneys Michael Walker and Carson Guy presented the case for the State. In addition to the child victim, witnesses included the child’s mother, members of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, and community partners from the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center. Martin was represented by Nathan Kight and Justice Kaigler of the Public Defender’s Office.

Walker praised the verdict, saying, “A child should never have to face something like this, but today a Burnet County jury delivered justice.”  Guy added, “The jury reached the right result, and we’re proud to protect the community from child predators.” 

District Attorney Sonny McAfee praised law enforcement as well as the victim’s family saying, “This was a great victory for both law enforcement and the child’s family, and a Burnet County jury sent a very clear message that the people of our District have no tolerance for the abuse of children.”

Posted in Murder • Press Release

Kingsland Man Sentenced to 40 years in Death of Wife

On Friday, September 6, 2024, District Judge Evan Stubbs sentenced Kingsland resident Dennis Price to 40 years in prison for manslaughter in causing the death of his wife, Carrie Price.  The sentence was pursuant to a plea agreement between the State and the Defense, which was agreed after Price’s trial began.  The State was represented by District Attorney Sonny McAfee and Assistant District Attorney Camilla Cutbirth.  Price was represented by local attorneys Steven Wittekiend and Richard Davis, and Austin attorney Jessica Huynh. 

Price was charged with murder for the October 5, 2022 death of Carrie Price, and his trial began on August 26, 2024.  The trial continued for more than a week, but was temporarily halted when the defendant was hospitalized following a bicycle crash on Labor Day.  After three days of the defendant being absent from the trial, the State and Defense came to an agreement for a 40-year sentence on the charge of manslaughter, along with a finding that Price used a deadly weapon in committing the offense.   The defendant also waived his right to appeal the conviction in the case.

At trial, the evidence revealed that Carrie and Dennis Price, who were going through a divorce, were in a disagreement about the placement of their 10-month-old child as a result of an investigation by the Child Protective Services (CPS), which had revealed domestic violence between the two.  In the week before Carrie’s death, Price and Carrie’s families met with CPS to determine where the child would be placed until permanent custody could be decided.  Following the CPS meetings, the Defendant told the victim he wanted to get back together and try to work things out, so Carrie went back to him that weekend. The two had an argument a few days later, which led to Carrie’s death and Price’s arrest.

Price later told a Texas Ranger and a lieutenant with the Llano County Sheriff’s Office that he “subdued” Carrie in order to control her, and that he put his arms around her neck from behind and “choked her out.”  A surveillance camera mounted on a tree in front of Price’s house revealed that he had not been truthful in his statements to the law enforcement officers about the events that transpired before he strangled Carrie into unconsciousness. However, Price said he had “subdued” her that way numerous times in the past.

Llano County Deputies arrived on the scene and conducted CPR on Carrie until Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived and took over lifesaving efforts.  The EMS workers were able to regain a pulse, and Carrie was then transported by helicopter to a hospital in Williamson County, but later passed away. The medical examiner who conducted Carrie’s autopsy declared she died of strangulation.

District Attorney McAfee said of the case,  “I appreciate the jurors paying very close attention to the horrible facts of this case.  When speaking with the jurors after the trial was discontinued, as a result of the Defendant’s guilty plea, I believe our agreement was in line with the beliefs of the jurors.   Our thanks go out to the Llano County Sheriff’s Office who tried so very hard to save Carrie’s life, and the Texas Ranger who assisted in obtaining the confession of the defendant in the case.  Without their combined efforts, this case might not have been resolved as quickly as it was.  Medical personnel that responded were incredibly determined, and worked valiantly to save Carrie’s life, but it was not to be.”

Dennis Price will not be eligible for parole until 2044, when he would be 65 years old. 

Posted in Aggravated Sexual Assault Child • Press Release • Sexual Assault Child

Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Judge Evan Stubbs sentenced a Burnet County man, Zeb Warner, to 60 years in prison on one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child and three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.  A Burnet County jury found the defendant guilty and then heard evidence in the punishment phase of trial before arriving at the verdicts of 60 years on each charge.  The victim, a relative of Warner, suffered from various mental health ailments at the time of the abuse, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, PTSD and ADHD. Due to the nature of the charges, Warner, who is 38 years old, will not be eligible for parole. He will be 98 at the completion of his sentence.

Warner was found guilty of violating the child both orally and anally multiple times between 2020 and 2022, while the child was between the ages of 10 and 12. During the trial, the jury also heard evidence that the defendant exposed the child to a wide variety of pornography during the time the assaults took place. The survivor bravely faced his assailant while giving gut-wrenching testimony, detailing the trauma he endured, as well as recounting the emotional and psychological damage he had suffered as a result.

Assistant District Attorneys Bill Price and Carson Walker presented the case to the jury. In addition to the victim, witnesses included law enforcement personnel from Marble falls, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, community partners from the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center, therapists and the child’s family members.

