Quincy Brown was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Robbery and one count of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity on December 8, 2009. Mr. Brown was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months and a $5,000 fine for each Aggravated count. He also received 17 years and a $7,000 fine on the Engaging count. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Kelly Crowson and Curtis Howard.

On December 2, 2009, a jury convicted Daniel Peterson of Murder. The defendant stabbed the victim ten times and killed him on May 19, 2008. Mr. Peterson was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Scott Becker and Coleman Sylvan.

On November 11th, 2009, the Crimes Against Children team won a conviction against Germain Gonzalez, who was convicted of Indecency by Contact. After deliberating for an hour, the jury sentenced Mr. Gonzalez to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence for said crime, and a $10,000 fine. Mr. Gonzalez must serve half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Voirin and Justin Johnson.

On October 30, 2009, Michelle Smith was convicted of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (ASAC), Indecency with a Child by Contact, Injury to a Child Causing Serious Mental Injury, Injury to a Child Causing Bodily Injury, and three counts of Endangering a Child. She was sentenced to 70 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each ASAC count, for a total of 210 years to run consecutively. She received 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the Indecency count. She was also sentenced to 70 years and a $10,000 fine on the Serious Mental Injury count. She was sentenced to ten years and a $10,000 fine on the Bodily Injury count. She was also sentenced to two years in the state jail and a $10,000 fine on each count of Endangering. These sentences are to be served concurrently with the ASAC sentences. The grand total of all of these sentences adds up to 316 years in prison. Mrs. Smith will be eligible for parole in 90 years.

The victim was Michelle Smith’s daughter and Mrs. Smith was convicted under the law of parties for the sexual abuse perpetrated on the little girl by the biological father of the child, as well as for Mrs. Smith’s own actions and omissions that resulted in mental injuries, bodily injury, and endangerment of the child. Mrs. Smith knew that the father was a convicted sex offender when she married him and had a child with him, yet she continued to allow him access to the child. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Crystal Levonius and Shannon Miller.

Michelle Smith’s husband, Glenn Bracy, received five Life sentences for his convictions and will be eligible for parole in 150 years.

For the full story, visit http://www.tdcaa.com/node/5739.

William Calahan was convicted of Aggravated Robbery on October 29, 2009. Mr. Calahan was trying to break into a work truck to steal tools when the owner of the truck tried to prevent the theft. With 11 prior convictions entered into evidence, Calahan was sentenced to 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys John Schomburger and Scott Becker.

Paul Propes Jr. was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Indecency with a Child by Contact, and Indecency with a Child by Exposure on October 1, 2009. The defendant had previously been convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. The defendant was sentenced by the court to automatic Life on the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 20 years on the Indecency with a Child by Contact, and 10 years on the Indecency with a Child by Exposure, all of which will run concurrently to the Aggravated charge. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Shannon Miller and Justin Johnson.

On October 1, 2009, Reggie Williams was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, two counts of Sexual Assault of a Child, and two counts of Indecency with a Child by Contact. Williams’ punishment was enhanced with a prior conviction in the indictment to which he pled “true.” The defendant was sentenced by a jury to 80 years and a $10,000 fine on one of the Sexual Assault charges and the Aggravated charge. He was also sentence to 50 years and a $5,000 fine each on the other Sexual Assault charge and the two Indecency charges. Each sentence is running concurrently with the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child sentence. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Shannon Miller and Crystal Levonius.

On September 29, 2009, Jeremiah Colfry was convicted of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (ASAC) and two counts of Indecency with a Child. Colfry was sentenced to Life in prison for each count of ASAC, which will be served consecutively. He also received 20 years in prison for each count of Indecency. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Jo’Dee Neil and Michelle Voirin.

On September 24, 2009, Sergio Luciano Rojas was sentenced to 32 years for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and 15 years for Indecency with a Child, to be served consecutively for a total of 47 years.  He was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for each of three other counts of Indecency with a Child.  The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Crystal Levonius and Shannon Miller.

