Two convicted on drug charges
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Special to The News-Courier—
SEYMOUR–50th District Attorney Jennifer A. Habert, is pleased to announce the successful prosecution of two drug related offenses during February.
A Baylor County jury convicted Clifton James Grimes, a Baylor County resident, on Possession of a Controlled Substance, namely methamphetamine in an amount of 4-200 grams, on Feb. 24.
The jury found that the allegation that Grimes had been previously convicted of two prior felonies to be true enhancing his range of punishment to that of a habitual offender. The jury recommended a sentence of 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division.
Grimes was driving a truck with a defective tail lamp and an expired tag when he was stopped by Seymour Police Sergeant, Bryce Sawyer, around 3 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2019. When questioning Grimes about the reasons he had been visiting a residence where drug trafficking was suspected, Grimes consented to a search. Grimes attempted to hold onto a small object in his coat pocket. He eventually admitted to Sawyer that the object was a baggie containing Methamphetamine. After placing Grimes under arrest, Sawyer located a broken methamphetamine pipe and a syringe in Grimes’ pocket.
At the Seymour Police Department, jail attendant John Byrket performed a routine inventory of the property removed from Grimes at the scene. During that process, Byrket located an additional baggie containing methamphetamine hidden in a pack of cigarettes.
Both baggies were tested by the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Abilene. The weight of the methamphetamine was 9.38 grams.
Grimes testified at trial and admitted that he had smoked methamphetamine the evening that he was arrested. He insisted that he was unaware that there was contraband in his pockets. He testified that he had traveled to Vernon with a couple of friends and one of them had used his jacket. He testified that the drugs in his pockets could have a street value of $50 to $100 dollars per gram.
Grimes admitted having been to prison on five prior occasions for felonies, including the charges that the state alleged for purposes of enhancing his punishment. Grimes testified that he had been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated at least six times. He also admitted to having served time on a felony theft charge as well as having convictions for resisting arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Earlier on Feb.11, 2020, Yvonne Gettens was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division pursuant to a plea deal. Gettens also faces a similar sentence on Oklahoma charges.
Gettens was traveling through Baylor County on her way to Knox County on Sep. 24, 2019 when Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Justin Burger initiated a traffic stop for an equipment offense. Gettens consented to a search of her vehicle. Trooper Burger located over 56 grams of Methamphetamine and a small glass pipe with residue. Gettens admitted that she was traveling to Knox County and that the Methamphetamine was hers. She had a warrant out for her arrest for a parole violation out of Oklahoma. She admitted that she had been on the run for over a year. After Gettens serves her sentence in TDCJ-ID, she will be transported to Oklahoma to face any outstanding charges she has there.
Habert wishes to commend the law enforcement officers involved in both cases for their excellent work. “The jury in the Grimes case sent a strong message that the community will uphold the rule of law,” she said. “Such a message deters criminal activity and helps prosecutors negotiate stronger plea deals.”