Price praised the verdict, saying, “I could not be prouder of this young man for the courage he showed in facing his assailant. I pray this verdict will help toward healing the damage Warner has caused. We could not have asked for a better jury. We hope this child’s bravery and this verdict will inspire other young victims to come forward. There are more kids out there who need to know this community cares about them and will protect them.” 

District Attorney Sonny McAfee said, “This verdict and the sentence of Zeb Warner makes this county a safer community.  The collective efforts of all the entities and family members involved in the case enabled Bill and Carson to effectively prosecute a violent predator.  The members of the jury had to endure horrific evidence in the presentation of the case, and I applaud them in their diligence, and resolve in removing this offender from our society.”

Posted in Drug • Press Release

KINGSLAND MAN SENTENCED TO 99 YEARS AND A $250,000 FINE FOR METHAMPHETAMINE

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, pursuant to the jury’s verdict, Judge Allan Garrett sentenced Daniel Limon, 29, of Llano County to 99 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Limon was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, in an amount over 400 grams with intent to distribute.

            Assistant District Attorneys Camilla Cutbirth and Michael Walker prosecuted the case. Limon was represented by Tim Cowart.

            Llano County deputies conducted a traffic stop on Limon in Kingsland, TX, and a search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of 984 grams (2.16 pounds) of methamphetamine hidden in a speaker. Before he could be arrested, he ran from officers and was eventually caught and arrested in a backyard in a nearby neighborhood. 

            Cutbirth and Walker asked the jury to take a stand against drug dealers on behalf of Llano County. Walker pointed out the massive amount of methamphetamine, and Cutbirth asked the jurors to send a message to whoever might step into Limon’s shoes. After 30 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict.

During the punishment phase of trial, Cutbirth and Walker presented evidence of Limon’s two previous convictions for possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in 2016 in Llano County for much smaller quantities of drugs. Limon was sentenced to 12 years in each of those cases and served 7 years before being released on parole. The jury was also told that Limon was on parole for those crimes when he committed the current offense. The jury took approximately 30 minutes to give Limon the maximum punishment and fine allowed by law. 

            Walker said “I’m happy the jury was willing to consider the evidence and do what was needed to protect the community.”

            Cutbirth said “I’m very proud of what this jury did and the message they’re sending.”

            District Attorney Sonny McAfee praised the jury for their work and said, “The drug problems in our country are ruining lives and neighborhoods. We have to work together to eliminate illegal drugs or convince criminals who push their poison in our counties to go elsewhere. The Sheriff’s Office did a great job catching a major dope dealer in Llano County, and the jury certainly did their part by sending this repeat offender away for 99 years.”

Posted in Press Release • Sexual Assault Child

Kingsland Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

On February 21, 2024, a Burnet County jury found Christopher Broadus guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Because of Broadus’s prior conviction for sexual assault of a child, Texas law provides for an automatic life sentence in prison upon conviction. Judge Evan Stubbs of the 424th Judicial District Court pronounced sentence just after 5pm on Wednesday evening. Broadus will serve the life sentence with no possibility for parole. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys, Bill Price and Tiffany Clark. Nathan Kight and Sean Rogers represented the Defendant.

In February 2020, the victim in this case made an outcry to her family that the Defendant, who was a family friend, sexually abused her when she was approximately eight years old. Family members contacted law enforcement, and Investigators from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office worked in conjunction with law enforcement from Milam County, where the victim was living at the time of the outcry, to set up a forensic interview for the victim at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Bryan. During the trial, jurors learned of the Defendant’s prior conviction for sexual assault of a child and heard from the former Arlington Police Department investigator, who investigated that case in the early 1990s. The jury heard compelling testimony from the victim, who told jurors that she had originally hoped to keep this secret forever, because she was afraid no one would believe her due to the close friendship between Broadus and the victim’s family. The victim’s older sister testified that the Defendant had also victimized her when she was in high school. Jurors heard from community partners at the Advocacy Center in Bryan as well as an expert from the local Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center who educated jurors on the dynamics of grooming and its impact on delayed outcries for victims of sexual abuse.

In closing arguments, Clark reminded the jury that protecting children is a community effort, and that the jury had the opportunity to protect the victim in this case as well as any other child in our community from coming in contact with this defendant ever again. Price reminded the jury that the victim’s trust had been broken all her life by people closest to her, and he asked the jurors to show the victim that she can trust this community and the criminal justice system to protect victims and hold sex offenders accountable.

District Attorney Sonny McAfee praised the collaborative effort of law enforcement and community partners across Texas to achieve justice in this case. “Thanks to the diligence of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Scotty’s House in Bryan, and our local Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center, this Defendant will never again be able to put his hands on another child. Our community is a safer place because of their commitment to this work.”

