Courts

Motion to dismiss charges against C-4 soldier

FBI finds Trey Atwater had no knowledge of C-4

BY NATHANIEL MILLER

Federal prosecutors filed a motion Friday to dismiss the criminal complaints against an “excellent” special operations forces demolition expert caught trying to board a New Year’s Eve Day flight with C-4. The government filed a...... Full story

Man indicted, accused of spitting on officer

ODESSA AMERICAN

A man has been indicted on a felony charge this week after a search warrant last year led to him spitting on an Odessa Police Department officer. Robert Booth, 34, was charged with harassment of a public servant, a third-degree felony, after he was...... Full story

Man recommended for extradition to Australia

BY JON VANDERLAAN

A federal court judge recommended Thursday that a man accused of a crime in Australia similar to vehicular manslaughter be extradited back to the country to face the charges. John Perry Whittington, 47, was charged in Australia with...... Full story

Second man indicted in Sonic robbery

ODESSA AMERICAN

The second man accused in the robbery of a Sonic Drive-In employee was also indicted Monday, the same day as his reported partner in crime.Morabi Belem Salinas, 17, was indicted on an aggravated robbery charge in connection with a reported Oct. 6...... Full story

Convicted former official forays into legal mediation

BY JON VANDERLAAN

A former Winkler County Attorney has moved on in his career after being convicted on four felony counts and two misdemeanors in October. Scott Tidwell’s law license, which he had since 1992, was suspended after his conviction and he was...... Full story

Alpine man accused of assaulting mentally disabled man (+MUG)

ODESSA AMERICAN

An Alpine man accused of injury to a disabled person had a pretrial hearing Tuesday during which his defense attorney asked for a continuation of the case. William Lee Dodson, 46, is charged in connection with a May 23, 2009, report of an assault...... Full story

Pretrial hearings include murders, gambling cases

ODESSA AMERICAN

Another man accused in a gambling promotion ring sat before a district judge Tuesday for his pretrial hearing. Ngoc Luong Hung, 50, is charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. His defense attorney, Tony Chavez, said they have been...... Full story

Man faces extradition in Australian traffic death

BY JON VANDERLAAN

MIDLAND A Midland man who is accused of killing another man in a 2007 accident has found himself in a West Texas courthouse after fleeing the charges out of New South Wales, Australia. John Perry Whittington is charged with "dangerous driving...... Full story

Man pleads guilty to promoting prostitution

BY JOHN CORRALES

MIDLAND A 45-year-old McAllen man pleaded guilty Friday in Federal Court to one count of using the Internet and cell phone to promote his business of prostitution in Odessa and Midland, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.By pleading guilty,...... Full story

[MRT] Authorities find accused bank robber's 'practice notes'

BY JAMES CANNON

MIDLAND Local law enforcement agents arrested a suspect early Friday morning at an Odessa hotel, several hours after a Midland bank was robbed.Mark David Willmann, 42,was charged with bank robbery, a federal offense. He remains in custody of U.S....... Full story

Family gathers signatures to get accused murderer back in jail

BY JOHN CORRALES

FORT STOCKTON A 44-year-old Fort Stockton man recently indicted for murder and on supervised release faces fierce opposition from family members of the woman who was reportedly stabbed to death Jan. 8.Saul Silvas bonded out of the Pecos County Jail...... Full story

Man pleads to enticement of minor

ODESSA AMERICAN

MIDLAND A 42-year-old Odessa faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Friday to convincing an underage girl via text messages to have sex with him, the U.S. attorney's office in Midland announced.Sentencing before U.S....... Full story

Ex-Roughnecks employee pleads guilty to video taping

BY JON VANDERLAAN

The man accused of videotaping his former West Texas Roughnecks coworkers in the bathroom has pleaded guilty in state court and will serve probation time on six charges.Ernesto “Ernie” Salcido, 32, pleaded guilty Monday to six counts of...... Full story

Crane man pleads in sexting case

BY JON VANDERLAAN

MIDLAND A man accused of sexting a 15-year-old girl in 2009 pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge of transfer of obscene materials to minors. A coercion or enticement of a minor female charge was dropped in the plea deal. He could...... Full story

Starr Madrid waits in the 161st District Courtroom for the start of her trial Tuesday morning at the Ector County Courthouse. Madrid is being tried on charges of criminally negligent homicide in the death of her niece in November 2010.

Aunt given probation in child death

Parents of toddler didn’t want jail time

BY JON VANDERLAAN

A jury sentenced a woman convicted in the death of her 22-month-old niece to probation Wednesday at the urging of the defense attorney and implications from the prosecutor.Starr Nicole Madrid, 27, was sentenced to two years probation after pleading...... Full story