On August 12, 2009, Charles Scott Goist, age fifty-nine, entered “Guilty” pleas to four first degree felony indictments charging him with Securities Fraud, Theft, Securing Execution of Document by Deception, and Money Laundering, and received four concurrent forty-six (46) year prison sentences. The indictments stemmed from Mr. Goist’s schemes to swindle real estate investors out of more than three million dollars since 2002. Mr. Goist had previously served time in prison in connection with a 1982 federal mail fraud conviction.

These pleas of “Guilty” were the product of over a year of hard work and cooperation by Kelly H. Crowson of the Special Crimes Division of the Collin County District Attorney’s Office and Texas State Securities Board enforcement attorneys Greta Cantwell and Dale Barron. The Texas State Securities Board works closely with the Special Crimes Division of the Collin County District Attorney’s Office to bring offenders like Goist to justice.

Ronald Smith, a former gymnastics instructor, plead guilty and was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child on August 10, 2009. He was sentenced to Life in prison.  Assistant Criminal District Attorney Michelle Voirin handled the case.

Over the course of several years, John Barry orchestrated a mortgage fraud scheme involving eleven homes on Hills Creek Drive in McKinney, Texas, and numerous other properties in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Barry purchased homes at fair market value and sold them to straw buyers for inflated prices supported by fraudulent appraisals. The straw buyer borrowers’ applications for mortgage loans contained numerous false statements, including representations that the borrowers worked for one of Barry’s companies and earned in excess of $20,000 per month. Barry also transferred money into the borrowers’ bank accounts to ensure that they qualified for their loans, and paid the borrowers bonuses of $20,000 or more for each of the multiple homes they purchased. From the fraudulently-obtained loan proceeds for each of the homes in question, Barry could pocket two hundred thousand dollars or more. Each of the properties involved in Barry’s scam subsequently went into foreclosure. Barry was indicted for two counts each of Money Laundering, False Statement to Obtain Property or Credit, and Securing Execution of a Document by Deception, in connection with two of the properties he purchased on Hills Creek Drive. On July 14, 2009, a Collin County jury found Barry guilty of all six counts, and the court sentenced him to 25 years confinement plus a $10,000.00 fine on each count. The cases were tried by Assistant District Attorneys Benjamin Smith and Christopher Milner.

On June 3 , 2009 , Eric Ziegler was sentenced to Life in prison for the horrific 2008 murder of Yvonne Zamudio. The jury’s verdict concluded a week-long trial in which evidence showed that Ziegler and a companion strangled Ms. Zamudio and , then , dismembered her body in a Richardson home. Ziegler had an extensive criminal history , including two previous prison sentences. Ziegler , 34 , must spend at least 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Collin County Assistant District Attorneys Scott Becker and John Schomburger represented the State of Texas in this case.

The Collin County District Attorney’s Office obtained its first conviction under the new offense of Super Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (Super ASAC) on June 2 , 2009. The case was elevated to Super ASAC because of the age of the victim , who was only two years old at the time of the offenses. G.D. Samford was convicted of two counts of Super ASAC and two counts of Indecency with a Child. The defendant was convicted after an open plea and received Life on each count of Super ASAC without the possibility of parole. He also received 20 years on each Indecency count. All sentences will be served concurrently. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorney Michelle Voirin.

Philippe Padieu was convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon for the transmission of HIV to his sexual partners in six separate cases. Padieu was informed that he was HIV positive on September 12 , 2005 but continued to engage in unprotected sexual contact with multiple partners without informing them of his HIV status. Four additional women testified they had a sexual relationship with Padieu who never informed them of his HIV status and all four are HIV positive. This case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Lisa King and Curtis Howard . This trial will be featured on an upcoming episode of 20/20.

Auburn University at Montgomery School of Liberal Arts has selected Collin County DA John Roach its first Distinguished Alumnus. Roach is a 1971 graduate of Auburn at Montgomery with a B.A. in History.

Mr. Roach was also named a Distinguished Speaker and delivered an address to faculty, students, and guests of the School of Liberal Arts on April 20. A luncheon in his honor with Auburn Montgomery officials and invited guests was held at the Capital City Club before the induction ceremony and Mr. Roach’s speech. The day concluded with the presentation of a plaque and honors to Mr. Roach and a reception in his honor.