Posted in Press Release

COTTONWOOD SHORES MAN SENTENCED TO 55 YEARS

On Tuesday, August 20th 2019, a Burnet County jury found Defendant Allan Wayne Hawley of Cottonwood Shores guilty of Evading Arrest with a Motor Vehicle. Judge Allan Garrett then sentenced Hawley to 55 years in prison in accordance with the Jury’s assessment of punishment. The jury further found that the defendant used a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon in the commission of the crime which means he must be incarcerated at least ½ of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

In the early evening hours of February 12, 2019, Allan Hawley led multiple police agencies on a vehicle chase through the city of Marble Falls. The defendant attempted to elude a Burnet County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Akers when Deputy Akers observed the defendant commit multiple traffic violations. The Defendant drove a red Ducati motorcycle through residential and business areas and risked the lives of himself, law enforcement officers and other citizens in the city. The chase ended only when the defendant struck a Marble Falls police unit in the Chick-fil-A parking lot in his attempt to continue the evading.

The defendant had an extensive criminal history from California and Texas as well as federal convictions for Bank Robbery and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Normally the sentence for evading arrest with a motor vehicle is 2 to 10 years in prison. However, Mr. Hawley’s criminal history allowed his offense to be punished as a habitual offender. Therefore, the punishment range was from 25 years in prison up to 99 years or life.

Assistant District Attorneys Amanda Dillon and Erin Toolan prosecuted the case. The defendant exercised his constitutional right to represent himself during the trial with stand-by defense counsel Austin Shell. Judge Allan Garrett presided over the trial. The trial began Monday, August 19th and concluded late on the following Tuesday afternoon.

Prosecutors Dillon and Toolan praised the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, the Marble Falls Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety for their commitment to the safety of the citizens of Burnet County. “We are very lucky that no one was injured by Mr. Hawley’s actions. Law enforcement did exactly what they were trained to do and they protected a lot of people that night. The jury made the right decision to send Mr. Hawley back to prison and we are all safer for it,” Dillon said.

Posted in Drug • Press Release

REPEATED NARCOTICS OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 80 YEARS FOR POSSESSING PILLS

On Friday, March 1, 2019, Judge Evan Stubbs sentenced Lucio Roy Atkinson, 47, to 80 years in prison for possessing 244 tablets of clonazepam with the intent to deliver the pills to others. Clonazepam is a drug used to treat anxiety among other medical uses. Atkinson had 11 prior felony convictions and 16 prior misdemeanor convictions.

Atkinson’s jury trial began on February 19, 2019. Assistant District Attorney Erin Toolan and District Attorney Sonny McAfee prosecuted the case, and Atkinson was represented by Terrence Marsh of Georgetown.

Evidence presented at trial showed that a DPS Trooper stopped Atkinson for a traffic violation in the Spicewood area on January 28, 2017. After conducting an investigation, the Trooper found 244 tablets of Clonazepam, many other illegal prescription pills, injectable steroids, and approximately an ounce of marijuana in Atkinson’s vehicle.

Evidence further established that Atkinson was a drug dealer in the area. Jack Schumacher, a retired Drug Enforcement Agent and current Chief Investigator for the District Attorney’s Office, testified that he reviewed text messages retrieved from Atkinson’s phone for the 15 day period prior to Atkinson’s arrest. In that small segment Schumacher said he was able to identify at least 19 buyers of different drugs from Atkinson as well as 3 probable suppliers. Schumacher also testified that Atkinson was dealing in steroids, illegal prescription drugs, cocaine, marihuana, and methamphetamine.

After the jury found Atkinson guilty he chose to have punishment assessed by the judge. The prosecutors presented evidence of Atkinson’s extensive criminal record and showed that Atkinson had used methamphetamine and committed other crimes even while awaiting trial. Members of Atkinson’s family testified on his behalf that he was a different person since his arrest and asked the court to allow Atkinson to get drug treatment. Due to Atkinson’s numerous prior convictions, the possible range of punishment was a minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 99 years or life in prison.

Before sentencing Atkinson, Judge Stubbs addressed Atkinson and his family members who were present in the courtroom, saying “The problem is we have eleven prior felonies and a bunch of prior misdemeanors and [Atkinson] has had as many chances as anyone I’ve ever seen.” The judge continued, “He’s a repeat drunk driver, He’s a thief. He’s a person who evades arrest. He’s a reckless driver. He’s an addict. And, most importantly, he’s a drug dealer.” Judge Stubbs stated that he felt terrible for Atkinson’s family, but “Roy has made his choices and that’s the situation that we’re in.” Judge Stubbs then sentenced Atkinson to 80 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Toolan said she was pleased with the guilty verdict by the jury and the judge’s sentence. “As the judge said at sentencing, most of our cases – whether drug possession, assaults, or child endangerment – involve the use of drugs,” said Toolan. “So people who sell drugs in this community are the cause or at least the catalyst for a lot of pain and sorrow when others are victimized by drug abusers.”

District Attorney McAfee agreed with Toolan and added, “Three weeks ago, a jury in Llano put a man in prison for life for dealing methamphetamine. And in this case the judge gave the defendant 80 years for dealing drugs. I hope every drug dealer and would-be drug dealer gets the message today: As a community we won’t put up with the spread of this poison.”