Childress County 100th Judicial Court Hears 25 pleas
On Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, 25 pleas took place in the 100th Judicial District Court in Childress County.
Luke Inman, the District Attorney for the 100th Judicial District, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe, Jr., presiding.
Nicklaus Robert Hallenbeck, 46, from Amarillo, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the second degree felony offense of arson.
Hallenbeck was arrested by Childress Police Department Lieutenant Chris Palmitier for the offense that took place on May 20, 2022. Hallenbeck was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Dec. 5, 2023.
Hallenbeck was also ordered to pay $340 in court costs.
Zandi Miladi Lawson, 50, from Childress, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the first degree felony offense of arson.
Lawson was arrested in Childress by Palmitier on Feb. 23. Lawson was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Aug. 19.
“Chris [Palmitier] does an excellent job on these specialized investigations, and we are lucky to have his expertise in our local law enforcement.” said Inman.
The State Fire Marshall Service assisted in this investigation, along with the Childress Fire Department and multiple local police officers, according to court documents.
Lawson was also ordered to pay $340 in court costs.
Lacy Anne Rodriguez, 39, from Childress, was placed on four years for the third degree felony offense of theft by a public servant. The victim of the theft was the Childress Independent School District, according to court documents.
Rodriguez was arrested after Constable Shade Miller conducted a lengthy investigation into the theft allegations. Rodriguez was recently indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on June 3.
“Superintendent Mark Dykes was instrumental in assisting our office throughout this process,” said Inman. “These investigations can be lengthy and expensive to victims who have already been hurt financially. We appreciate all the help and guidance received from CISD.”
Rodriguez was ordered to pay $43,021.02 in restitution to CISD, $450 in attorney fees, and $340 in court costs. If revoked, Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in prison.
Angela Lynn Poteet, 47, from Childress, was placed on three years for the third degree felony offense of hindering apprehension.
Poteet was arrested by Childress Police Department Officer Anthony Smith on Sept. 30, 2024. Poteet was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on June 3.
Poteet was ordered to pay a $500 fine, $450 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, and successfully complete 200 hours of community service. If revoked, Poteet faces up to ten years in prison
Joshua Hawk Ramsay, 46, from Arlington, Texas, was placed on three years for the third degree felony offense of unlawful possession of firearm by a felon.
Ramsay was arrested in Childress County by DPS Trooper Nathan Bozeman on Nov. 23, 2024. Ramsay was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on June 3.
Ramsay was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine, $450 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, a $500 probation transfer fee and successfully complete 200 hours of community service. If revoked, Ramsay faces up to ten years in prison.
Johan Ebad Khalili, 40, from Arlington, Texas, was placed on six years for the third degree felony offense of fraudulent possession of identifying documents.
Khalili was arrested by Childress Police Officer Camaron Thomas on April 10. Khalili was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on June 3.
Khalili was ordered to pay a $6,000 fine, $450 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 200 hours of community service. If revoked, Khalili faces up to ten years in prison.
Luvly Rena Williams, 22, from Childress, was placed on four years probation for the second degree felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Williams was arrested by Childress Police Department Officer Daniel Hill on July 3, 2024 and was later indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Jan. 28.
Williams was ordered to pay a $500 fine, $500 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If revoked, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison.
Due to Rabe making a deadly weapon finding, if revoked, Williams will be required to serve at least 50 percent of her sentence. (this was not listed on the Judgment)
Cranesha Tawan Murray, 29, from Vernon, Texas, was placed on three years probation for the third degree felony offense of possession of marijuana.
Murray was arrested by Childress County Sheriff’s Deputy Lane Thomas on Feb. 5, 2024. Murray was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Oct. 8, 2024.
Murray was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine, $450 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, $180 restitution, and complete 200 hours of community service. If revoked, Murray faces up to ten years in prison.
Murray was also placed on three years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of money laundering stemming from the same arrest on February 5, 2024.
Murray was ordered to pay $400 in attorney fees and $340 in court costs. If revoked, Murray faces up to two years in prison.
Joe Manuel Ortiz Martinez, 33, from Childress, was placed on four years’ probation for the second degree felony offense of possession of child pornography with intent to promote.
Martinez was arrested by DPS CID Agent James Gallagher for the offense that was committed on July 27, 2023. Martinez was later indicted the Childress County Grand Jury on Jan. 28.
Martinez was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine, $340 in court costs, and complete 300 hours of community service. If revoked, Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison.
Due to his plea of guilty, Martinez must register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
Jaziel Hernandez-Ordonez, 30, from Yukon, Okla., was placed on three years probation for the first degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, cocaine.
Hernandez was arrested in Childress County by Thomas on Dec. 11, 2022. Hernandez was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on March 25.
Hernandez was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine, $180 restitution, $340 in court costs and successfully complete 400 hours of community service. If revoked, Hernandez faces up to 99 years, or life, in prison.
Thomas Lynn Williams, 53, from Amarillo, was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), but the sentence was probated for a period of two years for the third degree felony offense of Driving While Intoxicate, 3rd or More.