William Lester Seelye was convicted of Theft of property of the value of $200 , 000.00 or more , sentenced to 99 years in prison , and fined $10 , 000.00 by a Collin County jury on May 1 , 2009. Mr. Seelye took in excess of $400 , 000.00 from investors in Collin County and elsewhere around the United States beginning in 2004 and continuing through 2007 with a series of fraudulent oil and gas deals. The case was investigated by the Texas State Securities Board (“TSSB”) and the Special Crimes Division of the Collin County District Attorney’s Office (“SCD”) , and tried by TSSB Enforcement Attorney Dale R. Barron and SCD attorneys Kelly H. Crowson and Christopher L. Milner. Mr. Barron had earlier been appointed as an assistant district attorney by Collin County DA John Roach for the purpose of prosecuting the case against Mr. Seelye. Indictments for Securities Fraud and Money Laundering are still pending against Mr. Seelye in the 219th Judicial District Court.

For the full story, visit http://www.tdcaa.com/node/5748

John Creech was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child , Indecency with a Child , and five counts of Possession of Child Pornography on April 20 , 2009. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison on the Aggravated count and 20 years on the Indecency count , to be served consecutively with the Aggravated count. The defendant was also sentenced to 10 years on each count of Possession. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Voirin and Crystal Levonius.

Edward Mike Ji was convicted of Attempted Capital Murder and Deadly Conduct on April 2, 2009, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Ji was sixteen years old when the offenses were committed. He was certified and tried as an adult in the 199th District Court, Judge Quay Parker presiding. The evidence revealed that Ji had a fascination with serial killers and wanted to be one. He purchased a stolen handgun and began prowling Frisco neighborhoods. On July 26, 2006, Ji fired at and missed Peter Reid, who was walking on a trail with his wife. Three days later, Ji rang the doorbell of a randomly-selected house and shot Bryan Chevalier, 14, twice in the chest. Ji was subsequently interviewed by Frisco detectives and confessed to both shootings. Ji expressed no remorse and told detectives that he was a monster. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Ben Smith and Bill Dobiyanski.

Cesar Rodriguez was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Robbery and one count of Robbery on March 31, 2009. Rodriguez robbed a Subway store in Plano three times; the first two robberies were at knifepoint, whereas there was no weapon used in the third robbery. Rodriguez used to work at that particular Subway store, and although he wore a mask during each robbery, the employees he robbed recognized him. Rodriguez plead guilty and received 10 years in prison although he was probation eligible. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Justin Johnson and Daniel Lewis.

Michael Hamilton was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child on February 23 , 2009. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison on each Aggravated count , with the second Life sentence to begin after he has completed the first Life sentence. Hamilton was also convicted of three counts of Indecency with a Child and sentenced to 20 years , 15 years , and 15 years. Furthermore , the defendant was sentenced to a $10 , 000 fine on each of the five counts. Hamilton was also in possession of extensive child pornography, which was admitted in the sentencing phase of the trial. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Jo’Dee Neil and Michelle Voirin.

Samuel Duran was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency with a Child on February 11 , 2009. The jury sentenced the defendant to 99 years confinement in each of the Aggravated counts , and the maximum of 20 years confinement on the Indecency count. Mr. Duran had been convicted of another Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child with a different victim on August 27 , 2008. Four victims in total testified in the punishment phase. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Crystal Levonius and Shannon Miller.

Collin County District Attorney John Roach and Assistant District Attorneys John Schomburger and Justin Johnson were awarded the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award on February 20, 2009.

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award began in 1990 and recognizes individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating violence, drugs, crime, and terrorism in America.

The award was presented for the prosecution of the Rockwall County District Attorney. Galen Ray Sumrow, the now former Rockwall County District Attorney, was convicted for using Rockwall District Attorney’s Office funds for personal gain and for abuse of official capacity by diverting $68,000 of state apportionment funds into his personal banking account.

