Pretrial hearing slated for man charged with murder of wife

A pretrial hearing is set April 25 in the 27th District courtroom of Judge Joe Carroll for Donald Dean Gower, 39, charged with capital murder in the July 4 shooting death of his wife, Hidi.

Mrs. Gower, a Copperas Cove resident murdered at the Kempner VFW in east Lampasas County, was the victim of a murder-forhire plot instigated by her husband, according to law officials.

In other action, Carroll sentenced Blas Gonzales, 38, to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division for evading arrest with a vehicle. Gonzales was credited for time served.

Also receiving a jail sentence was Roger D. Dean, 23, of Copperas Cove. His probation was revoked, and he was given four years in jail for burglary of a habitation. Dean also was ordered to pay court costs and attorney fees.

Six years' probation was given to Emmett Lee Pugh, 59, of Lampasas for driving while intoxicated and felony repetition. He also must pay a $1,000 fine and serve 10 days in the Lampasas County Jail within the next 60 days.

In a case of assault-family enhanced, Lampasas resident Joseph Eric Sutton, 31, was assessed five years' probation and a $5,000 fine. He also must perform 200 hours of community service.

The judge revoked the probation of Jamie Doreen Duncan, 23, and remanded her to the county jail. She faces an April 4 arraignment for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

A pretrial hearing is on the April 4 docket for Christina Nichole Bruton, 22, for sexual assault of a child under 17.

Claudia Nieto Barnes, 34, of Killeen, charged with possession of a controlled substance-cocaine, faces an April 4 arraignment.

Pretrial hearings are set April 11 for Lampasan Curtis Byron Crumley III, 21, on a charge of criminal mischief with a deadly weapon, and for Steven Eugene Daulton, 48, for forgery.

A trial before the court is slated April 4 for William Smart Henry, 21, of Belton. He is charged with burglary of a habitation.

Pleas are expected to be entered April 25 by Joseph Howard Farr, 20, of Copperas Cove for evading arrest with a vehicle; Terry Jay Crosby, 36, of San Saba for driving while intoxicated and felony repetition; and George Gail Minga, 38, of Killeen for forgery. The judge ordered presentence investigations in each case.

Set to enter a plea on May 9 is Esmeralda Sanchez, 21, of Lampasas on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. A presentence investigation was ordered.

On a charge of theft of a firearm, Scott Schowalter, 38, of Lampasas is set for a May 12 jury trial.

A May 12 jury trial is set for Phillip Mahlon Ledford, 48, of Lampasas for injury to a child.

An adjudication hearing is on the June 20 docket for Diane Renteria Hernandez, 50, of Lubbock. She is charged with possession of a controlled substance, cocaine.

Chad Lee Machen is set for a review on May 23. The 22-yearold Seymour resident faces a charge of aggravated assault/threat with a deadly weapon.

June 9 jury trials are scheduled for Dereck Andrew Cox, 18, of Lampasas for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon, and Michael Lane Henderson, 45, of Lampasas for driving while intoxicated and felony repetition.