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Two different juries handed down large sentences for Michael Bee Hodge who on May 11 was on a stolen motorcycle and failed to pull over, leading police on a chase through Livingston. When Hodge was cornered, he pulled a gun on an officer, compelling that officer to use deadly force. On Oct. 12, a jury convicted Hodge for evading arrest or detention and sentenced him to 75 years due to his habitual status.
He was tried again for aggravated assault on a public servant and possession of a controlled substance, again as a habitual offender. On Nov. 2, this jury sentenced Hodge to life in prison on the aggravated assault on a public servant charge, as well as the maximum sentence of 20 years on the possession of a controlled substance case.
“My office and I want to publicly thank both juries for ensuring that justice was done and sending a strong message to both Michael Hodge and anyone else who considers pulling a weapon on a peace officer. Such behavior will not be tolerated by the citizens of Polk County,” Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton said.
Hodge was represented by Chad Etheridge.
In other recent court activity, Samantha Stewart pleaded guilty to murder on Nov. 6 and was sentenced to 45 years for the death of her husband, Jeffery Stewart. Stewart called police to her residence on July 26, 2022, indicating an intruder shot her husband. According to testimony, the responding officers had doubts, indicating that her story did not corroborate the evidence at the scene. She eventually confessed to shooting her husband because she was having an online affair.
With the agreement of the family, the district attorney’s office offered a plea bargain of 45 years in prison with no right to appeal. Stewart was devoid of emotion as a member of the Stewart family gave a victim impact statement.
“My office and I appreciate all those appearing for jury duty. Without you, these cases could not have been resolved,” Sitton said.
Stewart was represented by Keaton Kirkwood.
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By Emily Banks Wooten
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The investigation continues into a head-on collision that occurred Thursday night killing a young mother and three of her children and resulting in life-threatening injuries for a fourth child.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 2011 Buick Lucerne driven by Shemikia Brown, 34 of Livingston, was traveling south on Hwy. 146 shortly after 10 p.m. when she slid out of control on the wet pavement and crossed into the northbound lane, crashing into a 2023 GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by Joshua Gorman, 30 of Livingston.
Brown and three children, a 13-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy and a 2-year-old boy were all pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Terri L. Mayer. A 6-year-old girl sustained life-threatening injuries. Gorman was uninjured.
The Livingston Independent School District issued a statement early Friday morning.
“Lion Country mourns the loss of multiple students who passed away tragically in a car accident last night. Please join us in keeping these students’ families and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
A lunch and dinner fundraiser will be hosted by Indulge Kitchen & Lounge from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday with all proceeds from the day going to the Brown family. Indulge Kitchen & Lounge is located at 705 N. Washington in Livingston.
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PHOTO BY PAM NOBLES
By Emily Banks Wooten
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An explosion attributed to a “forklift incident” at Sound Resource Solutions, an industrial chemical manufacturing plant located at 731 FM 1127 in Shepherd, wreaked havoc in East Texas Wednesday. A major highway was closed, a school district was evacuated and multiple other school districts were placed in lockdown mode and shelter-in-place orders were issued by the respective offices of emergency management in three different counties as numerous area fire departments and first responders fought the ensuing blaze for most of the day.
The company, which has an approximately 20-acre campus, has 40 employees and a spokesperson said there were 19 there that morning. Fortunately, only one was injured, having sustained “minor burns.”
The San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) immediately issued a shelter-in-place order for a five-mile radius and a private school located on FM 1127 was evacuated to the Shepherd ISD Administration Building.
“Medical and fire crews came in to assess the situation and evacuate a private school. There were fire departments from Harris County, San Jacinto County, Polk County, Livingston. Due to the location, we had to reach out to other facilities and agencies to get more water,” San Jacinto County Emergency Management Coordinator Emmitt Eldridge said.
The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department contacted the Polk County OEM early Wednesday and relayed news of the explosion and that a plume of smoke was headed toward Livingston. Polk County OEM issued shelter-in-place instructions at approximately 9:30 a.m., instructing homes and businesses along the Hwy. 59 corridor from Shepherd to Leggett to turn off their HVAC systems as it was unknown what chemicals were in the air.
Both north and southbound traffic on U.S. Hwy. 59 was shut down immediately, with traffic being re-routed.
Livingston ISD placed all campuses on hold, employing emergency protocols to ensure student safety and welfare. Goodrich ISD staff and students were evacuated to Onalaska ISD as it was not in the path of the plume. Leggett and Corrigan-Camden ISDs both sheltered in place.
The National Weather Service issued a graphic at approximately 10:30 a.m. that illustrated the projected plume area based on wind patterns, which showed it headed northeast toward Tyler County resulting in a shelter-in-place order being activated there as well.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) mobilized an air monitoring unit in Polk County to provide more information about the potential hazards and appropriate safety measures.
San Jacinto County OEM reduced its shelter-in-place order from a five-mile radius to a one-mile radius at 11 a.m. Shortly afterward, the Livingston Police Department reported that Hwy. 59 South would be closed at Hwy. 190 in Livingston and that those traveling south would have to take Hwy. 190 West to Huntsville to I-45 and only local traffic would be allowed through.