Williams was arrested by Childress Police Officer Manda Young on Jan. 27, 2024. Williams was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on March 25.
Williams was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $340 in court costs, $60 lab fee restitution, complete 200 hours of community service, 200 hours of community service, and complete all the DWI requirements under Chapter 49.
Thomas Edd Horton, 76, from Quanah, Texas, was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of two years for the third degree felony offense of Driving While Intoxicate, 3rd or More.
Horton was arrested by Childress County Sheriff Matthew Bradley on Oct. 17, 2024. Horton was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on June 3.
Horton was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $340 in court costs, $60 lab fee restitution, complete 200 hours of community service, and complete all the DWI requirements under Chapter 49.
Julie Kathryn Dubois, 46, from Amarillo, was placed on two years probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Dubois was arrested by Childress Police Officer Brandon Young on July 10, 2023. Dubois was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Oct. 8, 2024.
Dubois was ordered to pay a $500 fine, $180 in restitution, $400 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Dubois faces up to two years in prison.
Jaysen Paul Alan Braman, 37, from Amarillo, Texas, was placed on three years probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Braman was arrested by Childress Police Officer Anthony Smith on Oct. 30, 2024. Braman was indicted by a Childress Grand Jury on Aug. 19.
Braman was ordered to pay a $500 fine, $180 in restitution, $400 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Braman faces up to two years in prison.
Holly Elaine Duran, 29, from Hawley, Texas, was placed on two years probation for the state jail felony offense of debit card abuse.
Duran was arrested in Childress County by Bradley for the offense that took place Sept. 3, 2019. Duran was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Sept. 8, 2021.
Duran was ordered to pay $2,687.97 in restitution, $300 in attorney fees, and $340 in court costs. If revoked, Duran faces up to two years in prison.
Kevin Cuellar, 32, from Childress, was placed on four years probation for the third degree felony offense of assault family violence by choking.
Cuellar was arrested in Childress County by Smith on Aug. 1, 2024. Cuellar was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on March 25.
Cuellar was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine, $450 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If revoked, Cuellar faces up to ten years in prison.
Karen Leighmarie Turnbull, 39, from Butte, Mont., was placed on five years probation for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Turnbull was arrested by Childress County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris LaCario on Nov. 22, 2024. Turnbull pleaded to an information filed by the State on Feb. 14.
Turnbull was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, $500 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, $180 restitution, a $500 probation transfer fee, and complete 300 hours of community service. If revoked, Turnbull faces up to 20 years in prison.
Shyann Irvin, 20, from Youngsville, La., was placed on two years probation for the class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.
Irvin was arrested in Donley County by DPS Trooper Cole Ward on Feb. 17. Irvin pleaded to an information filed by the State on June 10.
Irvin was ordered to pay an upfront fine of $1,500, $400 in attorney fees, $305 in court costs, $180 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Irvin faces up to one year in Donley County Jail.
Tante Cleloy Williams, 49, from East Chicago, Ind., was placed on six years probation for the second degree felony offense of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Williams was arrested in Childress by Childress Police Officer Manda Young on May 22, 2024. Williams was later indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury January 28.
Williams was ordered to pay a $6,000 fine, $500 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, a $500 probation transfer fee, and complete 300 hours of community service. If his probation is revoked, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison.
In a separate case, Williams was placed on six years probation for third degree felony offense of failure to appear.
In this case, Williams was arrested by Bradley on May 13, 2025. He was later indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on Aug. 19, 2025.
Williams was also ordered to pay $450 in attorney fees, a $500 probation transfer fee and $340 in court costs. If his probation is revoked, Williams faces up to 10 years in prison. Also, if Williams’ probation is revoked in both cases, the Court may order that the prison sentences be served consecutively.
Kyran Murillo, 21, from Amarillo, was placed on two years probation for the class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.
Murillo was arrested by Donley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Stevens on March 5. Murillo was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on Aug. 18.
Murillo was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000, $450 in attorney fees, $305 in court costs, $180 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Murillo faces up to one year in Donley County Jail.
Sergio Fernando Leon, 21, from Amarillo, was placed on two years probation for the class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.
Leon was arrested in Donley County by Stevens on March 5. Leon was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on Aug. 18.
Leon was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000, $450 in attorney fees, $305 in court costs, $180 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Leon faces up to one year in Donley County Jail.
Angela Lee McClendon, 49, from Childress, was placed on three years for the third degree felony offense of tampering with evidence.
McClendon was arrested in Childress County by LaCario on May 11, 2024. McClendon pleaded guilty to an information filed by the State on Oct. 9, 2024.
McClendon was ordered to pay $450 in attorney fees, $340 in court costs, and successfully complete 200 hours of community service. If revoked, McClendon faces up to ten years in prison.
Roverio Garcia, 40, from Floydada, Texas, was convicted for the class A misdemeanor offense of assault and received eight months in the Childress County Jail.
Garcia was arrested in Childress by Bradley on Jan. 15. Garcia pleaded to an information filed by the State on March 12.
Garcia was ordered to pay $340 in court costs.