Tyler County News

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From PCPC Staff Reports

 VIDOR – A missing 15-year-old Spurger girl who was reported as missing more than a month ago was reported as being found late Tuesday evening.

According to investigator Cory LeBlanc, with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, Searra Marrie Clark has been found in a safe location, with a family member, and is no longer considered missing.

A statement from Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford thanked all of the area residents for all of the concerned calls and information regarding Clark.

LeBlanc said on Tuesday, prior to Clark being found, that TCSO was looking into every lead that had been provided.

 

Original Story

From Staff Reports

TYLER COUNTY ¬– Last week, the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office announced that it is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing juvenile.

Searra Marrie Clark, who, according to TCSO, was last seen in Tyler County between Woodville and Spurger, is still missing. Clark, a White female, is 5’4” in height and weighs 109 lbs. She has black hair and blue eyes.

According to the bulletin issued by TCSO, she was last known to be wearing a camouflage hoodie and black pants.

Clark has been entered into statewide and national databases as a missing person, according to a TCSO representative. The Sheriff’s Office has been fielding calls, but nothing, as of press time, that has led to her whereabouts.

Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford encouraged anyone who knows of her whereabouts to call the TCSO at 409-283-2172, or they can also report a tip about her location, anonymously, through the Crime Stoppers tipline at 936-639-TIPS, or via Crime Stoppers’ website at www.639TIPS.com.

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By Chris Edwards
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LUFKIN – A unanimous ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has put a lawsuit filed by Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin against Netflix on indefinite hold.

The ruling was handed down on Monday, and first reported by film industry trade bible Variety. Babin’s suit accused Netflix of distributing child pornography, a charge stemming from its distribution of Cuties, a French film that proved controversial upon its American release in 2020.

Judge Don R. Willett, who serves the Circuit Court, referred to the prosecution of the streaming giant as “bad-faith prosecution” and “an injury” to the company.

A Tyler County grand jury originally opted to indict Netflix in 2020, which Babin later dropped, for promoting depictions of “the lewd exhibition” of a child, and instead opted to issue four charges of child pornography.

Cuties, which was described as a coming-of-age comedy/drama drew widespread attention and controversy due to a marketing campaign from Netflix, which allegedly sexualized child actresses.

Prior to its release on Netflix, it had not met with such controversy, and in its French iteration (as Mignonnes) won awards at the annual Sundance Film Festival.

 

 

 

 

It focuses on an 11-year-old Senegalese girl who becomes enamored with the behavior of a neighbor girl who dances with an adult-style dance group. Critics noted the contrasting values of religious fundamentalism versus provocative modern cultural trappings.

Following its American release, many political figures, including Sen. Ted Cruz and then-state Rep. James White campaigned against the film on social media, and many Americans boycotted the film, and utilized the hashtag on social media #CancelNetflix to show support of the boycott, not only of the film, but also of Netflix for distributing the work.

In 2022, Netflix sought injunctive relief to stop what it called Babin’s “baseless charges” against the company. That suit was filed in federal court within Texas’s Eastern District. Babin later filed with the appeals court.

At the time of the initial indictment, Babin said that in his role as DA, he sees many cases with underage victims. He said that he’d heard about the film and watched it. After viewing it, he said he knew there was probable cause to believe it was liable to criminal prosecution.

Babin, who had previously worked in the entertainment industry as an actor and model, prior to his career in law, said that the film contains “no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

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By Chris Edwards
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DAM B – Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford made an announcement on Monday that human remains were discovered at a residence near Dam B.

Weatherford said that on Saturday, Dec. 16, his office received a call in reference to a discovery of what appeared to be a human jawbone at a residence along County Road 4120.

“A search of the historical residence and property was conducted and investigators did not locate any other possible remains,” Weatherford said.

On the scene, the homeowner, as well as family members and neighbors were interviewed, and the investigators with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office are checking cemeteries in the area, some of which are historic and have graves dating back to the 19th century.

The evidence collected will be sent for forensic analysis by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Sheriff Weatherford is encouraging anyone with any possible information about this discovery to contact TCSO at 409-283-2172.

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From Staff Reports

TYLER COUNTY – On Monday, the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office announced that it is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing juvenile.

Searra Marrie Clark, who, according to TCSO, was last seen in Tyler County between Woodville and Spurger, is missing. Clark, a White female, is 5’4” in height and weighs 109 lbs. She has black hair and blue eyes.

According to the bulletin issued by TCSO, she was last known to be wearing a camouflage hoodie and black pants.

Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford encouraged anyone who knows of her whereabouts to call the TCSO at 409-283-2172, or they can also report a tip about her location, anonymously, through the Crime Stoppers tipline at 936-639-TIPS, or via Crime Stoppers’ website at www.639TIPS.com.