Pretrial hearing scheduled in capital murder case

In recent action in Judge Joe Carroll's 27th District Court, Chaka Romain Johnson, 32, of Lampasas had his pretrial hearing set for Dec. 21. He is charged with capital murder in the death of 31-year-old Hidi Gower, a Copperas Cove resident.

Mrs. Gower's body was discovered at the Kempner VFW in eastern Lampasas County, the victim of an alleged murder-for-hire plot instigated by her husband, Donald Dean Gower, 39, of Copperas Cove, who also is charged with capital murder.

Johnson is out of jail on $250,000 bond.

Also in district court, Cory W. Keen, 26, was sentenced to 11 months in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division for burglary of a building. He was credited with jail time served.

In the possession of a controlled substance case against 39-yearold Tammy Lorine McCullough of Kempner, the judge amended her probation by adding a year to it and increased her community service hours. Ms. McCullough also must serve 30 days in the Lampasas County Jail on weekends.

Jacob Levi Vasquez, 23, faces a Dec. 7 adjudication hearing for his charge of burglary of a habitation.

Arraignment of William Smart Henry, 20, of Belton was reset to Dec. 7 to allow him time to hire an attorney. He is charged with burglary of a habitation.

Punishment is set Dec. 7 for San Saba resident Robert Eric Younggreen, 24, for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Also on Dec. 7, a pretrial hearing is slated for Erika Charles, 28, of Killeen for forgery.

Raymond Smith, 18, of Lampasas is set to enter a plea Dec. 7 for theft over $1,500 and under $20,000.

Also expected to enter a plea that date is Bobbie Lee Burnham, 42. The San Saba resident is charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Dec. 10 jury trials are on the docket for Christopher Louis Vega, 29, for aggravated assault/threat with a deadly weapon and bond jumping; Monica Sanchez, 30, for bond jumping; Lester Jerome Bailey, 49, for evading arrest with a vehicle; Justin Lee Burns, 41, for aggravated assault-serious bodily injury-deadly weapon; Shawn Christopher Hansen, 28, of Copperas Cove for sexual assault; Almond Gerod Lively, 41, of San Saba for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and for Jeffery Wade Menem, 39, of Austin for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

A pretrial hearing is set Dec. 21 for Zachary Bothof, 23, of Lampasas for misapplication of trust funds (property code).

Copperas Cove resident Frank McDonald, 54, is set to enter a plea Dec. 21 for evading arrest with a vehicle.

On a charge of burglary of a habitation, 49-year-old Fredrick Lionel Miller is set to enter a plea and have a punishment hearing on Jan. 4.

Candice Elizabeth Pabst, 23, faces a Jan. 11 plea for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. A presentence investigation was ordered.

Pleas also are expected to be entered Jan. 11 for 26-year-old Albert Alvarado of Lampasas for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; Rogelio Rivera, 25, of Lampasas for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and bond jumping; and for Lampasan Lowell Preston Garza, 18, for injury to a child-serious bodily injury. Each faces presentence investigations.

Kempner resident Dennis Lee Pickens, 54, is scheduled to enter a plea and receive punishment on Jan. 11 for indecency with a child, sexual contact.

On a charge of burglary of a building, Jamey Ryan Hole, 20, is set to enter a plea Jan. 18. The judge requested a presentence investigation.

Norris Allen Wood, 37, of Lampasas will enter a plea and receive punishment Jan. 18 for hindering a secured creditor and failure to comply with registration requirements.

Also set for a Jan. 18 plea is James Scott Culver, 48, of Bastrop. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Jury trials are scheduled Feb. 11 for Matthew Roy Thompson, 21, of Copperas Cove for aggravated assault/threat with a deadly weapon, and Brenda Sue Gaines, 31, of Killeen for forgery.