Jason Allen Flynn was convicted of Intoxication Manslaughter and Intoxication Assault on February 18, 2009. The defendant was accused of killing the driver of an 18 wheeler by running a red light and hitting the 18 wheeler. The girlfriend of the defendant, who was in the passenger seat, suffered a broken arm. The defendant pled guilty to both charges and elected to have a jury assess his punishment. The jury sentenced him to 3 years confinement. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Justin Johnson and John Schomburger.

In March of 2007, Shahram Shakouri was indicted for the First Degree Felony of Aggravated Sexual Assault. Mr. Shakouri had worked as a Network Analyst in Plano and lived in Prosper. Mr. Shakouri had recently married a woman from the Middle East and brought her to the United States . Upon her arrival, Mr. Shakouri engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse with his wife until she fled from the home in October 2006. On January 23, 2009, a jury convicted Shahram Shakouri for the Aggravated Sexual Assault of his wife and sentenced him to twenty-three years confinement. Mr. Shakouri will not be eligible for parole until he serves a minimum of eleven and a half years and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. The State of Texas was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Curtis Howard and Kelley Sullivan.

On January 21 , 2005 , Stokes and another man entered a Jared Jewelry store in Plano disguised in ski masks and hooded sweatshirts. Using handguns , the men disarmed the security guard , threatened employees and customers , and demanded loose diamonds. The armed robbery was captured on surveillance video. Over the course of the next month , Stokes also participated in armed robberies at a Zales and Jared in Fort Worth . The jewelry taken from the three robberies had a total value of two and-a-half million dollars. Stokes was arrested at a traffic stop in Plano during which the gun stolen from the security guard at the Plano Jared was found. A search warrant was also executed later at a hotel room in Desoto , where U.S. Marshalls and detectives from Plano and Fort Worth discovered various guns , cash , and stolen jewelry. Stokes was convicted on February 12 , 2009. The jury assessed his punishment at 60 years confinement. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Ben Smith and Coleman Sylvan .

Raul Cortez, 28, was sentenced to death in the 416th Judicial District Court on February 2, 2009. Cortez was convicted of fatally shooting Austin York, Matt Self, Mark Barbosa, and strangling Rosa Barbosa during an armed invasion of Ms. Barbosa's McKinney home on the evening of March 12, 2004. The crime represented the worst mass murder in Collin County history. It launched a three year police investigation which ended with Cortez's arrest in 2007. Testimony at trial showed that Cortez's DNA was found on duct tape and pieces of latex gloves wrapped around Ms. Barbosa's head. Police also recovered a bullet from Cortez's home that matched bullets recovered from Austin York and Mark Barbosa. Cortez, a Chicago native and member of the violent street gang, Latin Kings, expressed no remorse during his trial testimony. The Collin County District Attorney's Office was represented by First Assistant District Attorney, Greg Davis, and Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Voirin and Chris Milner.

(McKINNEY, Texas)—Texas prosecutors named Collin County Criminal District Attorney John Roach the Lone Star Prosecutor of the Year for his courage and discretion in prosecuting – or choosing not to prosecute – several cases in 2008.

The award, announced in Austin earlier this week, is given on behalf of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA).

The TDCAA recognized Mr. Roach for steadfastly refusing to take on cases contaminated by a network television news investigation called, “To Catch a Predator.” The cases linked to the TV show were mired in controversy because the investigations were conducted under the supervision of television producers, not law enforcement, and would not have held up in court.

John Roach showed the true backbone of a Texas prosecutor in standing up to a national television network and this show by refusing to prosecute cases tainted by an entertainment- driven ‘investigation,’” said Barry Mach, Criminal District Attorney in Wichita County and TDCAA President.

Mr. Roach was also cited for agreeing to prosecute another elected prosecutor, Ray Sumrow, for abuse of office, resulting in a 15- year prison term; and dismissing charges against the man convicted of murdering young Ashlee Estelle after doubt was cast on the evidence used to convict him.

Mr. Roach said that recognition by his fellow Texas prosecutors as Lone Star Prosecutor of the Year is a great honor, “and doubly so because of our shared dedication to the truth, justice, and the rule of law.”

Each year the Board of Directors of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association names a Lone Star Prosecutor who demonstrates professionalism and dedication to the highest standards of prosecution.