10 years ago

Childress – On Monday, March 23, 2015, three pleas took place in Childress County, Texas.

Luke Inman, the District Attorney for the 100th Judicial District, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

1. Lederrick Stewart pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Community Supervision and was sentenced to 12 months in the State Jail Division of Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the state jail felony offense of forgery.

On Jan. 11, 2010, Stewart, 31, from Dallas, originally pleaded guilty to offense that occurred on Dec. 18, 2008, in Childress County.

The State filed the motion on Aug. 5, 2013, alleging seven violations of community supervision.

Stewart is also required to pay $376 in court costs to Childress County, a $1,500 fine, and $150 restitution.

2. Zela Elizabeth Ware was placed on probation for a period of one year for the Class A misdemeanor offense of eluding a police officer. Ware pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Ware, 31-year-old resident of Childress, was arrested in Childress County for the offense that took place July 4, 2014 by Childress Police Sergeant Jerrald Johnson. Ware was indicted by a Childress County Grand Jury on Aug. 6, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Ware was required to pay a fine of $500 to Childress County, $269 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Ware violates probation, she could face up to one year in the County Jail.

3. Taylor Joe Batenhorst was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of assault. Batenhorst pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Batenhorst, 26-year-old resident of Shamrock, was arrested in Collingsworth County by Sheriff Kent Riley for the offense that took place Oct. 26, 2014. Batenhorst was indicted by a Collingsworth County Grand Jury on Jan. 20, 2015.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Batenhorst was required to pay a fine of $4,000 to Collingworth County, $376 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Batenhorst violates probation, he could face up to one year in the County Jail.