Sheriff’s office makes several busts, arrests

Staff Reports

Parker County Sheriff’s Crimes Against Property Investigators charged a 41-year-old Parker County man in connection with the theft of a Rolex watch valued at $8,200.

Investigators believe Francisco J. Botello, of Springtown, stole the watch from a residence in the 500 block of Cattlebaron Parc in eastern Parker County Oct. 27.

River Oaks Police originally arrested the man Nov. 14, on a burglary warrant issued by sheriff’s investigators in the case.

Investigators said Botello’s name came up in a pawn shop search where he reportedly sold the watch at a Fort Worth pawn shop earlier this month.

Botello apparently pawned two additional Rolex watches which are believed to be stolen from the residence in August.

He has not been charged with the other two thefts. Botello remains in custody at the River Oaks Police Department on a $20,000 bond.

In an unrelated incident, a 38-year-old Springtown man was arrested this week on charges of possession of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare concern call about a man in a vehicle parked in the 5200 block of Midway Road. Authorities found the man sleeping at a well site entrance near the location. Deputies identified the man as Rodney Dale Payne and discovered drug paraphernalia inside his truck, which prompted a subsequent search of the vehicle. Other paraphernalia including a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine and a handgun with ammunition were found during the search.

Payne was transported to the Parker County Justice Center where he was later released on $15,000 bond.

Deputies also jailed a Weatherford man on two charges of assault domestic violence and interfering with a 9-1-1 call at an address in the 3700 block of Upper Denton Road.

Matthew Neal Weems, 25, is accused of punching his spouse in the face and then shoving another family member to the ground from a porch landing while the relative was attempting to place a 9-1-1 call to the Sheriff’s Office about the assault. Weems was arrested and remains in custody in lieu of $6,500 bail.

That same day, a 70-year-old Springtown man was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a weapons call in the 100 block of Apple Drive.

An affidavit made by responding deputies stated Hubert Wayne Gee Sr. stands accused of holding a female family member at knife point. The victims reported Gee shot toward the female and her husband who attempted to intervene. Deputies recovered a .357 handgun hidden inside a barbecue grill on the back porch. They believe the weapon was used in the offense. Gee was booked into the Justice Center and later released on $40,000 bond.

The third emergency call that day involved a 21-year-old Weatherford man who was arrested by Weatherford Parker County Fugitive Investigators.

The suspect, Shane Allen Shuler, is currently free on $10,000 bail for his suspected involvement in a drug transaction earlier this summer. A Sheriff’s spokesperson said Shuler is accused of selling an ounce of marijuana to Special Crimes Unit members for $40 during an intelligence and undercover investigation at a parking lot in the 600 block of Palo Pinto Street. Shuler was charged with delivery of marijuana.

A pair of Springtown men were charged with of possession of marijuana resulting from a traffic stop. Deputies reported they observed the suspect’s vehicle run a stop sign at Agnus Circle and Highway 199.

When deputies ran the driver’s license number through a data base, the check revealed it was suspended. A search of the vehicle led to the arrest of Marion Leon White, 42, and Jason Owen Sellers, 30, after officers discovered two bags of marijuana between the front seats. White was released on $2,000 bond and Sellers posted bail for $1,000.

Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said each case would be reviewed by the District and County Attorneys Offices for consideration of prosecution.