Around 11:40 a.m. the Polk County Sheriff’s Office shut down traffic at Hwy. 190 and Hwy. 59 and all southbound traffic was rerouted to Hwy. 146 or I-45, depending on which way they were traveling. FM 3278 was not open to traffic unless proof of residency could be provided.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Eldridge reported that the fire was contained.
Tyler County OEM lifted its shelter-in-place order around 1:20 p.m. and at 1:45 p.m. Livingston ISD notified its patrons that it had resumed normal operations and dismissal would be conducted as usual.
However, everyone was asked to not linger outdoors until air quality information could be provided by the TCEQ. Small children and people with respiratory illnesses or other health problems were strongly encouraged to remain indoors.
Polk County OEM lifted its shelter-in-place order at 2 p.m. and said HVAC systems could be turned back on at people’s discretion. The Goodrich ISD students that had been evacuated to Onalaska were released to return either to school or to go home.
By 5:48 p.m. all lanes of Hwy. 59 had been reopened.
Polk County OEM said that according to records recently received from TCEQ, the plant had reported housing wood turpentine, phosphoric acid, xylene, diesel fuel, IMP-IC-2012, sulfuric acid, CDA121, NP 9, isopropyl alcohol, IMB-BAC-2, AZA-121 dispersant and acetic acid, chemicals that are known to have acute toxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity and may cause serious eye damage or eye irritation, skin corrosion or irritation, aspiration hazard and organ toxicity.
On Thursday morning the San Jacinto County OEM reported that contractors with Sound Resource Solutions were working to contain alcohol chemical leaks from onsite tanker trailers and that there was no hazard to the public from the tanker leaks. Shepherd and Oakhurst VFDs were onsite Thursday to assist with extinguishing any remaining hotspots. TCEQ continued its air quality monitoring through Friday but did not detect any levels of concern.
An update to the chemicals reported to be stored for the past two reporting years at the plant reflected the following: wood turpentine, phosphoric acid 75%, xylene, diesel fuel, IMP-IC2012, sulfuric acid, CDA-121, CCI-1001-imidazoline, NP 9, isopropyl alcohol, IMB-BAC-2, AZA-121 dispersant and acetic acid.
The OEMs expressed their appreciation to all responders that worked the incident and to the public for its cooperation by sheltering in place to keep everyone safe as the situation unfolded.
Livingston ISD Superintendent Dr. Brent E. Hawkins also expressed his appreciation.
“While no one wants to place the school in emergency operation status, witnessing the focus and cooperation of everyone involved, including faculty, staff, students, parents and emergency partners, it gives great pride in the outcome of Wednesday’s events. Our faculty and staff exponentially saw their duties increased to operate under emergency status, but the district could not be more proud of the job everyone did in taking care of our students like they were their own. We commend our emergency operation partners in these times as they continue to serve not only our district but also our community selflessly and passionately.
“The district would also like to extend a special thank you to the Polk County Emergency Management, including Judge Sydney Murphy, in that if it was not for their role in this process, we would not have seen the successful outcome as we saw in Wednesday’s event. As in all emergency management situations where the district emergency management plans are evoked, we conduct both internal and external After-Action Reviews to evaluate and improve our responses to emergency situations.
“We encourage everyone to view the Standard Response Protocol located on the front page of the Livingston ISD website. While this event is fresh on your mind, it is crucial that we all follow our roles and responsibilities during these stressful times so that we can successfully focus on effective and efficient outcomes for all involved.”
Further updates may be found on the Polk County Emergency Management Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PolkCountyEmergencyManagement) and the Polk County Emergency Management website www.PolkCountyOEM.com
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Two people sustained non-incapacitating injuries following a two-vehicle collision that occurred at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday in the intersection of North Washington Avenue and West Feagin Street in Livingston. A 2017 Dodge Durango driven by Jessica Thompson, 30 of Livingston, was traveling southbound in the 800 block of North Washington. A 2019 Ford Escape driven by Shelby Howard, 83 of Livingston, was traveling eastbound on West Feagin approaching the stop sign at North Washington. Howard failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign and pulled out in front of Thompson causing the two vehicles to collide. Howard sustained non-incapacitating injuries but refused medical treatment and a passenger in his vehicle was uninjured. While Thompson was uninjured, a five-year-old passenger in her vehicle sustained non-incapacitating injuries and was taken to the family doctor for examination. Howard was cited for failure to yield right of way at a stop sign. Livingston Police Officer Jack C. Mueller investigated the accident.Photo by Diana Fiscal
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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s assistance after receiving a report of a motor vehicle burglary Wednesday in Moscow. The two suspects are black males seen in the attached photos.
The two were last seen in the City of Livingston on foot. The male with dreadlocks was last seen wearing a camouflage hoodie, and the male with short hair was last seen in a black long-sleeve t-shirt. Those with information on the subjects’ identities or whereabouts are asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, at 936-327-6810.
Anonymous tips may also be submitted at p3tips.com, the P3 App, or by calling Polk County Crime Stoppers at 936-327-STOP, to remain anonymous and possibly collect a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.
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